More than 500 in attendance to oppose acts by federal, state, and local government
It was the largest protest in U.S. history. Across the nation, millions of people took to the streets and courthouse squares to express their opposition to the actions taken by federal, state, and local governments this year.
And Kokomo was a part of that movement. More than 500 local residents showed up in downtown to march and protest on Oct. 18, carrying homemade signs, and some wearing festive costumes. For an act characterized by the President as “domestic terrorism,” the No Kings protest was conspicuously lacking in violence, threats, or any other action a reasonable person might see as terroristic.
“This is an act of constitutional freedom,” said Kokomo Common Councilman Bob Stephenson. “If you think these people are terrorists, if you think this is a dangerous crowd, my God, you must be scared a lot.”
Stephenson was just one participant in a demonstration that filled the east lawn of the courthouse and the surrounding sidewalks. During the three-hour protest, people marched around the building and heartily supported the line-up of speakers who addressed the assembly.
Hannah Guillaume-Wenger, a founder of the Operation Blue Horizon group that organized the march locally, led the event from the steps of the courthouse, issuing slogans for the crowd to repeat as they marched. She also detailed a list of grievances held by those protesting, from the violation of citizens’ private financial information by the ersatz Department of Government Efficiency, to the marginalization of non-heterosexual citizens, to the removal of the United States from the UN Human Rights Council, among many other acts taken by the current federal administration.
She was followed by a line of speakers, including State Sen. J.D. Ford, Dist. 30 State Representative candidate Jack Chance, and former Kokomo mayoral candidate Abbie Smith.
Smith, who ran in 2019, returned to the public eye at the protest, explaining her fear of what has been happening in the country this year while also explaining the principles driving the protest.
“I’m back out here doing some scary things; I’m scared as hell,” said Smith. “But I firmly believe that’s when you know you’re doing something that matters.
“Six years ago, I ran for mayor of this amazing place, and I didn’t even know I was scared. I did it because you matter to me. Your families matter to me. Your neighbors matter to me, their lives, their hopes, their dreams, and that’s why I’m here today, because you still matter to me.
“I’m here as a mom. I’m here as a person. I’m here as a friend who just (cares) about other people. Our founding mothers broke from a king because they believed in something radical; that power should rest with the people, not being handed down from a throne. But lately, it feels like that’s been chipped away.
“At the Statehouse in Indianapolis, too many of our leaders have forgotten who they serve. At this courthouse, too many of our leaders have forgotten who they serve. That’s not leadership; that’s arrogance.
“We know better. We were raised better. We were raised to stand on our own two feet, to work hard, speak honestly, and treat people with basic dignity.
“We were taught in Sunday school to love one another, to help our neighbor, to care about people who need our help most. How many of you were raised the same way?
“We’re all on the same side, no matter our differences. We’re on the side of veterans. We’re on the side of nurses. We’re on the side of teachers. We’re on the side of our neighbor on the worst day of their life when they can’t do anything for us in return.”
The protest continued without incident throughout the afternoon, and the number of people in attendance surprised the local Democratic party. The enthusiasm and motivation of those in the crowd is something it can build upon, Stephenson believes.
“I am impressed and thrilled with the turnout,” said Stephenson. “People of all ages, all races, from every part of the community, came out here today to stand up for our democratic rights, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.
“I think we just have to keep this going. We’re recruiting people. We do these protests so people can see that they’re not alone in the community. When you feel alone, you act alone. When you see you’re part of a group, then it’s easier to act as part of a group. I think this has really enlivened a part of the community that felt isolated and alone.”