Dem
47
GOP
53
Speaking of kings, here are six more reader reports from the weekend:
Z.L. in Somerville, MA, writes: If protest organizers were aiming for a freedom-festival atmosphere, here in Boston they succeeded. Many great signs and costumes, both traditional and inflatable. Due to claustrophobia, I hang back from the organized programming, but I was glad to see many people being creatively angry. There was also a lot of joy in the air. I loved watching two inflatable axolotls dance with a child in the Frog Pond area. I saw some right-wingers with cameras and flags trying to intimidate people and start fights. They failed impressively.
I really hope you are right that we are a democracy under temporary occupation. Personally, I think that vision of America's past is not super accurate, but I agree it's dramatically worse right now. Too many people have been irreversibly harmed already. My identity also sits directly in the crosshairs of the current administration. I hope I survive to see a better day. More importantly, I hope the nation survives to see a better day, even if I don't make it. My current favorite protest sign (which I brought to the common yesterday) says People are NOT Disposable. I choose hope, and I will keep showing up for it as long as I can.
A.C. in Kingston, MA, writes: Boston definitely felt more like a rally than a protest. Mayor Michelle Wu and state AG Andrea Campbell, among many others, spoke, there was a band, a choir, and several solo musicians, and the atmosphere overall was very positive. (It didn't hurt that the weather was absolutely perfect.)
I was torn between staying local (and Plymouth had a HUGE turnout) and heading into town, and I'm glad I went in. I needed the energy from my group and the crowd to remind me how many of us there are.
A.S. in Black Mountain, NC, writes: Three times more patriots than at the June gathering—about 1,500 this time in this very small town in a very red district:
K.H. in Albuquerque, NM, writes: The "protest frogs" in New Mexico are a bit different than the ones in Portland...
Based on a drone overflight video and thanks to the tools at MapChecking, we estimate crowd sizes from 17,000-28,500 in Albuquerque (metro pop. 916,000). Some on social media claim 30,000, but having been there, I'd go with somewhere around 23,000.
Even the low-end estimate greatly exceeds any previous protest in the Duke City, excepting perhaps the Pueblo Revolt in 1680. Meanwhile, the local newspaper's headline meekly said, "'No Kings' rally draws thousands to Downtown Albuquerque."
F.H. in Pacific Grove, CA, writes: Protest in Monterey, CA. Couldn't find an official count, but I'd say 1,000 people minimum. John Lennon made a rare public appearance:
E.M. in Watertown, WI, writes:
Another set tomorrow, of course. (Z)