As No Kings protests on Saturday gathered millions across the nation, Park City joined in. Purple was the dominant color as over a thousand residents and visitors rallied at the parking lot of the former Skullcandy building in Kimball Junction — from dog leashes and sun shirts to flags and po sters. “Why purple?” opening speaker Susan Odell, a Pro-Active Alliance leader, asked rhetorically. “We want to add a little blue to this red state.” The grassroots civic engagement group in the Wasatch Back, as a sponsor of the area’s No Kings rally, passed out purple bandanas and donned purple pins, symbolizing the mix of Republican red and Democratic blue. The day’s demonstration was part of a nationwide movement to protest President Donald Trump and his administration. Since the first No Kings last June, disapproval of President Trump and his administration appears to have grown. Saturday’s event attracted an estimated 9 million people nationwide, and Park City organizers guessed 1,200 to 1,400 people turned out — up from 1,000 in June. Over 1,200 people gather for the No Kings rally in the parking lot at the former Skullcandy building in Kimball Junction, organizers say. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park Record Unlike prior protests, this one included speakers and music. The atmosphere was electric with an undercurrent of resistance and concern. “I think the situation is more dire than it was last June,” said Odell. “This reminds me of the ’60s,” said local resident Rick Smaligo. “Of course, back then it was just the young people, not the parents or older generations. I’m happy the protests now are bigger than during Vietnam because they need to be.” “What’s been going on in our country is frightening,” said Kiah Ridge, 19. “I decided I needed to come out after the shootings in Minneapolis with Renee Good and Alex Perreti.” Vilia Duerr-Cardwell, a 10th grader, said she is “so sick of the administration and what it’s been doing.” Josh Cortez, visiting from Texas, said felt that he had to attend and show his support. “I’m Native American and my grandmother is Hispanic, so the assault on minorities has me concerned. Plus, I taught school in Texas and some of my former students are being sent to the Middle East,” Cortez said. Protestors at the No Kings rally in Park City held up handmade signs. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park RecordProtestors at the No Kings rally in Park City held up handmade signs. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park RecordProtestors at the No Kings rally in Park City held up handmade signs. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park RecordProtestors at the No Kings rally in Park City held up handmade signs. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park RecordProtestors at the No Kings rally in Park City held up handmade signs. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park RecordProtestors at the No Kings rally in Park City held up handmade signs. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park RecordProtestors at the No Kings rally in Park City held up handmade signs. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park Record Signs, some held aloft by ski poles, shared the familiar message: an X over the words “No Kings.” Others were more original. “Trump poops his pants!” read a sign taped to the front of a young kid’s toy moped. Another read “My king is Burger King.” “Things are so bad, even all the introverts are out here,” a member of The Singing Resistance joked. He led the crowd through a few songs throughout the program, shy participants eventually gaining strength from each other. The roughly 45-minute program included speakers like Rev. Dr. Curtis L. Price, a pastor at First Baptist Church in Salt Lake City, who earned a rousing cheer with his greeting: “It’s a great day to overthrow the government!” He spoke of the importance of music in resistance, not just in No Kings demonstrations like Saturdays, but over human history. “Music that inspires hope, that gives us a place to put all of our anger and our frustration, music that demands a response of the heart — this is what singing resistance is about, and why I think that music and singing belong at the center of our resistance movement,” he said. People from The Singing Resistance, dressed in purple, led protestors in songs during the No Kings rally on Saturday. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park Record The main speaker, Park City resident and retired U.S. Navy Capt. David Wickersham, prepared a talk centered on the veteran perspective during the Trump administration. “The military I grew up in was apolitical. It was a place for all to serve, and it was a meritocracy — at least, until this president,” Wickersham said. “Many of the people that I served with were dismissed because they were women, the wrong color skin, born in the wrong place.” He criticized these and other changes to the military since Trump took office — a primary reason for his retirement. Most in the service, he insisted, don’t agree with the president, saying they’re just holding out until 2028 brings a return to “normal.” Plus, a dig at the commander in chief: “He has no national security experience,” Wickersham said. “He could have had military experience if he’d gone to Vietnam” — the crowd laughed — “like my dad did.” To close, he listed out a few calls to action, ways to continue pushing back, with support for journalism getting an especially large cheer. Retired U.S. Navy Capt. David Wickersham, a Park City resident, gives his perspective as a veteran during Saturday’s No Kings rally in Kimball Junction. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park Record Amy Lecocq of the Democratic Party spoke next, saying that as a former Republican, “It’s OK to change your mind.” “Titles don’t define us, values do,” Lecocq said. To close out, Pastor Sam Fisher of Park City Community Church got the crowd cheering again: “People keep saying to me, ‘Right now things feel really heavy.’ And the pastor inside of me wants to say, ‘No shit.'” “In a world where cruelty is branded as strength, ‘Do no harm’ is an act of resistance,” he continued. “May this rally be more than a moment. May it be, shall we say, a turning point?” Protestors filed onto the Millenium Trail for a No Kings march. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park Record Pro-Active Alliance volunteers then led the crowd in a march through the Millenium Trail underpass and along the northbound side of S.R. 224, earning the protestors honks and cheers from passing traffic. The gathering in Park City joined with events planned in all 50 states, with at least 17 in Utah, including in Heber City. “The aim of this rally is to get people to show up and step up,” Odell said. “Not just at No Kings, but in their communities. To support organizations that are working every day to defend democracy, protect rights and stand up for those who aren’t being heard.” During the march portion of the No Kings rally in Park City, protestors lined S.R. 224, waving and cheering as passing cars honked in support. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park RecordTwo froggy protestors grab a picture together during Saturday’s No Kings rally in Park City. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park RecordCredit: Jonathan Herrera/Park RecordCredit: Jonathan Herrera/Park RecordCredit: Jonathan Herrera/Park Record The post Saturday No Kings protest in Park City sees bump in turnout, eager crowd appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less