A significant assembly took place with an excess of 2,000 participants massing on Edmonds’ Civic Field to express their concerns regarding the policies of Trump’s presidency. The crowd, which was a substantial force from the community, congregated at the Civic Field on an early Saturday to voice their disapproval and perceived subversion of national democracy by the Trump administration. The rally, orchestrated by Indivisible Edmonds and supported by Snohomish County Indivisible, featured various prominent figures and advocates voicing their perspective against the current state of politics.
This gathering of community members was incited and motivated by the guiding principles of Indivisible Edmonds and Snohomish County Indivisible. Sharon Otness, a founding pillar of Snohomish County Indivisible, initiated the event by expressing the group’s collective intent to transform their indignation into actionable measures. The commencement of the event was followed by Judi Gladstone, the host for the day, who articulated her displeasure for the Washington administration and the actions it has taken.
Addressing the assembly, Gladstone voiced her sentiments, describing her distress and unease at the political developments and events. She spoke earnestly of her shock, fear and sense of shame at the current state of affairs, particularly instances like the recent immigration incursions and protests in California. Gladstone also expressed deep concern over the substantial fiscal burden of military celebrations in honour of the president’s birthday.
Proceeding to the event’s main agenda, Gladstone introduced one of the keynote speakers, State Sen. Marko Liias, a Democrat hailing from Edmonds’ 21st District. Liias brought attention to the recurrent methods of the current administration, drawing historic parallels with events such as the Stonewall riots. He mourned the loss of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, who tragically passed away while serving her people, and called for a vigilant and steadfast stance against the divisive tactics of the Trump administration.
Liias emphasized the administration’s strategy of creating division and distraction in an attempt to undermine the Constitution and invited attendees to stay focused and resilient. He particularly pointed out the divisive move of the president that mandated only two genders and explained that such tactics were merely distractions from measures such as the hyped discussions on restroom access, while the dismantling of the Education Department happened more covertly.
Liias’ words were succeeded by a soulful rendition of the traditional protest anthem ‘We Shall Overcome’, performed by Chris Weare and Diane Nelson. Subsequently, Edmonds United Methodist Church Pastor Jeremy Smith expounded upon the essential values of the church, underscoring that public justice is the tangible manifestation of love.
Dr. Neil Sengai, a professor at the University of Washington School of Public Health, joined the conversation condemning the drastic decreases in healthcare and research funds by the Trump administration. This was followed by Terry Preshaw, an immigration lawyer, who disapproved of the administration’s unconstitutional deportation practices.
Possessing a rich political background, Edmonds City Councilmember Susan Paine, who is a descendant of a signer of the Declaration of Independence, spoke up. She drew an alarming correlation between the current administration’s actions and the historical events leading to the Declaration of Independence, thus bringing attention to the threat to liberty.
Lynnwood City Councilmember Josh Binda offered a compelling narrative of his emergence as a first-generation American, son of Liberian refugees. He made a heartfelt comparison between the current political climate and the dictatorship his parents fled from in Liberia.
Fostering strength in the gathering, Gulf War veteran Amanda Thornton-Dewitt shared her personal experiences of pledging her service and loyalty to protect the nation against any oppressive force. Despite a service-related injury that broke her back, she made it clear she stood committed to her oath and was resolute in her duties.
Lending his powerful voice to the rally, keynote speaker Rick Steves marched ahead under the banner of patriotism, instead of dividing the crowd into Democrats or Republicans. Drawing upon the metaphor of a merged political spectrum, Steves stated that democracy was at stake with the administration’s methods threatening the resilience of our key institutions and their mission to ensure public welfare.
Steves criticized the ambitious pursuits of undeniable power through privatization of public health, education, and lands, asserting that these institutions are necessary checks to limit potential autocratic rule. According to him, the administration had been tactfully discrediting and ruining institutions effectively since its inception, aiming to diminish trust and autonomy within them.
Steves gave an example indicating the modus operandi of the current administration by citing USAID’s dismantling. He suggested that this restructuring had already negatively affected the lives of approximately 300,000 individuals due to the subsequent cessation of DOGE funds. He expressed his concern about the diminishing American influence in the developing world and an increase in China’s influence due to USAID’s disbanding.
He postulated that the actual motive behind these governmental efficiency cuts was to channel funds towards tax reductions for the affluent, in effect decapacitating the IRS to the extent that tax evasion would become almost trivial for the wealthy. He described this re-distribution of monetary resources as a long-standing Republican ideology, dating back to Bush’s presidency.
Expressing dissent towards the direction of the administration, Steves postulated the inherent need for regulation within a capitalist system and presented himself as an example of a ‘good capitalist’, emphasizing the vital role that the government plays as a regulatory body. He concluded his speech by urging everyone to unite in the fight to preserve democracy.
Closing the event, Rick Steves called upon the attendees to guard the nation’s liberty from internal warfare, warning that the administration was steadily attacking the very core of America. Emphasizing the strength of citizens, his parting words were a rallying cry for a mobilized America that serves its people, not a sovereign. As the assembly dispersed, many participants headed to the Masonic Hall/Old Opera House to further cement their resolve by singing timeless protest and resistance anthems.
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