All Photos by Tracy L. Barnett
COLUMBIA, Mo. — “No Kings, No Hate; We don’t want ICE in our state!” The cries filled an overflowing Courthouse Square and rallied the ranks still flowing in from the streets as one of thousands of cities around the country commenced its largest protest in many years. The “No Kings Day” rallies, timed to coincide with a massive military parade celebrating the U.S. Army’s and Donald Trump’s birthday in Washington, D.C, brought out more than 1,000 in Columbia and millions around the country to voice their opposition to what they called a growing authoritarianism at home and abroad.
The “No Kings Day” rally brought together activists, educators, veterans, attorneys, and concerned citizens united by a shared sense of urgency. “We’ve watched as they crack down on free speech, detained people for their political views, threatened to deport American citizens and divide our courts. They’ve done all of this while continuing to serve and enrich their billionaire allies,” began the emcee, reminding the animated crowd that counterprotesters may seek to provoke violence, and instructed people not to engage with them.
Longtime civil rights attorney Dan Viets led the speakers with a bit of perspective. “Trump isn’t the first to throw a military parade on his birthday—so did Hitler, Stalin, and Gaddafi,” he said, drawing a straight line from history to current events. Viets, who’s fought for civil liberties since the apartheid protests of the 1980s, didn’t mince words. “Trump has violated the Constitution every day since taking office,” he charged.
He tore into the Trump cabinet as a “band of idiots,” spotlighting figures like Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem—“best known for killing her family dog for no good reason”—and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has revoked visas from international students for exercising free speech. “Trump is the only convicted felon to ever win the presidency,” Viets said. “Thirty-four felony convictions. Let’s impeach him again.”
Citizen Power vs. Political Lies
Next came Julie Borders, a local activist with Respect Missouri Voters. Wearing white to symbolize peace, she laid out what’s at stake in Missouri itself: “In America, we don’t bow to kings. We’ve never bowed to a king. We will never bow to a king.”
She cited repeated examples of voters’ decisions being overturned by the Missouri legislature—from anti-puppy mill laws to redistricting reforms—and called out Senate Bill 22, which she dubbed the “Let the Politicians Lie Act.”
“Millions of votes, just discarded,” she said. “It’s the same playbook—whether it’s Trump in Washington or the politicians in Jeff City, it’s all about consolidating power, silencing the people’s voice.”
The movement’s mission: to pass a constitutional amendment protecting the citizen initiative process. “Democracy is not a noun,” she said. “It’s a verb.” Voters can learn more, download petitions at respectmovoters.org.
The Cost of Silence
Veteran and Catholic Worker founder Steve Jacobs offered one of the most emotionally wrenching testimonies of the day. He spoke of his time as a psych nurse for Vietnam vets—and of the moral and psychic wounds left by war.
“Freedom isn’t given by governments,” he said. “It’s in your heart, your mind. If you’re resisting oppression, you are free.”
He shared the story of a traumatized veteran haunted by the image of a 12-year-old boy he killed in Vietnam. “That boy died with his eyes open, staring at him,” Jacobs said. “That image destroyed him.” The veteran eventually took his own life.
“Militarism is a parasite on the soul of humanity,” he said, linking the U.S. military-industrial complex with war crimes in Gaza, including bombings of hospitals and blockades of humanitarian aid. “The only solution I know that doesn’t feed the cycle of violence is love and nonviolent resistance.”
Jacobs called out the militarization of Gaza and U.S. complicity. “Did you ever think you’d live in a time when a U.S. president would support starving children?” he asked. “History won’t absolve us if we sit this one out.”
Singing and Solidarity
Between speeches, the crowd joined in a rousing rendition of “This Land is Your Land.” The song took on new meaning in a moment when the crowd sang: “Yet this land is still made for you and me,”—a refrain that became a chant of belonging and resistance.
Education Under Attack
Peggy Placier, a longtime education policy professor, broke down how Project 2025 and the “tyrant’s administration” aim to dismantle public education. “We do not want to go back to the 1950s,” she warned, citing proposals to eliminate the Department of Education, defund Title I and Title IX programs, and criminalize so-called ‘radical’ teachings about race or gender.
“If they succeed,” she said, “low-income students, disabled students, and immigrant children will suffer the most.”
“They want patriotic teachers who don’t teach ‘bad history,’” she warned. “And if schools are found teaching about race, class or gender inequality? They lose federal funding.” She urged the crowd to stand up for teachers and students alike: “We must protect our schools from becoming tools of authoritarianism.”
Medicaid, SNAP, and the “Brutal Bill”
Lucas Caldwell of Empower Missouri called attention to the one big “brutal” bill being rushed through Congress. “It will take health insurance from 137,000 Missourians, cut SNAP to the bone, and raise everyone’s costs,” he said.
Caldwell emphasized that Medicaid supports 40% of Missouri children and two-thirds of nursing home costs. “Hands off Medicaid! Hands off SNAP!” the crowd chanted in response.
“This bill imposes harsh work requirements and new red tape that will especially hurt rural communities,” Caldwell added. “And make no mistake—this isn’t just about Medicaid. These cuts will raise health care costs for everyone, even those with private insurance.”
Economic Justice and Tariffs
Former professor and Peace Corps volunteer Diane Shuler used her time to explain tariffs and economic inequality with biting humor and clarity. “Trump needs to retake Econ 101,” she said, noting that tariffs are taxes paid not by foreign countries but by Americans—especially low- and middle-income families. “This is income redistribution at its worst,” she said. “Taking from the least among us to give to those who want for nothing.”
“The poorest 20% of Americans could pay up to $3,000 more in taxes because of these tariffs,” she explained. “Meanwhile, the so-called beautiful bill slashes taxes for the wealthy by $4 trillion. Tariffs are the cover story for the theft.”
Anonymous Voice for Immigrants
An anonymous statement from an immigrant, read by the emcee, outlined how immigration enforcement is being used to gut democracy itself. “This is not about immigrants or safety. This is about who has rights and who does not. Whether we act now will determine the future for all of us.”
The statement detailed how the “big beautiful bill” would direct $168 billion toward detention and deportation infrastructure, while cutting benefits for the working poor. “It’s not fiscal responsibility—it’s building the infrastructure of oppression downward,” the speaker read. “This is how democracies die.”
The message was clear: The stakes are high, the challenges great—but the resolve of the people in Columbia was stronger still.
“We’re saying no to kings today,” said Julie. “But in 2026, we’re saying yes to the people’s power.”
Previous Next