By Victoria Hansen

hansenv@findlay.edu

Airhorns, cowbells, and car alarms sounded as 975 protesters gathered outside the Hancock County Courthouse Saturday afternoon as a part of nationwide “No Kings” protests.

“I believe in democracy. And I don’t feel our country’s being democratic right now, and we have to stand for our rights,” said Diane Althaus, a protester holding a sign that said “No Kings since 1776.”

“We need to save our country,” said Missi R., a volunteer with the protest. “We need to stand up for our rights.”

Protestors held homemade signs with messages such as “United we resist,” “Pro-America, anti-fascist,” and “The First Amendment is not a suggestion.”

Common sentiments included the First Amendment, the Epstein Files, and LGBTQ+ rights.

Along with holding signs, multiple protestors wore costumes, including Winifred Sanderson from Hocus Pocus, the Lorax, and three unrelated protestors dressed as frogs in reference to the Portland protestors.

The protest began with various speakers discussing topics such as veterans’ rights, free speech, and the power of organized protesting.

One speaker, Corrine DeMarie, compared the protest to bees protecting their nest if a hornet invades.

“They pile on top of the hornet, and their heat, their energy, their love, their passion for their home, and their passion for each other, and when they come apart, the hornet is no more,” said DeMarie.

The speeches were interspersed with call-and-response chants of “This is what democracy looks like” and “O-H-I-O, Donald Trump has got to go.”

At 1:30, the speaking ended and the march began. Protesters walked from the front of the Hancock county courthouse down West Front Street. They crossed the street at the end of the block and returned to the front of the courthouse.

The protest had little opposition, though counter protestors with Trump flags drove past it while honking their horns. One counter-protestor with a bullhorn stopped in front of the courthouse, calling protestors anti-gay and anti-female slurs, saying “you have no rights.”

Protesters were advised not to interact with counter-protesters, though they were often met with boos.

The Findlay No Kings protest is part of the national No Kings movement, a movement that started as a series of protests on June 14, Trump’s birthday and the day of the United States Army 250th Anniversary Parade. The June 14 No Kings protest was the third largest single-day protest in U.S. history. Today’s protest was set for Oct. 18 in response to Medicaid cuts, election redistricting, and the rising cost of living.

“We’re here to protest the excessive overreach of the Trump Administration, especially with respect to just judicial process and the rule of law,” said Lee Weygandt, protest volunteer and treasurer for the Hancock County Democratic Party. “I’m here as an American, not a Democrat.”

The first No Kings Findlay protest attracted around 700 protestors.

“The protest is not just Findlay, Ohio,” Weygandt said. “It’s a global pushback to this authoritarian government’s overreach.”