Juneau's No Kings protesters spring into action after winter of discontent
- Jasz Garrett
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Participants in nationwide rally say their next step is upcoming workshop series 'How We Resist'
By Jasz Garrett
Juneau Independent
Juneau’s historic winter didn’t stop more than 1,000 people from peacefully gathering against the Trump administration during the third nationwide No Kings protest on Saturday.
“It’s been a long winter. In more ways than one, Alaskans are a tough and enduring people,” said speaker Jorden Nigro. “But the sun is here and despite the chill in the air, it is shining its warmth upon us. We are neighbors and we love each other, and love in action looks like fighting for justice.”
Nigro encouraged the crowd to use the momentum from No Kings to fight the SAVE Act, to inform others about ICE, and to demand accountability on the Epstein files.
Juneau’s protest was one of an estimated 3,000 of its kind across the country, with more than 20 held in the state, according to the official No Kings website. The last No Kings protest was in October on Alaska Day.
With Tahku the Whale as a familiar backdrop at Mayor Bill Overstreet Park, music and sunshine broke through the cold on Saturday. Leslie Wood and then Shona Osterhout led the crowd in songs for peace.
Volunteers shoveled a path to the stage so several speakers had a platform to voice their concerns. A key issue for Juneau Indivisible organizer Michelle Hale was maintaining election integrity, with the midterm general election approaching this fall.
“I think everything is lining up as if Trump is going to find ways to steal the election in November,” she said in an interview. “We need to be thinking about that across the board, maintaining election integrity and planning for what our response will be if ICE shows up at polling stations. If the election is disqualified, then we have to think about our next response.”
Hale said “if the election is stolen, we need to shut the country down.” She added there is an upcoming workshop on Tuesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Downtown Library titled “General Strike: What is it and how do we prepare?”
That workshop is part of a series called “How We Resist” hosted by Juneau for Democracy, with other events focusing on non-cooperation strategies and a watch party of the American Civil Liberties Union’s immigration bystander training. The workshop series runs from Tuesday to April 4.
Local groups Juneau for Democracy, Juneau Indivisible and Juneau ReSisters had planned Saturday’s event since December “because the assault on our democracy is speeding up.”
“It is no accident that ICE was deployed to the airports because they’re trying to get us used to ICE and we cannot do that,” Hale said. “We cannot submit to showing our ID to a masked man.”
Rep. Sara Hannan, D-Juneau, attended the protest and has introduced House Bill 250 to establish wearing a mask in public while acting as a peace officer as a crime.
Along with learning about the action groups and upcoming workshops, people registered to vote, donated to the Southeast Alaska Food Bank, and chatted with state union members. Heidi Drygas, executive director of the Alaska State Employees Association AFSCME Local 52, gave a speech urging worker unity.
“I have been a worker advocate in Alaska for more than 20 years, and I will tell you this — if you are not organized in a union, now is the time,” Drygas said, receiving cheers. “Over the past year, workers have endured attacks from this administration, the likes of which we have not seen in many lifetimes.”
Drygas also criticized slashes to Medicaid and Medicare, which she said working Alaskan families rely on, and advocated for protecting education and childcare funding.
“We gather here today together, not as Democrats, not as Republicans — we are here as Alaskans,” she said. “We are here as Americans, demanding, demanding better for all of us.”
Chants throughout the hour-long event echoed the “We Do Not Consent” protest held against Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, before his address to the Alaska Legislature in February, with the same signs being reused.
“Sending our kids to die in Israel?” asked Gina Chalcroft, leader of Juneau Indivisible.
“No consent!” the crowd responded, with some waving new signs against the Iran war.
Children played in the snow and hugged their parents. Nine-year-old Carter Drapeaux laughed with a puppy as speeches continued.
“Have to stand up for people,” he told the Independent. “And no wars.”
It was his family’s third time attending No Kings. His mother, Maggie Drapeaux, said it was important to keep coming in numbers, but it saddened her that leaders are not listening. Still, she said she would keep protesting.
Chalcroft said that community is power “and we are stronger together.” She said seats Democrats are flipping in state elections nationwide are a direct result of people’s anger and organization. Saturday’s rally occurred five days after what Politico called a “special election shocker” as Democrats picked up two state legislative seats, including the district where Trump votes.
“Authoritarianism works when we feel helpless and hopeless and isolated,” she said. “We say no. We will not be silent.”
She said she hoped people walked away from this No Kings knowing people for the same cause showed up united and they are never alone.
In her speech, Megan Lingle also highlighted why she thinks it’s important to continue speaking up.
“I know that sometimes coming together to protest can be seen by some as performative or as if it really isn’t changing anything,” she said. “That simply is not true. Every action leads to a reaction, no matter how small it may seem. Standing together here today in solidarity is cathartic. Take a look around you. Look at your neighbors. Being here together is beautiful.”
• Contact Jasz Garrett at jasz@juneauindependent.com or (907) 723-9356.
