photo credit: George Hudetz, Erie CO, No Kings Day

Erie

Erie used to have 500 houses, 1,200 people, and dirt roads—not in 1890 but as recently as 1990. However, like so many Colorado Front Range towns, it’s seen rapid, relentless growth since then. Today, it’s home to 40,000 people and projected to hit 70,000. (Let’s just hope they don’t choose sprawl in the years ahead.)

Back in 2000, Erie was the fastest-growing municipality in the state, posting a wild 300% growth rate. In just ten years, it jumped from a forgotten mining town to 8,500 people and 4,000 homes. That was nothing compared to where it stands now or where it’s headed. Once again, it has ranked as the fastest-growing community in the Front Range and number 15 in the country.

It also used to be a much redder town. After all, it was a quiet, rural place, mostly off the radar. And red 35 years ago wasn’t synonymous with the cult-of-personality nationalism and strongman-style populism we see today. Aside from Bush, being Republican back then tended to mean a focus on land, taxes, law and order, and a hands-off approach to your neighbor’s business. But with all the new homes and new neighbors, Erie now votes about 65% blue, including both the Boulder and Weld County sides. And no, realtors aren’t asking how people are registered to vote when they’re selling homes. The same demographic shifts are happening in Longmont, too.

photo credit: George Hudetz

photo credit: George Hudetz

Erie residents don’t need to drive to Denver anymore to have its voice heard. Whether it’s the result of shifting demographics or the shock and disgust at witnessing this administration’s open corruption, authoritarianism, and outright contempt for the Constitution, Erie came to be counted.

An estimated 1,200 people turned out for No Kings Day at County Line Road and Erie Parkway. All four corners were packed. The crowd stretched out for nearly a mile, with people lining the streets, waving signs, and cheering as a steady stream of mostly supportive honking cars passed by.

A few drivers made their dissent clear, and two men appeared briefly with a Trump sign, but from what we observed, everyone remained respectful and let them be. Erie Police were a friendly but frequent presence. 

Amid the steady hum of car horns and community energy, local leaders took the mic to address the crowd. District Attorney Michael Dougherty came out and spoke, challenging the administration to uphold the rule of law. Erie Councilperson Emily Baer emphasized compassion and community. She called on the crowd to act in love—for one another, and for the world—reminding us that only love can conquer hate.

Local resident and No Kings Day organizer Bob Braudes put it simply:

“It’s time to put Erie on the political map. We’re 40,000 people now.”

photo credit: Shavonne Blades

Photo credit: Jordan Neumeyer

Photo Credit: Kenneth Wajda

Photo credit: Rowan Ellis

At 12:45 p.m. on a warm Saturday afternoon, hundreds had already gathered along Longmont’s 6th Street. Within the hour, that crowd swelled to an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 people. They stood shoulder-to-shoulder on sidewalks, median strips, and restaurant patios—holding signs, chanting, and waving to honking cars passing by. The mood was both electric and resolute which displayed a sense of community strength and political defiance. 

This protest, part of the national “No Kings Day” movement organized by 50501, Indivisible and co-sponsored locally by the Colorado Forward Party. The Protest was timed in response to reports of a planned military-style parade coinciding with former President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. Organizers framed the demonstration as a rebuke of authoritarianism and an act of solidarity with communities impacted by ICE raids and federal crackdowns.

Photo credit: Rowan Ellis

Unlike the large-scale marches in metropolitan areas, the Longmont protest was stationary—concentrated at 6th & Main for just about an hour. But the energy was anything but still. Protesters waved American flags with altered slogans, wore “No Kings” t-shirts handed out by volunteers, and kept chants alive through megaphones: “This is what democracy looks like” echoed across the street in rhythmic unison. 

Despite the crowd size, the police presence was minimal. Only one or two officers were visible throughout the event, and they remained mostly on the periphery.  

One striking observation was the age composition of the crowd. An estimated 60–65% of attendees were older adults—many of them seniors. The rest of the crowd represented a wide range of identities: young activists, families with children, BIPOC individuals, and people who had traveled from nearby Boulder and Denver. 

The atmosphere held contradictions. There was hope in the collective unity, yet an undercurrent of frustration—perhaps even despair—over the necessity of still having to protest such basic democratic ideals. As one attendee put it, 

“There’s something deeply human about standing side by side with people who feel what you feel. It’s really comforting and heartbreaking.” 

Many participants were reluctant to go on record—understandably cautious about press exposure. Still, a few candid conversations offered deep insight into the stakes at play. 

Photo Credit: Kenneth Wajda

Photo credit: Rowan Ellis

Two older women, both white and longtime residents of Longmont, spoke passionately about why they felt this was not just a coastal or federal issue: 

“He’s trying to be a dictator. Even if it doesn’t feel like it’s hitting our daily lives yet—it will. He’s got the Supreme Court in his pocket. We have to speak up because this is our government, and our silence makes it someone else’s problem. We cannot allow that.” 

Another group—two middle-aged men and two women from Denver—shared that they intentionally avoided the Denver protest out of safety concerns following increased tensions in major cities. Longmont, they said, felt safer but no less meaningful. 

“My family’s scared to go to work. That’s not what this country should be. I don’t want to wake up one day and never see them again because someone decided their existence was illegal. What Trump’s doing goes beyond politics—it’s anti-human.” 

These sentiments were echoed in various forms throughout the crowd: fears of ICE enforcement, erosion of democratic values, and the broader question of what kind of country the United States is becoming. 

Because in the end the fight for democracy doesn’t always start in Washington. Sometimes, it begins on a street corner, in the heart of a town, with people who believe their voices can turn the tide.

Photo credit: Rowan Ellis

Photo credit: Rowan Ellis

Photo Credit: Kenneth Wajda

Photo Credit: Kenneth Wajda

Photo credit Steven Nasada, Social Media, Boulder CO, No Kings Day

On June 14th, over 5 million people mobilized in lieu of Trump’s display of military power. The “No Kings Day” protest this last Saturday, organized by the ACLU, 50501, American Oppositions and Indivisible, brought over 5,000 Boulder residents to the streets. 

The day was filled with camaraderie as local officials and activists expressed their frustrations with the current administration. Speakers included Mayor Aaron Brockett, District Attorney Michael Dougherty, Secretary of State Jena Griswold and Councilmember Nicole Speer.

Photo credit Steven Nasada, Social Media

While protestors suffered over 90-degree weather; there were no counterprotestors, and police presence did not lead to any violence. Many residents carried their signs to the local farmer’s market, while others sat outside local brunch spots with their sign in one hand and a mimosa in the other. The demographics of the demonstrators was overwhelmingly White and over 50. 

However, for the people working the brunch tables and sweeping the street, solidarity was found. There are two types of people in Boulder; those who eat the food, and those who serve the food. While many people subordinated under Trump’s administration cannot demonstrate safely; such as undocumented immigrants, there are others who are willing to stand in their stead. That’s what the community saw this past Saturday in Boulder, a massive group of people willing to stand up to authoritarianism despite how they are affected. 

Not to say that White people over 50 are not affected by Trump’s policies. Cuts to medicaid, lack of veteran resources, and attacks on reproductive justice hurt this group especially. Critics will explain how protests should ‘look;’ hip-looking punks spraying anarchy signs on a cop car, a Ford on fire, the fireworks of tear gas and AR-15s are all necessary to simulate a ‘revolution.’ 

Photo credit Steven Nasada, Social Media

While protestors were mobilizing in every major city except D.C., Trump was celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Army with a display of military strength. Footage shows an Army failing to march in a set rhythm and outdated tanks squeaking past a lackluster crowd. This display projected disorganization and insecurity. 

There is revolution in joy and non-violent protests. Revolution starts with talking with neighbors and organizing. Last Saturday showed that those who value democracy are not alone, and that they are the majority. Authoritarianism cowers in the face of progressive happiness and the displacement of fear. 

So while the only casualties in Boulder may be empty sunscreen and champagne bottles, there was a message and it was heard. No Kings. 

Photo credit Linda O’Neill, Social Media

Photo credit Linda O’Neill, Social Media

Photo credit: Steven Nasada, Social Media

Photo credit: Linda O’Neill, Social Media

Photo credit Linda O’Neill, Social Media

Photo credit: Vince Chandler, Denver CPO, No Kings Day

Up to 20,000 protesters converged on downtown Denver Saturday afternoon for the “No Kings” protest—an anti-authoritarian demonstration that transformed Lincoln Veterans Memorial Park into an open-air hub of resistance. Demonstrators started at the state capitol, and marched throughout the city at one point reaching a mile long. 

Photo credit: Vince Chandler

The event was one of many held nationwide on June 14 in response to President Trump’s immigration crackdown as well as the simultaneous military parade in Washington, D.C. But in Denver, what started as a peaceful rally ended with 36 arrests and reports of police once again using smoke and pepper balls to clear the streets.

Organized by local activist coalition Colorado 50501, a portion of the protest was framed as an “activist fair” meant to bring together a broad spectrum of resistance movements—from anti-ICE efforts and Indigenous sovereignty to queer and trans rights. Music performances, teach-ins, and tabling sessions filled the afternoon, with organizers urging attendees to think beyond a single-day march and build out sustained resistance networks.

“People don’t know where to put their energy after the protest,” said Steffan Becker, one of the event’s lead organizers. “The point of this festival is to show people they can plug in, show up.”

Colorado 50501 joined the Party for Socialism and Liberation at 4 pm for a peaceful march through downtown. Alternatively, Block-by-Block had ambitious plans to line protesters on the sidewalks of Broadway beginning at the capitol in Denver and ending in Highlands Ranch. 

After these events had ended, a contingent of demonstrators remained downtown into the evening, shifting focus to the local ICE field office on 30th and Peoria. It was during this second wave of protest that the tone changed, a recurring theme in Denver. 

According to Denver police, officers arrested 36 individuals after issuing several dispersal orders. Those arrested faced charges ranging from failure to obey lawful orders to obstruction of roadways. Officers used smoke canisters and pepper balls but did not deploy tear gas.

Photo credit: Vince Chandler

Photo credit: Vince Chandler

In a statement, DPD said it had preemptively closed portions of Lincoln Street and used rolling closures throughout the day. Leading up to the event, the department had also warned residents to report “suspicious or unlawful behavior,” a move that drew criticism from civil liberties groups who saw it as an attempt to pre-frame the protest as criminal.

While DPD had made promises during the 2020 BLM protests not to harm peaceful protesters, this seems to go by the wayside once the sun goes down and organizers head home. Leaving people with a clear message that their First Amendment right to peaceful assembly will only be protected if it’s done when and how local law enforcement approves of. 

Despite the evening escalation, Denver protesters remained focused on their message: rejecting authoritarianism and standing in solidarity with the communities most impacted by Trump-era policies. 

Organizers estimate that over 8,000 people attended throughout the day, making it one of the largest public demonstrations in Denver since the Women’s March in 2017. The “No Kings” campaign spanned over 2,000 cities nationwide and drew what organizers claim to be 4–6 million participants, though those numbers have not yet been independently verified.

Photo credit: Vince Chandler

Photo credit: Vince Chandler

Photo credit: Vince Chandler

Photo credit: Vince Chandler

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