We The People – June 14

Jane and Harry and I departed at noon on our adventure to protest. Harry and I had made signs to carry, and it being Flag Day, we had flags with us. I turned one upside down as a signal of distress.

We had no idea whether the protest would be particularly big, or not. In April, the “Hands Off” protest was not stunningly large. But we were compelled by our need to do something, as we have been watching our democracy demolished by the people now in power.

And as you can see from the picture above, this protest was indeed well attended. The governor of Missouri had activated the National Guard in advance of the event (which he waited 8 days to do after the tornado last month). There was no need of troops for this march. People were overwhelmingly kind and peaceful, despite their dissatisfaction with the Trump regime. There was no violence, only uplifting camaraderie. The police were helpful and sympathetic.

We met kind strangers, many of whom had never protested before. Some had last protested the Vietnam war. There were all ages, and colors, and our hope in this country was revived. Living, as we do, in a very Red part of a supermajority Red state, the attendance at the No Kings event was surprising indeed, and refreshing. People are basically good, for the most part. Sadly, some people are brainwashed and have different views from ours, but the United States was designed by the Founders to allow for differences, and to have guardrails against what is happening now, as the government slouches toward autocracy and Christian Nationalism. We, the people, hope to stop the demise of democracy.

Sorry to veer from Nature and animals to politics, but the times have done this. I will get back to the usual programming tomorrow. For now, here are pictures from the protest. We failed to find some of our friends, and were happily surprised to see others we had not expected. It was a wonderful day, from drenching rain on arrival, to beautiful skies, followed by humid Missouri heat. Exhaustion and exhilaration accompanied us home to the animals and a happy reunion with our regular life.

Here are pictures…

So many clever signs! Here are just a few…

Stay safe, stay well, stay involved. Be grateful and be kind. Slava Ukraini! God Save America! Peace…