Hundreds gather in Floyd for third No Kings protest

Approximately 600 citizens gathered in front of the Floyd County Courthouse on Saturday, March 28, to protest the Trump Administration’s domestic and foreign policies. Protesters held homemade signs, sang songs, and listened to speakers as a part of No Kings demonstrations that took place across the nation.

According to messages written on signs and participant’s comments, concerns being voiced included immigration enforcement (including ICE tactics), the war in Iran, environmental issues, threats to democracy, voting rights, and The Constitution.

Jennifer Frisch from Meadows of Dan, who attended with her family, said that she taught Environmental Science for 34 years. “It’s a simple thing that a sixth grader can understand, but our president can’t.”

Standing next to Firsch, Lynn Mace of Floyd held a sign that read, “Stronger Together.” She shook her head in disbelief, saying that she came to the protest because she needed a place to put her rage.

Another protester, Victor McDonald, who grew up in Palm Beach, Florida, half an hour from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club, said he knew what Trump was capable of and what Trump’s friends are capable of. “It’s going to get worse before it gets better,” he predicted.

His neighbor protester, Doc Hensley from Floyd, said, “anything I can do, I will do. I’m here to express myself.”

“This is my first protest,” a young woman with a megaphone said. She was visiting a friend from Patrick County and came from New Hampshire. “I came to be alongside all these people trying to fight the system,” she said.

A few children were in attendance with hand drawn signs reading “Make Art Not War” and “Power Isn’t Everything. Love is Important Too.” One protester said that he didn’t want to give his name because “they might give me a free trip to El Salvador.”

Although concerns were serious, the spirit of camaraderie was high, and humor was apparent. Diane Geissler held up her sign and read it out loud, “Remember the Golden Rule,” as a neighbor piped in, “and remember the midterms.” One former teacher’s sign read “No Save Act,” also included the line, “I made this sign and no one is paying me to carry it around.” Other creative signs were “Clean up on Aisle 47” and “Files into Trials.”

A giant Putin puppet master served as an eye-catching statement. Local historian and former teacher Alice Slusher shared a cultural perspective for the occasion. She carried a poster board sign showing an old-time record, “How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Time and Still Live,” recorded in 1929 by a Floyd native, Blind Alfred Reed.

"There once was a time when everything was cheap, But now prices nearly puts a man to sleep... Most all preachers preach for gold and not for souls, That's what keeps a poor man always in a hole…"

More recently, the song has been covered by Bruce Springsteen. “It’s still relevant,” Slusher said.

Speaking into a microphone, Joy Powers, a 9th district congressional candidate challenging Morgan Griffith, reported that families are hurting across the country. Powers, a fourth-generation cattle farmer and small business owner, announced that we have more cattle farms in our district than any other district east of the Mississippi, but farm banker fees are at an all-time high and farmer suicides are rising at a record pace.

“Our neighbors here, regardless of party, know the whole story and they are ready for a change. We cannot count our neighbors out. We have to bring everybody back to the table. It is not time to meet people in their politics. It is time to meet them in their pain,” she said.

Floyd County Democratic Committee Chair Karen Baker also spoke, encouraging attendees to vote “Yes by April 21” on Virginia’s redistricting referendum. She later said, “Four Republican states have already redistricted to erase blue districts, to help Trump keep the midterms that he would lose otherwise. It was done by the state Republican legislatures without any vote. California fought back but took the vote to the people, and now Virginia is doing the same. The people will vote to temporarily redistrict. This is not us being unfair. It’s us fighting back,” she said.

Protesters wrapped around the courthouse side streets and at corners of the traffic stoplight. There was chanting and round singing. Some sang songs recently learned in a local workshop, Singing in Solidarity, that was offered to the public. Taught by Joy Tru, a singer/song leader from Roanoke, the workshop offered songs for unity, justice and love.

"The power of the people is greater than the people in power… So rise up…"

Traffic cones were placed in front of the courthouse for safety, and organizers reported that there were six trained safety people in vests to keep sidewalks and roadways clear. The sun shone and American flags waved through-out the 2-hour demonstrations. Protesters reported that the majority of vehicles passing by showed support by waving honking and gesturing thumbs-up.