No Kings, Yelm WA

Day 6: I make no secret of the fact that I am anti-Cheeto, but I do try to keep politics out of my posts for the most part because that seems to be all anyone talks about these days. That, and I find refuge in needlearts and science, so my posts are something of an escape for me as well. That said, I attended a "No Kings" protest in June in Eatonville, and today I went to a second one in Yelm since there weren't any closer (or at least not that were advertised). We had a good turnout, by my estimation between 200-300 people. There were a few MAGAts who tried their best to stir up trouble, including one who went around taking phone photos of everyone, claiming to be doing so at the behest of the government. He boasted that he was getting paid to do so, and intended to post them on Facebook in order to have as many people identified as possible. Was it true? I rather doubt it. I think he was simply trying to frighten people away. For the most part, our signs were met with supportive honks as people passed through the busy main intersection. Again, there were a few cars bearing folks from the other side who gave us the finger as they went past. We had some inflatable protesters, too. The cat was my favourite, of course. I will say I had a rather chilling moment when I realized one of the MAGAts was following me as I left to return to my car via a circuitous route. I dodged and wove, and pretended to return to the corner where I had been standing, and finally, he lost interest. The "situational awareness" training I've had through the Park paid off. I'm not brave and I'm not strong, but I am canny. Even so, I'm glad I went. It's good to see so many like-minded people standing up against this regime.

Even Eatonville

Day 245: For as red as rural Pierce County is known to be, it was surprising to see roughly 50 people turn out for the "No Kings" protest in Eatonville WA (population 2845 per the 2020 census). We gathered at the main intersection (the one and only stoplight), and while most people stood on the corner in front of Plaza Market where travellers to the Mountain would best see them, we occupied all four corners. Some folks came for a while and then departed. Dozens of drivers honked and waved support. A few flagged us the finger or shouted profanities, and most of those responses came predictably from the demographic of jeepers, farmers and horsemen, motorcyclists, people in run-down cars and similar ilk. I stayed for the scheduled hour,, and was further surprised by seeing a solitary brave woman with a "No Kings" sign at the public rest area in Elbe, a place redder even than E'ville. If our turnout was this large, I can hardly wait to hear the national figures.