The streets surrounding Washington Square Park on Saturday morning were packed and loud.
The “No Kings” protest organized by Indivisible NOLA kicked off from a field on the corner of Mandeville and Decatur streets around 10 a.m. to protest President Donald Trump’s Washington, D.C. military parade and to create community amongst people frustrated with the political climate since Trump began his second term in January, according to the protest’s organizers.
“We hope to channel the despair, frustration, rage people are feeling,” said Clare Leavy, one of the leaders of Indivisible NOLA. “So while people are mad, we need to channel that into something productive, make as many connections as we can and stay connected.”
Indivisible NOLA is part of a larger organization, the Indivisible Project, that is mobilizing a nationwide opposition to the Trump administration’s agenda through organizing thousands of chapters across the country, according to Beth Davis, the press liaison for Indivisible NOLA.
The turnout was much higher than expected, organizers said. Davis said they were anticipating around 2,000 people, but they estimate 6,500 showed up.
“The parade itself was a mile long,” Davis said. “We would have never anticipated that.”
“There are many, many more people than expected,” said Lauren Arbo, a local landscape contractor who said the turnout gives her hope. She and her husband parked near the gates of Washington Square Park. “This is like Mardi Gras,” Arbo said. “There are like 1000s of people just surrounding my truck.”
Clothing designers Jenny Campbell and Monique Motil said they were excited about gathering and demonstrating with like-minded members of the community. Each aspect of their attire had a political statement, like Campbell’s exaggerated tie and made-in-China hat.
“It’s a sin how we’re living in this country right now,” said Campbell. “New Orleans is about love, and this is why we are all here.”
Amber James, another demonstrator, said that what Trump and his administration is doing is wrong.
“I care about people. I care about human rights. I care that our children have free lunch,” she said. “I care that he’s dragging children and mothers and people that aren’t criminals out of their homes and locking them up in places that they don’t even belong.”
For retired Navy veteran Adam Bashaw, the military parade in Washington is “reprehensible.” He said that citizens should be concerned.
“I’ve always believed in America that we are a democracy, that all of us are created equal, that every single person has a right to exist in this country,” Bashaw said, “and we’re seeing that definitely under attack.”
When the march finished, Davis said Indivisible NOLA was very pleased with the turnout, but that they will wait another six weeks before they organize the next event. She hopes that people who are interested in connecting with Indivisible NOLA will reach out.
“We’re all taking a break,” Davis said, “and I’m probably going to take a long nap.”
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