No Kings Day in Key Center

Who knew Flag Day could be so inclusive?

I arrived just after the scheduled start of the No Kings Protest in Key Center June 14, wearing press credentials and a camera around my neck, with a recorder in hand.

The nationwide protest was widely reported as the largest single-day political demonstration in U.S. history, with more than 5 million people rallying in big cities, small towns, and in Key Center, where there were more people than I at least have ever seen at a political function anywhere on the Key Peninsula.

A coalition of roughly 20 national organizations spread the word of peaceful demonstrations intended to celebrate the American flag and all rights it represents under the U.S. Constitution. Local organizers said they counted over 400 people at the height of the protest in Key Center.

“I am here because I feel our country slipping into authoritarianism, fascism,” said Deborah Jordan of Longbranch. “I think we as people can come out and demonstrate, speak, and perhaps change that. That’s my hope.”

Jordan began protesting in 1971, against the war in Vietnam, and many wars since. “Protesting is very different now,” she said. “It’s friendly and happier with basically a good reception.”

The sounds of camaraderie between people cheering and chanting back and forth, “No Kings in America!” and “KP for Democracy!” created a certain energy. Car after car rolled through the intersection with drivers honking, windows down, and occupants waving as they passed the crowd on both sides of the county highway. I heard countless passengers encouraging protesters by shouting over the din, “Thank you!” and “We love you!”

Of course, some waved with their middle finger.

“I’m struck by how many horns are honking and all that,” said Bill Dietz, of Vaughn. “There are a lot more of us out here hiding out in the woods than you think.”

His wife, Marjorie, said, “I think part of it is the fear. Fear is very effective. We are already afraid to show what we really believe. It’s very strange. It’s better we come out here than our young ones.”

“The snatch and grabs without due process drives me crazy,” said Martha Taylor, a Hispanic homeowner on the KP for 53 years. “There’s a new horror story every morning. I’m sure some of my California relatives are in there, too. It’s just nuts.”

Carla Swainson, of Lake of the Woods, said “People can do things I don’t agree with; that’s OK. But when you start ignoring the Constitution and overriding it, and the people who are supposed to represent us are letting this happen, you’ve got to do something. I can’t do a lot, but I can do this.”

I saw a man seated on the open tailgate of a truck facing Olson Road with a few medium-sized American flags flying, anchored in containers of blooming annuals as a backdrop behind him. He held one large flag on a pole with its weight resting on the tailgate.

I introduced myself and asked if he was interested in sharing his reasons for being there that day.

Mike Cornell lives near Rocky Bay. He told me he and his wife, Leanne, came to represent the other side and to support the right of every American to protest, including people they disagree with. The flag he held had the stars and stripes, but in black, white, and blue to show support for the police and the military, important to him as a veteran. Leanne waved a large thin blue line flag and stood on a corner northeast of the intersection, a respectful distance from the main body of protesters.

“I do believe in America and everything that we do here, and the right for everybody to do this,” Mike said.

“If somebody asked, I’d be happy to listen to them and to explain the other side as well. Because, realistically, it lies somewhere in the middle — because we both care, we all care about what happens to this country, and what happens to our neighbors, or anything else. And with that in mind, we share a lot of common ground. It’s kind of our point of view, and that’s why we want to come here.

“Obviously, we blend in here with everyone else, and that’s perfectly fine. Our shirts are really the only thing that is a little different — Leanne’s reads ‘DARK MAGA’.”

I have seen a lot of flags lately, especially on the Purdy Bridge. There was the stars and stripes, pride flags, Ukrainian flags, and one day a few Mexican flags for a few hours before someone took away all but one American flag — they even took the Croatian flags. I’ve heard many complaints about that display being “un-American.” I might have agreed if there was a Confederate stars and bars among them. But that flag flies here too, and taking it down or outlawing it doesn’t move us any closer together.

“I’m for everyone to have the right to an opinion, and I’m not going to be squashed or let somebody get squashed because their opinion is different,” Mike said. “We’re different and we should rejoice in those differences.”

Mike Cornell said he loves being in the mix to support every American’s right to respectful protest. He and his wife were most certainly in the minority of participants at “No Kings” protest in Key Center but it didn’t stop them. The Cornells were happy to participate regardless.

Lisa Bryan, KP News