by Shawn Nowlin
When Roanoke native Skylar Henderson says that Donald Trump is the worst President of her lifetime, she means it with every fiber in her being.
Raised to reject authoritarianism, Henderson says that if the second Trump term taught her anything, it’s that he is incapable of ever taking accountability of anything. Also, the only way that America will begin a new chapter is when a healthy percentage of those who either sat out the last election or voted for Trump realize they were conned by a legendary conman.
Henderson, 43, has been to numerous political rallies since graduating from high school. She says what made the one she attended last Saturday different was the makeup and energy of the attendees.
According to the Roanoke City Democratic Committee, more than 3,000 people gathered at Washington Park on Oct. 18 for a “No Kings” protest, a series of nationwide demonstrations against the authoritarian policies of the Trump Administration that many see.
Expected to be the largest peaceful protest in modern American history, when all was said and done, more than seven million people across all 50 states stood in solidarity with their fellow citizens to make a definitive statement.
“When I looked across Washington Park on Saturday, I saw the best of America. People of different economic, religious and educational backgrounds joining forces for a common goal. Some of the people I spoke to were lifelong Republicans who said they will not be voting for the GOP in the coming elections,” Henderson said.
Hosted by Roanoke Indivisible, an all-volunteer nonpartisan organization working to build a mass movement of people that holds the government accountable, the rally also served as a call to action to vote in the upcoming elections and get more involved in the community.
Participants held a variety of creative signs, including ones that read “Alexa, Change The President, Please!” and “Jesus Was An Illegal Immigrant.”
“Our communities are uniting to remind the world that America is no place for kings,” former Roanoke County Administrator Dan O’Donnell said. “The grassroots movement against Trump was born in the streets and is being shouted by millions of our friends and neighbors. This goes far beyond the words we chant or write on our posters. Our movement is essential to human dignity.”
Among the guest speakers who addressed the attendees at Washington Park was historian Jordan Bell. “No matter what you see on the news or hear from your co-workers, they cannot and will not erase our story. This is the greatest form of protest. People who disagree with the way things are by peacefully protesting a fascist lunatic and his minions like House Speaker Mike Johnson, Governor Youngkin and Winsome Earl-Sears,” Bell said.
He added, “All of these individuals have been people throughout our history who have fought against the freedoms of everyone. If I am not free, you are not free.”
Similar rallies across the Commonwealth took place in Charlottesville, Richmond and Newport News.
Unsurprisingly, Trump chose to verbally attack those who participated in the protests. An AI-generated video depicting him flying a plane dropping excrement on demonstrators was also posted to his social media accounts.
“By the way, I’m not a king. I’m not a king. I work my butt off to make our country great. That’s all it is. I’m not a king at all. Those who participated in the protests truly hate America. People say that I’m the most effective person who has ever used social media,” he wrote on Twitter.
When next year’s midterms come around, one of two things will happen. Americans will either give Democrats control of the House of Representatives and Senate, or Trump will have even more unchecked power. According to a combination of the most recent polls, Democrats would likely win the Senate and House if the elections were held tomorrow.
