Thousands rally against Trump in Boulder as ‘No Kings’ protests spread nationwide

Thousands of people gathered in Boulder on Saturday for the third “No Kings” national demonstration opposing President Donald Trump and his policies.

Read more UCAR asks court to stop Trump’s NCAR breakup while legal challenge plays out

Crowds packed downtown streets as the city closed sections of Canyon Boulevard, 9th Street, Pine Street and Broadway for about two hours. Boulder police managed traffic at key intersections during the march.

Some people dressed in costumes, others carried homemade signs, some with zingers mocking the president’s orange complexion, and others warning of fascism. At least one sign called for saving the National Center for Atmospheric Research, which Trump is seeking to restructure. The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, a Boulder-based nonprofit consortium of 129 universities known as UCAR, has sued over the effort.

Marchers chanted “no borders, no walls, sanctuary for all” and “one, two, three, four, we don’t want your stupid war” as they circled downtown. Some residents watched from their porches. One person handed out whistles, which people across the county have used to alert neighbors to the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

The demonstration featured drumming by the community group Bateria Ensemble at the corner of 9th Street and Canyon Boulevard, as well as marchers carrying drums and tambourines.

Read more Furloughs canceled at Boulder NOAA Global Monitoring Lab after $4 million in federal funding released

Outside First Congregational Church at Pine Street and Broadway, a newly formed Boulder chapter of Singing Resistance performed songs from the labor and civil rights movements. The national initiative organizes group singing in protest of the Trump administration’s immigration and other policies.

The group performed “We Shall Not Be Moved,” the gospel-rooted hymn that became a civil rights anthem, along with “Hold On” by Heidi Wilson, which gained popularity following protests in Minneapolis. They also sang Bob Marley and Peter Tosh’s “Get Up, Stand Up,” improvising to advocate for First Amendment rights, freedom of the press, the right to vote and those taken by ICE.

Forever Indivisible Boulder, a local chapter of the national progressive group that formed after Trump was first elected in 2016, helped organize the event. 

The Boulder march was part of the nationwide “No Kings” day of action that drew millions of people to more than 3,000 events across all 50 states, according to organizers. Large demonstrations took place in cities including New York, Chicago and Boston, with the largest gathering likely in the Twin Cities, where more than 200,000 people attended, organizers said.

Read more ‘A really bad fire season’? Boulder County official warns conditions are already in place