I AM AN AMERICAN, a Minnesotan, a resident of Rice County and the city of Faribault. I am a writer, photographer, blogger, poet. I am a wife, mother, grandmother. And I am also a protester.
On Saturday I joined millions across the country and world participating in NO KINGS rallies in my fourth protest since June 14. I care about America. I love America. But I don’t like what’s happening here under the Trump administration, which is eroding our democracy and taking, or attempting to take, away our rights, freedoms and, oh, so much more by authoritarian rule, force, threats, retribution, control, manipulation…
I refuse to remain silent at a time such as this. So I exercised my rights to free speech and freedom of peaceful assembly under the First Amendment to the Constitution by participating in a protest in neighboring Northfield along with a thousand or more others. We packed Ames Park along the Cannon River and lined the east side of Minnesota State Highway 3 for a block to listen to speakers, to share our concerns, to hold protest signs high, to hear plans of action, to sing and pray and reflect, and to engage in conversation.
At times throughout the 1 ½-hour event, I protested next to a Vietnam War veteran, a mechanic, a retired professor of Spanish and Latin American literature (also a poet), a retired college office employee, a retired engineer, a retired elementary school teacher… I also mingled among countless others there for the same reason—to protest. To express our concerns about healthcare, education, the economy, immigration, due process, freedom of speech, a free press, free and fair elections, government funding cuts, the presence of military in our cities, the balance of power, the judiciary, the overreach of power, clean energy… The list goes on and on.
I saw a baby strapped to his/her mom. Kids on shoulders. Kids with signs. Young people of high school age and early adulthood. Those in their middle years. Those in their sixties, like me. And those even older, some probably pushing ninety. The turn-out for this protest was even bigger and more diverse age-wise than the one in June in Northfield on the date Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Doug, were assassinated.
To be among this group of peacefully protesting concerned Americans during the NO KINGS rally felt empowering. Uplifting. We were unified in our movement, even as one speaker pointed out that we may not agree on everything. Another termed what’s unfolding in America today as not “normal.” It is not, and should not be, normal. Ever.
Support from motorists passing by was overwhelmingly positive with honking horns and waves. Of course, we got a few middle fingers and intentionally roaring, racing vehicles. Only once did I feel unsafe—when a car sped by at a dangerously high speed, the driver clearly attempting to antagonize and threaten us. That was the only overt hatred I witnessed.
Those of us peacefully gathered did not, as some Republican politicians adamantly and wrongly stated, come because we hate America. Far from it. We love America. That was clear in the peaceful tone of the event, in American flags waving, in recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, in singing of the national anthem, in signage, in our desire to uphold the Constitution, in our genuinely deep concern about the state of our country under President Donald Trump. In our voices rising. Loud. And free.
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NOTE: Please be respectful in your comments. I moderate all comments on this, my personal blog.
© Copyright 2025 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
“The list goes on and on.” On social media, I saw a photo of a sign at one protest (I forget where) that simply said, “Ugh! Where do I even start?”
That pretty much says it, “Ugh! Where do I even start?” Thank you for sharing that sign message.
Thank you so much for participating in this important event. Most of all, thank you for writing this very descriptive article.
You’re welcome. I do what I can. We must all do what we can.
thank you for this, Audrey and for all who stood with you yesterday. I love the mix of american heroes of all kinds who stood strong for democracy and freedom. we cannot be silent and must take strong peaceful action.
Yes, to speaking up and to strong, peaceful action. I haven’t read your blog yet (tomorrow), but I expect you were also out protesting.
I was in charleston, south Carolina, and had hoped to, had reached out to people there, had my shirt on and sign ready, but the protest was in the capitol and couldn’t make it there in time to make my flight. I protested by wearing my shirt everywhere we went that day and then at the airport, with most positive response. my family and friends protested here and I was with them all in spirit. sadly, I know there will need to be more protests ahead and I will be there –
You did your part by wearing your protest shirt. What was the message? Thank you to your family for protesting.
it was my indivisible shirt with the logo and at this point in time, most people know what it represents-
🙂
Audrey, lady, I love you, I like what you do, However, I fail to see where your rights are being violated – or anyone else’s. or if they are. I have noticed you have failed to point out failure or overstep by previous administrations wrong doing. 4 years of flooding the country with those from other countries (illegal). – and you feel your rights are being threatened when a President decided to enforce the law? I am sorry, but I do not like paying for an Illegal’s health care after I was threatened with fines to pay for my own (is your memory that short?). Peace be with you, We must agree to disagree at this point.
Yes, Gunny, we must choose to disagree. And leave it at that.
It sure was fun, wasn’t it? I always meet like-minded people. I wish there would be one in Faribault as well. I would love to see what kind of turnout we could get over there. You should come to the Rice/Scott County DFL meeting on November 20…
Yes, the protests always uplift me. And, yes, you could say it was “fun.” And, yes, I would like to see a protest in Faribault.
Just a note that I deleted details of the upcoming meeting from your comment, but have added it to my personal calendar. I didn’t feel comfortable putting details out there on my blog.
Well said! It’s a common practice for rising authoritarians (and fascists) to brand any who oppose them as “haters” or “traitors” or “radical leftists” or whatever. In my mom’s day it was “the Jews”; in my day it was “the communist menace.” Let’s not fall for any of this. The very essence of being a country-loving, patriotic, freedom loving American is to exercise one’s constitutional right to Free Speech. And the more our free speech irritates the Fascists the better. So let’s have more of it!
Well said. I agree with you 100 percent. These are excellent points. Whenever we get the finger at these protests, we realize we’re getting under “their” skin. And that’s a good thing. Also, you’re correct about the hate rhetoric coming from some elected officials. It just makes us more determined to peacefully exercise our freedom of speech and of peaceful assembly.
Our community had a huge gathering and while I did not attend — it was peaceful for the most part. I understand the anger but I don’t like the vulgar signs and speech that some use to protest. Those turn me off but I totally support our freedom to attend events like these. We all do what we can to promote our rights — some are more effective than other ways but these events certainly encourage conversations and community. Glad you could attend.
In the protests I’ve attended, the language and signs have not been vulgar, although some signage has a play on words that could be taken as such. I’m glad to hear of the protests in your North Carolina community.
I’m glad you went and the event was safe. We were visiting friends in a small town in mid-coast Maine, and joined them at the local demonstration. It was a lovely day and some 2,000 people showed up, an amazing number for such a small place. We were far from the road so no drive by feedback that we could see, but a lot of very positive walk-by support. I really believe these events matter. The Reps have to frame them negatively. Otherwise they might have to listen and think. My guess is the more threatened they feel their agenda is, the more they will lash out. A good barometer, perhaps.
Your comment is spot on. Thank you for participating in that small town Maine rally while visiting friends.
That’s fine, I just wanted to let you know of the meeting.
And I so appreciate you sharing that with me. I just got an email from the Steele County people and 500 people showed up for their protest. I’m so glad. When we protested there several months ago (albeit not at a NO KINGS event) about 40 of us protested. The people are rising!
This is a great recap Audrey. I was happy to learn that the intention of No King’s protests of non-violence was respected at the thousands of protests nation-wide. It felt good to be in Ames Park on Saturday, surrounded by hundreds of caring people who* love* America and only want to keep democracy in place, not dictatorship.
Thank you, Valerie. I’m glad we can stand together and support one another and this movement at these protests. And, yes, that ALL protests were peaceful is a good thing. Organizers have always made it clear that these protests are to be non-violent. They have people trained to intervene and de-escalate should the need arise.
I love that you say this Audrey, “ We love America. That was clear in the peaceful tone of the event, in American flags waving, in recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, in singing of the national anthem, in signage, in our desire to uphold the Constitution, in our genuinely deep concern about the state of our country under President Donald Trump. In our voices rising. Loud. And free.”
And I love the sign in your last photo “ PRESERVE PROTECT DEFEND OUR CONSTITUTION”. ❤️🤍💙
These points need to be stressed over and over again, until everyone realizes that most people, no matter what side, love America. The politicians and the government must get this message and start working for the entire country, instead of ripping the country apart with wild partisan policies, and ridiculous, incendiary name-calling (and disgusting AI memes).
I fully agree. And I’m glad you noticed that “Constitution” sign. I was wondering if anyone would. It’s part of the reason I chose that photo to include in those post. I snapped only a few images with my cellphone, choosing to be a protester over a photographer.