A 28-year-old man, born and raised in Mesa, who wore a mask to protect his identity, when asked “Why are you here today,” told Northeast Valley News, “I’m here to protest against, well, basically fascism—we’re like full-blown into a fascist state.”
When asked what he was most concerned about for his future, he said, “For—a future—is there even a future to have at this point? I mean, damn, I remember when I was younger the days of Joe Arpaio, I mean, I’m brown and I used to worry about carrying my own birth certificate in my vehicle—then, that was about some fear, but this, this is reality.”
He said he has confidence that more and more young people will be joining the resistance against Donald Trump because they are the ones who are in need of hope and the chance to make their own way ahead. “Right now, there isn’t much hope out there, so we have to resist.”
Thousands moved along Wesley Bolin Plaza at the Arizona State Capitol and people were still gathering and walking to the rally several streets away and two hours in from the start of the rally. The temperature was, as expected, one of the hottest of the year, but it didn’t appear to curb attendance.
By 10 a.m. it was impossible to find a place to park nearby.
Demonstrators were greeted by more than 50 event hosts wearing fluorescent vests, handing out free water, directing people to the portable bathrooms and alerting crowds to “take shade” occasionally.
One speaker on the stage told the crowds, “Hey people, we are going to have a peaceful demonstration today—and while the crowd roared— added, “And we will avoid any confrontations from planted agitators because that’s what they want us to do, and we won’t engage and we won’t be stopped.”
A Marine Veteran who voted for Trump in 2016 said he was out to protest “Dictator Trump” who doesn’t respect Veterans. He blamed his own lack of knowledge when he first voted for Trump and didn’t really know exactly “who” Trump and other Republicans were and what they stood for during the first go around, but said he is clear now, that Trump’s only concern is for himself. “Hey, he can’t arrest and detain us all, and we’re not stopping.”
Vietnam Veteran, Ron Cole, who served in 1961 said he was not afraid to give his name for the record and told Northeast Valley News, “I’m here to protest and get asshole Trump out of office who’s done absolutely nothing but lie and take money away from Veterans and they’re dying right and left and we don’t need any more of them committing suicide.”
Many people walking through the crowd were singing and some noticeably older demonstrators familiar with certain lyrics broke out in song when the rally organizers piped music from the late Marvin Gaye’s 1971 hit about the resistance to the Vietnam War, “What’s Going On.”
The atmosphere from the beginning was one of unity and purpose.
Crowds slowly walked and greeted each other, admiring signs, hugging, high fives and people stopped to support Veterans at booths as well as many from the LGBTQ+ communities during Pride month.
A group of men attended the rally wearing TACO costumes and one man rode a blow-up chicken through the crowds to signify the “Republican cowards in Congress” who refuse to oppose Trump.
Young people and a considerable number of seniors in attendance carried focused messages on their signs—the overriding theme—demand that Donald Trump and the current administration stop violating the Constitution and due process.
Along Jefferson Street to the north of the Capitol building people in vehicles stopped in traffic were honking and holding out hands of “thumbs up” to the demonstrators.
There was a minor police presence at the rally.
