Students and community members gathered outside the Bannock County Courthouse on Oct. 18 to join the nationwide ‘No Kings’ movement, calling for democratic accountability and equality through peaceful protest and student activism.
The movement, which began earlier this year, has now stretched across all 50 states. According to the ‘No Kings’ website, more than 2,700 events have taken place nationwide, drawing an estimated seven million participants. While the movement has gained momentum nationwide, its message resonated deeply with participants in Pocatello who said the call for accountability feels increasingly personal.
“I am in a place where I don’t have to worry about my freedoms, there are a lot of people in our community specifically who do,” said Grace Solomon, a former ISU student, “I see things that are worrisome in different parts of the country, and if we don’t act no,w then they’ll spread here,” Solomon said she worries about freedoms in the country, a concern shared by others in attendance.
The crowd outside the Bannock County Courthouse handed out water and stickers as passing cars honked, and cheers were heard among the crowd.
“We are suffering in so many ways, the government is still shut down, and there are so many people who are facing persecution in everything, not just the groups that I’m a part of.” Katriel Collier, a Pocatello resident, stated, “I can sympathize at least in some way.”
Political activism among Gen Z students has been on the rise nationwide, fueled by concerns over government accountability, free speech, and climate policy. At ISU, students say the ‘No Kings’ movement represents not rebellion, but responsibility. For attendees like John Durwin, a returning ISU student, the protest was a way to push back against what he called a worrying shift toward concentrated power.
“The notion that America is not to be ruled by a dictator or a king, and in particular seeing everything online about the mobilization of ICE as seemingly a paramilitary or secret police,” Durwin said.
For many students, the protest was both a personal and civic responsibility. Reegan Curran, a communications major at ISU, said they attended to voice opposition.
“Protesting is how I am allowed to go to school in the first place. It’s a privilege to be a student, and it’s even more of a privilege to make my voice heard.” Curran said, “The current political climate makes me nervous for when I graduate next year. I’m a Communications major, and the recent loyalty bill that was signed in the Pentagon adds to those nerves. They want to control what media is being put out, and that is such an abuse of power. If they’re trying to control the media and journalistic voices now, I worry about how much power my voice will have when I join the job market post graduation.”
For students like Curran, the protest was about taking an active role in shaping the future. The demonstration in Pocatello was one of hundreds held across the country over the weekend, each amplifying a shared call for reform and transparency. As the ‘No Kings’ movement continues to grow, the goal remains simple: to remind Americans that democracy depends on those willing to stand up for it. No counter-protests or police presence were reported.
- Aurora Hons
Staff Writer
The Bengal