Napa rallies for ‘No Kings’ protests
“We the people, will never be defeated” was the resounding message of downtown Napa’s “No Kings” rally on Saturday, June 14.
The voices of thousands of people echoed on the Oxbow Commons, chanting in unison, “No more kings.” Saturday’s demonstration was one of more than 1,800 rallies spanning all 50 states protesting President Donald Trump’s administration and its recent escalation of immigration enforcement. On this day, the people of Napa were not silent.
By 2 p.m., more than 4,000 people filled the lower lawn behind the Oxbow Commons. The crowd gathered in a half-moon, some taking to the adjacent hills to hear the speakers below the Soscol Avenue overpass. Sporting rebellious outerwear, the crowd held their cardboard messages and American flags high; it was a sea of signs amidst an ocean of proud people.
As the crowd waited to hear speeches from community leaders, they softly sang Woody Gutherie’s “This Land is Your Land” for three verses, only quieting when County Supervisor Belia Ramos stepped onstage.
Ramos opened her speech by expressing her camaraderie to all immigrants, thanking them for being an essential part of this country. She told the crowd her family’s story. Her father came to the United States hoping to contribute something meaningful to this land, wanting to make a better life for his family, a desire that most immigrants in this country have had. She described the threats that immigrants are now facing and voiced her support for all those who showed up to come together against those threats.
“Fear is a tool,” said Ramos, “When we weaponize it against each other, we do the work of those who seek to divide us.”
The crowd interrupted with applause.
After Ramos spoke, retired U.S. Army Lt. Col., Special Forces, Bill Chadwick, recounted his experience as a dedicated soldier. Chadwick said that in the United States, people don’t swear loyalty to any one person, but to the rights of the people.
“Not once did I pledge allegiance to a person, a political party, nor to a particular place,” said Chadwick. “Not even to a favorite wine.”
Laughs erupted.
“No, I pledge allegiance to an idea.”
Laughs turned to cheers; cheers turned to chants. The crowd spontaneously synchronized into a choir, singing the words “We, the people, will never be defeated,” over and over again.
During the remainder of the speeches, the crowd rustled amongst themselves, quietly listening to each new speaker. As they listened, they would roar with battle cries and thunder with applause to messages of liberty, freedom, strength, resistance and compassion.
One of the final speakers, U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (4th District-CA), brought a defiant air to his words. Tipping a hat to Napa Valley vintner and filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, he proudly announced: “I love the smell of democracy in the mid-afternoon.”
Congressman Thompson’s speech rattled over the Trump administration’s missteps since taking office in January, citing the losses of key medical funding, such as services for veterans and Alzheimer’s research. In face of such actions, Thompson reminded the people of civil rights activist Flo Kennedy’s immortal wisdom, when facing injustice and hardships: “Don’t agonize, organize.”
As the speeches wound down, the crowd organized to march to the city center, starting through the park, towards downtown. They waved flags and hummed songs; a few even brought instruments, aligning the beat of their drums to the steps of the crowd.
In the middle of this path of people was a woman in a chair, with the American flag sticking out of her hair. “We’re in the middle of a serious challenge to democracy,” said Mara Adelman, a retired college professor and Napa resident for 12 years. “If you’re sitting on the fence, get off the fence.”
Back in the marching crowd was a man decked out in sunglasses and a baseball cap, wearing the Mexican flag like a cape on his back. Ezequiel Ramirez came out on Saturday to support his people and to take a stand against injustice. Ramirez said that right now, so many people are living in fear of their own government, it’s important to show those people that he is standing with them.
“Viva la rasa, we have to fight for our people,” said Ramirez. “We gotta be their voice.”
Leaving the park, heading for downtown, smiles and determination filled the faces of each demonstrator. Two locals, Diane and Jay Stewart, were ready for things in the country to get back to the way they were. In their eyes, the country needs to come together to debate, not attack.
“He’s destroying it all, taking all our rights away, everything we’ve worked for all our lives,” Diane Stewart said.
“We have to push out the hateful approach of this administration,” said Jay Stewart. “We have to get back to respect.”
As Diane waved her sign with the words “No Kings, No way,” her message, and the message of those who rallied together in Napa that day was loud and clear: “No more kings.”
