By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
A veteran from Perrysburg, Richard Brundrett could not sit out the “No Kings” protest on Saturday. Standing along South Main Street in downtown Bowling Green, Brundrett held a sign stating “Trump is everything we teach our children not to be.”
Across the nation on Saturday, growing unrest and anger led everyday citizens to create posters, stand along streets, march across bridges and express their dismay with the direction of the nation under President Donald Trump.
National organizers of the third “No Kings” protest in 10 months reported more than 3,100 communities in all 50 states registered rallies on Saturday. Citizens gathered in huge cities like Chicago, Minneapolis, Los Angeles and New York City in blue states – and in small towns in red states like Idaho, Wyoming and Montana.
Those protests were mirrored overseas, with nations around the globe questioning Trump’s leadership and their weakened relationships with the U.S.
In Bowling Green, a crowd estimated at its peak to have reached 1,000, stretched through the downtown, north and south on Main Street, east and west on Wooster.
“I am here to protest this ridiculous administration,” Brundrett said, listing off President Donald Trump’s war with Iran, his lack of empathy for the hardships he is inflicting on citizens, his refusal to obey court orders, and the “crude and indecent language” he uses.
Brundrett also expressed his disbelief that Republicans in Congress are allowing all of this to continue, including permitting ICE to enter homes without judicial warrants.
The people lining the sidewalks of downtown Bowling Green on Saturday were as varied as their complaints against Trump.
A retired teacher, college student, farmer, veteran, business owner, pastor, health care worker and accountant took their spots along Bowling Green’s streets on Saturday. They protested the cruel actions of ICE, the illogical tariffs, the unnecessary war in Iran, the incomplete release of the Epstein files, and much more.
Standing on the sunny side of North Main Street, Judy Powell of Bowling Green held a sign advising citizens to “know your parasites,” with images of a deer tick, dog tick, and “luna-tick” with a photo of Trump.
“I feel it’s an important time for people to stand up for what they believe in. And I believe in democracy,” Powell said.
Powell was joined by Marla Overholt, of Perrysburg, who said this was her first protest.
“I’m not happy with the way our country is being run. I don’t like people who lie,” she said. Overholt said millions of Americans are hurting, while the Trump family is making billions off of the presidency and turning his back on U.S. allies.
“We need new leadership,” she said.
Retired teacher, Carol Slater of Bowling Green, carried a cardboard cutout with a crying George Washington on one side and Abe Lincoln on the other.
“Trump does so many things that are illegal,” she said. “He’s treating our people so badly.
Slater said her teaching experience led her to create the cardboard visual for the protest.
“Our country is in a sad situation that we’ve never been in before,” she said.
Tom Lingeman, of Perrysburg, held a sign reading “Citizens not subjects.”
“I’m here to save our country from a president and congress who are taking away our rights left and right,” he said. “They’re eliminating our rights, trying to get around laws by using the Department of Justice to eliminate our rights.”
River Yatko, a student at Bowling Green State University, was roaming through the crowd offering protesters “whistle kits” to alert people if ICE agents are spotting in areas of the city. Yatko said she has particular concerns for international students at BGSU, who are now fearful of their status in the U.S.
Midway into the protest, Yatko said she had passed out more than 100 whistle kits, which also included a card explaining Constitutional rights of individuals against illegal searches of their persons or their homes.
Spencer Cunningham, of Bowling Green, also shared concerns about immigrants under Trump’s presidency.
“I’m a teacher at the University of Findlay. When I started there 15 years ago there were over 700 international students,” he said. “It was a tremendous asset to our students.”
But that number is down to approximately 200 now, he estimated.
“International students are just not feeling safe,” Cunningham said.
“The United States used to be where everybody wanted to go,” he said. “But now we’re diminished as a country in a number of ways.”
Michelle Gessner, of Findlay, created a walking display for the protest. With her face painted bright orange, a hat stating “Make America Smart Again,” and tiny plastic hands, she strolled the downtown behind prison bars with a chain around her neck.
“It’s all in the details,” Gessner said.
“Every day we have to wake up to this. Every day we have to fight back,” she said.
As for the orange face paint, “it does come off,” Gessner said with a smile.
Standing near the four corners was Gary Saunders, a retired pastor from Bowling Green, holding an image of a weeping Lady Liberty.
“We’ve lost our bearings,” he said. “We used to be a country that respected diverse people and ideas. That was our foundation from the beginning.”
“Now we have a country trying to take us in exactly the wrong direction,” Saunders said.
Sallie Lankenau, of Defiance, took her stand at the four corners, holding a sign that said “Clean up on aisle 47” on one side and “I’d like that taco (standing for Trump Always Chickens Out) to go please” on the other.
“I’m here mostly because I love democracy,” she said. “I have children and I want them to bring up their children in a world that is just.”
“We’re standing up for what we believe in,” Lankenau said.
Also roaming the sidewalks was Tiffany Vandersall, of Waterville, who pulled a wagon carrying her dog Tucker, plus free water bottles and snacks of granola bars and pretzels for protesters.
“They are expending energy to do good work,” she said. “I want them to be able to fight the good fight.”
The wagon was labeled as the “Protest Station,” with water being free, democracy being priceless, and kings not accepted.
Some protesters dressed as Santa Claus with a nice and naughty list, Pokemon, and red-cloaked women from Handmaid’s Tale.
The signs expressed varying concerns, such as:
- I’ve seen better cabinets at IKEA.
- Elect a clown – expect a circus.
- Only Kings needed in USA – Steven, Gayle and Burger.
- Fight truth decay.
- We bombed children today.
- 38,000 times – more times than Harry Potter was mentioned in all seven books.
- I need to tell my grandchildren I did not stay silent.
- Deposing monarchs since 1776.
- Love your neighbor, including immigrants.
- I like my ICE crushed.
- When cruelty becomes normal, compassion looks radical.
- We are a nation of immigrants. ICE belongs in the freezer.
- If there is any justice, “Big Beautiful Bill” will be the name of Trump’s cell mate.
- Healthcare not warfare.
- If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.
- Hate will not make us great.
- The only royalty I support are drag queens.
