STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

A skeleton waving a tiny American flag took its place among hundreds of Wood River Valley residents taking part in Saturday’s No Kings III Rally.

“Willing to lend Congress a spine,” the skeleton smiled at those driving down Main Street Hailey, its sign in its—well, lap?

The sentiment represents what’s happening in Washington, D.C., where Congress is afraid to use its checks and balances against a President who would be king, said those attending the rally in Hop Porter Park.

Tracey Caraluzzi carried a sign expressing her belief that America is bowing to President Trump as Germans did to Adolf Hitler.

“This is not a blue versus red thing but it’s about saving democracy and stopping a corrupt autocrat,” speaker Kaz Thea told the crowd as American flags flapped gently in the breeze behind her.

Hailey’s was one of more than 3,300 rallies planned across the United States, with rallies also held in Rome, London and Paris. One Associated Press account noted that people rallied from New York City with almost 8.5 million residents to Driggs, a town of fewer than 2,000 people in the solidly red state of Idaho. There was even a rally in Arco, which boasts fewer than 900 residents.

The National Republican Congressional Committee called the rallies “Hate America Rallies.”

But a robust crowd turned out on a warm sunny day in Hailey, despite many of those in the Wood River Valley being out of town on Spring Break. And many of them said they were there because they loved America.

The Statue of Liberty gals—Jackie Cole, Deana Steffler, Trish Lewis, Amelia Bedelia and Rachel Lee--said they were rallying on behalf of democracy.

“This is an event being put on in solidarity with others in all 50 states,” said rally organizer Katja Burmester. “There are more than 3,1000 rallies throughout the country—23 in Idaho at last count. They’re against corruption and the war with Iran. And they’re a nice way to let people know they’re not alone.”

Cookie Cook sang John Lennon’s song “Imagine” to the accompaniment of Kevin Ware. And Thea noted a litany of concerns, including an “illegal war against Iran that’s costing $1.3 million a minute.”

“We stand today against hateful cruel policies targeting vulnerable communities, against a president who acts as if he’s above the law,” she said. “Seventy-two percent of Americans oppose sending ground troops to Iran. And allocating $200 billion more for war? NO!”

Many of those in the crowd have been airing their concerns at rallies for a year now. And the signs showed it as many have grown from sentiments scribbled on cardboard with Sharpies to works of art.

American flags were plentiful during the rally.

“You can’t bomb your way out of the Epstein files,” said one. “We want healthcare, not warfare,” said another. “I’m on the left to protect your rights,” said one, while another said, “Sorry for being weird—this is my first dictatorship.”

Amy Johnon held one up with a broom that said, “Clean up in aisle 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.” while another sign said, “Fight truth decay—support a free press.” One man, noting the President’s enthusiasm for accepting awards, boasted a well-crafted sign featuring a big gold coin with the President at the center of it and the words, “Noble Piece of S—Prize.”

One woman held up a sign, “Idaho—where cows get better healthcare than women,” while a man carried a sign that warned, “History will remember the cowards that kept quiet and let this go on.”

Asha Muhingi, a Boise State University political science major who volunteers for Babe Vote, recounted how she had come to Idaho at 9 as a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Sarah Michael and Bob Jonas got cute with their signs, one of which evoked Idaho’s reputation as the Potato State with the words “No Dick Tater.”

“They’re trying to divide us, to make us lose our attention on what really matters—humanity,” she said. “We’ve been feeling disenfranchised, dissatisfied…and we’re here to say, ‘Enough is enough!’ ”

Muhingi encouraged the crowd to remember refugees and immigrants who are living in fear.

“What’s happening isn’t normal,” she said. “We shouldn’t put our heads down and feel oppressed. We’re social justice warriors coming together to refuse to accept the demise of our democracy.”

Misti Delli Carpini-Tolman, who represents Planned Parenthood, noted that the Idaho legislature recently passed some of the most extreme legislation in the country, including a bill that criminalizes transgender people who use a restroom that doesn’t conform with the sex noted on their birth certificate.

“That’s not about safety—it’s about power,” she said. “Being loud about what we believe matters.”

Raquel Reyesa, a farm wife and mother who works for Poder of Idaho, which advocates for Latinos, concurred that “what we’re witnessing in Idaho right now is not policy making, but rather a targeted attack on the existence of immigrants, transgender people and others.”

“Democracy should work for everyone—not just the wealthy or those with the loudest mouths,” added said Anita Janis, who is running for a House seat in District 26. “It should work for teachers, farmers, construction workers and immigrants—because all of us call this place home. Too many people do not feel their voice carries weight. They feel like the decisions about their lives are made by people elsewhere who they do not know. I’m running because I know we can do better and we must do better.”

Thea noted that Idaho is ranked at the bottom of all 50 states for the number of dollars it spends per child from kindergarten through 12th grade. And, it’s at the bottom when it comes to the number of physicians per capita, needing 1,500 new physicians to catch up.

“Let us leave here not just inspired but mobilized,” Thea told the crowd. “This is how change occurs. This is how democracy survives. We do not do kings: No kings. No ICE. No Wars!”