STORY AND PHOTOS

There appears to be a new pastime ramping up this summer in the Wood River Valley—protesting and marching.

Two weeks after more than 800 people crowded into Ketchum Town Square Rally for a Hands Off! Rally, many of them were back at it Saturday.

More than a hundred protesters lined Highway 75 near the turnoff to Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey waving their signs as passersby honked.

Fred thanked Harvard University for taking a stand, while others addressed Ukraine and immigrants taken to a prison in El Salvador.

Some motorists even pulled over, parked and joined the protesters, choosing signs for themselves from a pile of extra signs rally organizers had brought.

Many of the signs expressed different messages than those at the Hands Off! Rally.

“No Cruel and Vindictive Kings” said one sign, acknowledging that the rally was being billed as a “No Kings” Rally as Americans across the country held rallies in commemoration of the gutsy ride of Paul Revere and the battles of Lexington and Concord that marked the start of the Revolutionary War.

“Kings Clowns Cruelty” another touted, with a slash through each.

Judy Foster invoked Abraham Lincoln with her message of upholding the Constitution.

Maria Dudenakis waved two signs, one of which said “Yo-Yo Tariffs are causing a Trumpsession” and another which said “Fascism is ignoring a 9-0 Supreme Court Ruling.”

“Tariffs: Who’s Going to Pay Our Famers? US” said one sign. Still another made an acronym of “DOGE,” standing for “Deplorable Oligarchs Grabbing Everything.” And Cindy Hamlin quoted Cory Booker: “You can’t lead the people if you don’t love the people.”

“We’re getting good at making signs,” said Margaret Stewart.

More than 2,000 demonstrators gathered at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise at the same time the Hailey rally was taking place, encouraging U.S. leaders to defend democracy and uphold the U.S. Constitution. Other demonstrations took place in Driggs, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Falls, Lewiston, Pocatello and Twin Falls.

Katja Casson pleaded for justice in all matters.

Saturday’s protest was smaller than the Hands Off! Rally. Those who turned out learned of it by word of mouth. That was on purpose because organizers don’t want people to burn out before “a super big rally” planned for May 17 in Ketchum, said Helen Stone.

Some, like Katja Casson, said they won’t burn out—that they will be out protesting as long as needed: “We have to do it to save democracy. Of course, we wish things would change so we don’t have anything to protest anymore.”

A Bellevue resident expressed her frustration: “I was going to write our congressional delegation today, but got stymied by: What do I write about? Arresting people off the street and sending them to prison in El Salvador without due process? Or the defunding of education, medical research? The firing of federal workers or the messing with Social Security? Or, tariffs on Canada? It is endless.”

A couple signs acknowledged the “No Kings” rallies being held as America prepares to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence.