STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Normally, Wood River Valley residents don’t pay much attention to those who come to Sun Valley Resort every July for Herbert Allen’s so-called “summer camp for billionaires.”

But dozens turned out on Tuesday’s fly-in day, greeting the titans of business, media and government with signs exhorting “Show Courage” and “Save Democracy” as the titans turned off Airport Road onto Highway 75 for the 14-mile drive to Sun Valley.

“We’re not trying to be derogatory to Herbert Allen & Company. They’ve been big donors and they create a lot of jobs when they’re here,” said Gemma Daggatt, one of the organizers of the campaign. “But we have the best democracy in the world, and we’re seeing it crumble. The people coming to this conference are making a lot of money, but that’s not what history is going to remember them for. We’re telling them you have the power. Use your voices for good.”

Daggatt and others created 10 large banners that they hoped the Allen & Company conference attendees would see. The first greeted them just south of Friedman Memorial Airport as they left the private airport there; the last was hung on the Reinheimer Ranch at Ketchum.

Banners said: “You Have the Power. Show Courage.” “You Have the Power. Protect Public Lands.” “You Have the Power. Defend Working Families.” “You Have the Power. Lead with Courage.”  “You Have the Power. Keep Families Together.” “You have the Power. Protect Workers.” “You Have the Power. Equal Rights for All.” “You Have the Power. Save Democracy.

Those lining the highway across from the post office held up signs exhorting a list of attendees that included Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Gayle King, Erin Burnett, Mark Zuckerberg and Rupert Murdoch to “Rebuild Working Class America,” “Create a Kinder World,” “End Corporate Greed,” “Defend our Institutions,” “Save the Environment,” “Preserve Free Speech,” and "You've Done well. Now do good."

Suellen Wagner said she and others were inspired to create the You Have the Power” rally after having conducted an “All Are Welcome” campaign during the 2025 World Cup Finals held in Sun Valley in March.

“These guys are among the most powerful in the world, and we’re just asking them to do their part for those who buy their products, who use their products,” she said. “We’re just asking them to do the right thing and help protect our public lands, to help save our democracy, our institutions. All these things are being torn down and, even under the best of circumstances, it will take a long time to build them back.”

Organizers exhorted those taking part to use positive messages.

“The Allen family has a track history of supporting progressive causes, and they have brought a lot of reliable jobs and tourism dollars to this valley for many years,” they said. “This is not a protest. It’s a moral appeal, one rooted in frustration at the business world’s  reluctance to respond to the rising threat to democracy, climate risk and social insecurity.”

Those holding signs danced around and waved at the passersby, many who honked. One semi-truck driver blew his horn, the sound nearly pushing a few sign wavers off their feet.

One of the rallygoers said her mother was a Holocaust survivor and that her parents had always told her: You always have to speak out. But, she said, she was fearful of being identified because of rising antisemitism.  

“Our country is going in the wrong direction from democracy to authoritarianism, disregarding courts, disregarding laws…”

“This isn’t about politics,” said Daggatt. “It’s about legacy, about standing up for what truly matters and exercising power to elevate truth over noise, to lead with integrity.”