(Lander, WY) – Protestors took to Lander’s Main Street and Centennial Park this weekend, where they joined the “No Kings” rallies that occurred nationwide and across the state, all of which were a part of the “50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement” or the 50501 movement.
The demonstrations were planned to coincide with the June 14 military parade held in Washington, D.C., meant to celebrate the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army. The parade and protests were also the same day as President Trump’s 79th birthday and the annual Flag Day holiday.
Organized by the Action Committee of the Fremont County Democrats, the Lander rally saw north of 200 attendees who expressed their discontent and anger with the Trump administration, with many carrying signs taking to task the President, Elon Musk, ICE, and the military parade itself, which they called a “vanity project.”
“It’s important for us to stand up for our rights, either side,” one attendee and Lander local shared with County 10. “Doesn’t matter what side of the scope that you’re on. Our rights are our rights. The Constitution is the Constitution. Law is law. It should be that way. No more kings.”
“I believe that democracy is (an) exercise, and the way you exercise that is by voting, marching, showing up, speaking your mind,” Mary Boscamp later commented. “Let’s clean house, vote them all out,” she added.
Another rally-goer was going to share a quote, but chose instead to let a young Indigenous attendee speak on her behalf. “No one is illegal on stolen land,” the young girl commented in reference to the ICE crackdown.
“Our community is being affected specifically by the cuts to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, cuts to the Forest Service,” another protester told County 10. “It’s going to hinder our access to these public lands. We’re seeing so many good projects that have gone on for years, if not decades, being dismantled, destroyed, all of the work being lost because of the DOGE cuts. That’s one of the biggest reasons that I’m here today.”
County 10 later witnessed that same protester, who was carrying an upside-down American flag, being confronted by two separate individuals simultaneously.
“You’re disrespecting the flag,” one man said as he parked his truck to get out and speak his mind to the protester, while the other individual gave him the middle finger and told him to “f*** off” as he walked by.
“It’s a sign of distress, and our country is under distress,” the protester replied to both men.
Other folks who were unhappy with the protest coal-rolled attendees as they drove by, some gave the middle finger, and there were reports of one individual who was warned by law enforcement after he blasted an air horn at protestors from close range.
Others simply drove by with Trump flags adorning their vehicles, or just gave the thumbs-down sign.
Two individuals later stopped at the protest to show their support for President Trump, Michael Ockinga and Nate Mariotti. They stated that they weren’t there to be counter protesters, but to express their freedom of speech as well.
“The anti-American protesters that I’ve encountered today are foul-mouthed, ignorant people who don’t realize the freedoms they have by living in the United States of America,” Ockinga commented. “A real eye opener for them would be spend a week in Pakistan, Afghanistan or any of the other ‘stans,’ or Venezuela …then you realize what freedom is worth. I spent 20 months out of this country when I was in the military, and I was always so happy to come home.”
Despite some of the more heated moments, the protest was another violence-free affair, with the June 16 Lander Police Department call log indicating no serious infractions or citations being issued.
“We are just so happy that the community came out in force to support our democracy and push back on government overreach,” Lennie Poitras, one of the local organizers with the Fremont County Democrats, went on to share with County 10 in the days after the rally.
