Thousands of protests happened across the nation Saturday, Oct. 18, with millions of people joining forces to protest the Trump administration.
The ‘No Kings’ protest did not exclude Big Rapids, with an estimated 547 participants joining between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to peacefully protest.
The ‘No Kings’ protest movement began on June 14, 2025, labeled “No Kings Day” by participants.
The inception date of the protests was the same day as President Trump’s 79th birthday and the U.S. Army’s 250th Anniversary Parade.
Students and locals gathered on the corner of State St. and Perry Avenue with signs, lawn chairs and chants.
The crowd consisted of a diverse number of individuals, from Ferris students to local Big Rapids community members to other individuals from surrounding communities such as White Cloud and Reed City.
While there was no physical representation of a counter protest, onlookers and those driving by made their opinion known.
Throughout the day, drivers rolled down windows to flip off protestors, with some even yelling obscenities at the crowd.
At one point during the protest, a diesel truck pulled up to the curb and released a plume of black exhaust on the protestors.
Several cars driving by expressed their approval, honking as they went past or rolling down their windows to cheer on protestors.
Community member Heather Wesp expressed the importance of using your voice to stand up for what you believe is right.
“I think that it’s always important to see what our democracy looks like and to model those behaviors,” Wesp said. “Just to show them that peaceful protesting is possible and that it’s okay to stand up for the things that you believe in. That’s a basic American right.”
Mike Mumah, who was at the protest with Wesp, seconded this sentiment, explaining that it felt right to be out protesting for what he believes in.
“It feels right. It absolutely feels right [to be here today],” Mumah said. “You have to stand up and say your voice and let people know that what’s going on is not correct, and that we don’t have to count on whatever is being told at us.”
Many protestors in the crowd mirrored this sentiment, expressing gratitude for the ability to peacefully protest and stand up for what they believe is right.
For others, this protest was their first time engaging in the act.
Welding junior Jordan Lov explained that while this was the first protest he had been to, it felt important to be there and support the cause.
“I’ve never come to a protest before, I don’t even have a sign,” Lov said. “I’m just here to be another body outside. I feel like I’m using time that I would be using to do nothing right now for something that is good. There is not wrong about people out here just walking on the street, and advocating for what it is that they believe in, and I want to see more of that happen.”
Community member Sally McCambridge explained that she feels the peaceful protests are working, as people she has previously had difficult encounters with have now slowly begun approving of her posts on social media.
“I am a firm believer that the more peaceful these protests are, that the more people will be brave enough to come out,” McCambridge said. “I’ve already had reactions from people on Facebook that actually caused me a lot of problems during Trump’s first administration, who would call me names and what have you, now people are quietly giving me thumbs-ups on my posts and things like that, which to me is heartening.”
McCambridge also emphasized the importance of students getting involved in protests
“I want the kids to know that we are behind them and they’re right,” McCambridge said. “I think it’s very important to show young people that we are behind you. Even as old as we are, we are willing to stand up and say no.”
Protestors could be seen at the conclusion of the event cleaning up the area and picking up trash and debris from the event.