Parker demonstration gets off to an early start
Matt Murphy, 55, of Parker (right) waves an American flag at the corner of Parker Road and Plaza Drive for a "No Kings" rally in Parker Saturday.
Dennis Huspeni/Denver Gazette
The “No Kings” rallies started early in Parker on Saturday, where several dozen protesters waved American flags, displayed signs and solicited honks of support from passing motorists on Parker Road, from Lincoln Avenue down to Hess Road.
They adhered to the Town of Parker’s request to steer clear of Parker Road and Mainstreet, where the Parker Days Festival drew thousands downtown. Crowds of festival-goers were the only ones seen at that intersection.
“We had a lot of honks, many waves and a couple of fingers,” said one woman who declined to identify herself.
Matt Murphy, 55, of Parker waved a large American flag.
“We need a president who answers to the Constitution,” he said. “Most people passing have given us thumbs up and honked.”
Organizers urged participants to be respectful of area businesses. Most appeared to be happy and smiling. Some motorists yelled profanities as they drove by.
“I’m going to support some of these businesses afterwards — it’s a good opportunity to get out and explore Parker,” Murphy said.
Paul and Frances Malano of Parker held signs next to a protester with “No Kings More Cowboys” shirt and a cowboy hat.
“It’s just great to see the range of ages in people out here today, from our age to the kids and teenagers,” Paul Malano said.
In Denver, thousands were expected outside the Colorado state Capitol on Saturday, beginning with an “activist fair” at Lincoln Veterans Park.
The activists are in large part protesting Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration, notably his decision to deploy federal agents to arrest and deport people illegally staying in the country. Trump had campaigned on the promise of curbing border crossings and deporting people convicted or accused of violent crimes.
The White House said in the first 100 days under Trump, daily border encounters went down by 93%, while encounters with “gotaways” — which the administration called the “the top threat to public safety” — dipped by 95%. His administration also reduced immigrant crossings by 99.99%, the White House said.