In Talkeetna, organizer Sandra Loomis said a group of 54 people rallied for May Day, and to protest the Trump agenda. “We marched down Main Street and got a nice picture right there on the river, where you can see Denali behind and did a nice chant, ‘8647,’” she said, referring to the anti-Trump chant to “86,” or reject, the 47th president. 

“People are fed up and just tired of this, all this open corruption from the White House,” Loomis said. “And taking away all our services, taking away our libraries, taking away research, taking away our rights, taking away economic equity. People are fed up and tired of it. It’s way, way, way beyond the pale, and too far, and the blatant disregard of the Constitution and the Supreme Court orders.”

Loomis said Talkeetna residents are also concerned around the federal firings, cuts to programs like Medicaid and the recent cut to Americorps. She expressed outrage and frustration at the Trump administration threatening the press, law firms and universities. Of special concern was Trump’s recent refusal to acknowledge that an image of alleged gang tattoos on a man deported to El Salvador was Photoshopped, “blatantly lying to everyone, right to our faces and like, we know they’re lying!” 

She said the actions go against the core values and principles that the country was founded on. “My family, multiple generations of my family, have fought for the freedoms that we’ve enjoyed,” she said. “One of the things that has made America such an amazing place to live — it’s because we have diversity. It’s because we accept all religions and respect each other.”

Holding signs for drivers to see, some Talkeetna residents gathered outside Village Park to protest various actions of the Trump administration this past Saturday. The demonstration was one of the many nationwide “No Kings” protests organized to protest Trump’s executive orders, major federal layoffs, and more.

Talkeetna resident Sandra Loomis organized the protest. She said the nationwide protests are a fight for freedom and that she felt it was important for her to join.

“My grandfather was in the Battle of the Bulge,” she explained, “My family’s been fighting for this freedom that we all enjoy for my whole life and before me, and it’s my turn now.”

Loomis said she hopes the protest results in more people speaking out and getting involved.

“Do something. Send a postcard. Call your congressman representative. If enough people speak out, it’s already working in some ways,” she said.

Loomis added that this local protest won’t be the last. She said she plans to help organize more in the coming months.

“We want to thank our CEO, Joshua Gilmore, Board Chair, Sandra Loomis and Board Secretary, Mabel Quilliam for representing us at the annual Alaska Chamber’s Legislative Fly-In. The Fly-In is an opportunity for community members to meet with legislature to discuss issues and projects affecting Alaska.”

"Thank you to Sandra Loomis for reading the local news, announcement and echoes Tuesday evenings. She does a great job! Sandra was on the radio many years ago with her daughter. We are happy she is back."