As President Donald Trump celebrates his birthday on Saturday with a $45 million military parade in the nation's capital, organizers are expecting a big turnout for alternative "No Kings" programming in Grand Junction and some 1,800 other sites across Colorado and the United States. According to the event's website, protesters aim to spotlight growing authoritarianism within an administration that has defied courts, disappeared and deported Americans, and deployed active military personnel on U.S. soil.

Mallory Martin, Grand Junction organizer with the group Indivisible, said since the moment this nation was founded, 'we the people' don't do kings.

"We have a constitutional republic, and we really want our president to follow the rule of law, to be respectful of our constitution, and to give people the due process that they deserve," she said.

A list of protest sites is available at 'NoKings.org.' Trump's defenders say the president is making good on campaign promises to deport immigrants, to remake government by disrupting entrenched bureaucrats branded as the "deep state," and to push back against so-called activist judges. In the 2024 election, American voters gave Trump an electoral college victory and wins in all swing states. Trump was also the first Republican president to capture the popular vote since George W. Bush in 2004.

Martin said regardless of who won the last election, American presidents take an oath to protect and uphold the U.S. Constitution, in which the executive branch is co-equal to Congress and the Judiciary. She believes too many of Trump's executive orders are testing democracy's guardrails.

"And so many of them are being found to be unconstitutional," she continued. "He then goes after those judges, many of whom he appointed in the first place, and calls them radical leftists."

More than 45 events are planned throughout Colorado from Greeley to Trinidad, Cortez, Gunnison, Steamboat Springs and in metro areas along the Front Range.

Wendy Petry, a Grand Valley community organizer, said people in Colorado and across the U.S. will have to step up to heal the nation and build a future that works for all Americans.

"People who have checked out of politics because it has become so unpleasant can check back in; they just need to join the movement," she said. "We need more people to check back in, just to make it clear that they're not happy with what's happening in Washington."


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With the Independence Day holiday weekend here, North Dakotans might be out at parades, fireworks shows and barbecues. However, new polling indicates that many Americans are struggling to feel optimistic about the state of the country.

A new Gallup survey shows 58% of U.S. adults say they're proud to be an American. While there are some partisan splits, the overall percentage is a record low for the annual poll question.

Barbara Headrick, president of the League of Women Voters of North Dakota, said it's not surprising, given the sharp divides between the two major parties. But she feels there's something else at play.

"There is still an after effect, I believe, from the pandemic from that separation from each other that we had," she said.

That the pandemic was so politicized is another complicating factor that prevented the country from healing, Headrick said, adding that it's understandable some Americans are very concerned about various rights being taken away. However, she noted the U.S. has deep flaws throughout its history, and there are still many more rights afforded today than in past decades.

If heated rhetoric clouding U.S. politics has got you down, Headrick said, you can still show American pride through actions.

"Find a way to love your country by making it better," she said.

Headrick said it can involve showing support for civil workers or volunteering at a local homeless or animal shelter. She added that expressing pride through elections doesn't just involve voting, noting that there are opportunities to stay informed about how your local government is addressing pressing issues, such as affordable housing.


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A new Indiana law, starting today, allows school board candidates to list their political affiliation on the ballot.

Candidates may choose to register with a political party, as independents or not disclose any affiliation. Those who do not select will have a blank space next to their name and straight-ticket voting will not apply to school board races. Those opposed to the new law said it injects unnecessary politics into a role traditionally focused on education.

Leslie Jacobs, a school board member for the Fayette County School Corporation in Connersville, is against the new law.

"In my 10 years, I couldn't tell you the political leanings of anybody on my board. Never comes up," Jacobs explained. "Our discussions are purely about educational opportunities, picking a superintendent, looking at budget."

She warned requiring party labels might discourage qualified candidates from running. Supporters of the new law said it increases transparency.

Jennifer Blackburn, a school board member for the East Allen County Schools near Fort Wayne, also opposes the new law.

"The scenario that there are four candidates potentially running and three are Democrat, one is a Republican -- this last school board election -- none of us were opposed," Blackburn pointed out. "As big as our county is, there are not a lot of people running."

The law will first affect school board elections in November.


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A three-part online training series on how to run for office and govern effectively begins Monday, designed for people running at any level of government office in Western states, including Wyoming.

The training is part of the Grassroots Democracy Program under the Western Organization of Resource Councils, a group organizing in rural parts of the West and includes Wyoming's Powder River Basin Resource Council.

Gwen Lachelt, political director for the group, said the series will help answer a broad range of questions.

"Everything from, 'Am I ready to run for office? How do I organize my campaign?' To, 'how do I govern, and how can I be an effective elected official?'" Lachelt explained.

As of Friday, Lachelt noted about 50 people had signed up for the training. Registration is still open until the event starts Monday at 5:30 p.m. MT.

Lachelt added she is seeing a lot of interest in running for office from people of all age groups and all backgrounds. She emphasized the group hopes to connect with Westerners who care about natural resources.

"Our goal is to build a bench of elected officials across our regions who will champion democracy and also work to protect the West's land, air, and water," Lachelt stressed.

Guest speakers at the event include Rep. Katie Sullivan, D-Missoula, who is the House Minority Leader, and Kevin Williams, a board member of Colorado's Delta-Montrose Electric Association.


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