Local protests continue

Local protests regarding national issues continue to take place in Sweetwater County. Last Saturday, residents of both Green River and Rock Springs gathered along Dewar Drive in Rock Springs once again to protest actions by the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency.

The protest followed on the heels of a similar demonstration on April 5, and was one of many that took place as part of ongoing national protest efforts led by groups like 50501, which stands for "50 protests, 50 states, one movement." Ten protests took place in Wyoming on Saturday, drawing hundreds of participants across the state, with thousands of events planned across the nation and estimates putting total crowds nationwide in the millions.

Compared to the "national day of protest" the last local demonstration took place during, this event was described as a "national day of action." Participants were encouraged to find a way to take action to help their communities, so the Sweetwater County protest organizers decided to use the event as a food drive.

"We decided that since DOGE cut $535,000 from the Wyoming Food Bank budget, we're collecting nonperishable items and we're going to donate to the Rock Springs and Green River Food Bank," Julie Smith explained.

Julie Smith was one of the local members of the 50501 Wyoming group that helped organize the protest for Sweetwater County. She explained that the organization is dedicated to nonviolence but wants to share concerns about things happening in the country. Some of the concerns Smith mentioned included cuts to veterans services, cuts to Social Security and Social Security employees, cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, layoffs of federal employees, tariffs increasing inflation, immigrants being deported to prisons in El Salvador without due process, discrimination against LGBTQ+ people, foreign policy decisions, and more.

Many of these concerns were shared by protesters, including former and current Green River residents who showed up to share issues that are important to them.

"I'm here today because of Medicaid," Amber Donais said, explaining that's her field of work. "Medicaid saves lives."

Donais added that Medicaid helps people with services for mental and physical health, particularly those who don't have the finances and those who can't work for various reasons. Many people can't afford insurance and are denied services and access to the help they need, so Medicaid helps take care of them. Donais reiterated that her goal in protesting was to support the people she works with.

Other protesters shared core principals that led to their decision to protest.

"I'm here for equality," Taylor Praytor said. "Equality and liberty and justice for all."

"I believe in the constitution," Bobbie Vaughn said.

While a variety of beliefs and concerns were represented in the signs protesters held, the overall theme of the nationwide event was "No Kings."

"Today is the 250th anniversary of the beginning of the American Revolutionary War, so we have gone 250 years in this country with no king, but we have Donald Trump posting mock ups of what looks like Time magazine with himself wearing a crown looking like a king," Smith explained. "We don't find that funny, and that's why we are having a no king protest on the 250th anniversary of our country not having the answer to a king."

Saturday's protest had an average of about 60 participants, making it smaller than the previous demonstration, but Smith noted that many people were gone for the Easter holiday weekend, and that the weather wasn't as nice. Reactions from drivers passing by were mixed, with some attempts to "roll coal" and some angry yells or rude gestures, but also many demonstrations of support and solidarity.

"We have been getting a lot more honks and waves than last time," Smith said.

Smith, who was wearing a hat that said "unpaid local protester," also responded to the common argument that protesters are either paid or "bussed in."

"We're from here," Smith said. "My suggestion to the people saying that we're getting paid is to come join us, get your paychecks, and see how fast they come, cause they ain't coming."

Protest organizers shared their intentions to continue to host demonstrations in Sweetwater County, with the next event being planned for to coincide with May Day, recognized as International Workers' Day.