(Minnesota Reformer) — Thousands of people peacefully marched and rallied at the Minnesota State Capitol Saturday as part of the national “No Kings” day of protest, despite advice from local law enforcement to stay home following the assassination of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and the shooting of Democratic Sen. John Hoffman.
The suspect, now identified as Vance Boelter, was still at large as droves arrived at the march’s staging area at St. Paul College. People were sharing updates and making safety plans with each other. Most decided to stay even as the Minnesota State Patrol posted on X that “No Kings” signs were found in the suspect’s car and that the public should not attend the protest.
Amelia Nelson, 22, came to protest with her mother and her grandmother, Joan Nelson, 82. “We’re in such dire times, it feels like the end times for me honestly. But it was important for me to come out, I wanted to experience the community.”
Joan Nelson said today’s movement was only the second protest she’s attended in her life. She said she came away with “hope, some hope. There were a lot of people, a lot of good messages. Fight on, don’t give up. There will be times when there are people we may lose, but still we fight on.”
The rally was suffused with tension. Some people scrutinized law enforcement and discussed among themselves whether their badges and patches were legitimate. Demonstrators alerted press and each other to any vehicles or people they thought might be suspicious. Phones were open to news updates.
The day of protest purposely coincides with a military parade in D.C. Saturday to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.
Some scheduled speakers, including Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, did not appear in the wake of the Hortman and Hoffman shootings, but community leaders, musicians, and poets still gave speeches and led the crowd in chants. Several said blessings for the memory of Hortman.
Poet Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre recited a poem about the burden of grief, urging people not to put it down, but to use it in the collective mission to build “the lighthouse.”
Musician Venus DeMars led the crowd in singing “Put one foot in front of the other, and lead with love.”
Megan Orpen, a musician who attended the protest, said the violence overnight “struck a little nervousness, but I knew there would be others out here and that we would be strong together.”
“To make an impact,” she added, “we have to keep coming out and keep showing up. It feels good to know that we’re all out here, that we’re a strong community, strong Minnestoa, strong America.”
“Our voices are still powerful.”
