Several dozen Cordova residents came out for a local “No Kings” demonstration last weekend, joining thousands more in Alaska and millions nationwide to protest what they feel is misuse of power by President Donald Trump’s administration.
The peaceful protest began on Oct. 18 with nearly 50 vehicles meeting at the boat launch, in a parade that wove through town and concluded at a local brewery where participants sent postcards expressing their views of the current administration to Alaska’s congressional delegation.
Cordova Mayor Kristen Smith, one among some 120 participants in the rally, said she chose to participate because she feels there’s have been misuse of federal funds that were appropriated for one use and are being redirected to other uses.
When asked if the rally was effective, “absolutely,” Smith said. “We exercised our constitutional right to peaceful assembly, and gathered in a welcoming, positive way to express our solidarity as a community.”
“We gathered in a way that reinforces our community relations with each other and reaffirms our support for our friends and neighbors, which is more critical than ever in a time when some political messages are designed to divide people,” Smith said.
The mayor noted that community participation was close to 5% of Cordova’s population, which is pretty high for a public protest in this small town.
“This re-direct of federal funds is hurting our community directly, from the loss of Secure Rural Schools funding, loss of Chugach National Forest funding (not from the shutdown, which is also hurting us, but from positions that have been cut), loss of NOAA funds to collect weather data, loss of funds awarded in grants to communities in PWS that have been clawed back, and the cuts to funds that are no longer available for competitive grants that communities need to maintain their basic infrastructure,” Smith said.
She added that she is also deeply concerned about the misuse of executive power on immigration and deportation, dismantling the Department of Education, taking research money away from universities, lack of due process given to people charged with crimes, executive usurpation of Congress’ spending powers, violation of the Clean Water and Clean Air laws that protect essential public resources, to name a few.
At least 25 Alaska communities participated in No Kings demonstrations – from around 2,000 people in Anchorage to approximately 45 people in Healy. More than 2,600 protests were planned nationwide.
