OPINION: A million points of light

On Saturday, more than a million people across America participated in a living petition.

Our Nation experienced 1,400 organized protests in all 50 states. Americans turned out in cities and towns to oppose Republican malfeasance. The number of people standing up is unprecedented. 

In Coeur d’Alene, at least 1,000 protesters stretched along Highway 95 from Appleway all the way up to Cherry Lane. A local marcher told the Press that “Saturday’s protest was bigger than any local movement she had seen in years.”

For several hours, we carried signs, sang songs, and felt joy in being together. Our signs ranged from simple black lettering on poster boards to highly complex colorful drawings with creative, and often witty, messages. We peacefully endured trucks rolling coal at us, water being thrown at protesters, people attempting to stop traffic and create confrontation, and a string of obscenities. 

In far greater numbers, countless commuters honked their horns and waved their support. 

Our messages were loud and clear: Stop the destructive tariffs and the Trump/Musk power grab.

We insisted that DOGE keep their Hands Off public schools, libraries, due process, public health, science, veteran’s affairs, our allies, public lands, women’s bodies, immigrant’s rights, voting rights, federal employees, and the list goes on.

What the American people want is simple: stop destroying the things we work so hard to build. 

The signs I saw most often read: “Hands Off Social Security” and “Hands Off Medicaid.”

That’s no surprise. Republicans want to strangle or eliminate these two programs, liquidating their assets to extend tax cuts to benefit the wealthiest Americans.

We took to the streets because nothing else has worked.

Our Republican elected officials allow Trump and Musk to run roughshod over our Constitution unchecked. We reached out to them with our cards, letters and emails, and we held town hall meetings.

But they ignored us. What more could we do?

Americans had no choice but to take to the streets. 

A common Republican refrain after Saturday is utter disbelief that so many locals would speak out. They must have been paid, or bussed in. I can assure you, these people are your neighbors. Saturday, our community got to see what I’ve known for a long time: there are far more politically courageous and moral people in North Idaho than anyone assumes. And together, we are ready to push back against the destruction of our nation. 

People are ready to be the light that guides us all forward.  

Sen. Cory Booker. (D) New Jersey inspired many of us with his extraordinary 25 hour filibuster.

Booker told an interviewer after his marathon speech that each of us must “demand more of ourselves.” We must each become a “little point of light” in the Trump/Musk darkness.

Marching is only a first step. There is so much more that each of us must do to prevent the death of our democracy.

Although we face threats, when we raise our voices together, our government cannot ignore us for long.

One protest sign read “This is no longer a left versus right issue. It is a right versus wrong issue.”

That is certainly true. The protesters were from all walks of life. It was a nonpartisan, nondenominational event.

How much impact the “Hands Off Rally” will have on the federal government is an unanswered question. What we can say with confidence is that after Saturday, North Idahoans who are fed up with inept leadership got a powerful reminder that they are not alone.

One protestor carried a sign that read “The power of the people is stronger than the people in power.”

We will prevail. We will restore our union.

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Evan Koch is chairman of the Kootenai County Democrats.