‘This mess’ is a ‘dangerous time’: Thousands rally at Boise ‘No Kings’ protest
Amid a government shutdown and nationwide “No Kings” protests that drew millions, thousands and thousands of people — some dressed as inflatable frogs, dinosaurs and unicorns — gathered around the Idaho Capitol and in Cecil D. Andrus Park in Boise on Saturday to rally against the Trump administration.
The crowd, which many in attendance said was the largest they had seen, raised American flags and signs denouncing President Donald Trump, and listened to about an hour of speeches — from the protest’s organizing group, Idaho 50501, as well as the American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho, and from gubernatorial candidate Terry Pickens, a Democrat.
Protest-goers told the Idaho Statesman about a variety of motivations for showing up, mostly covering civil liberties — rights for immigrants, women and transgender people — and Trump’s authoritarian actions.
Several people around the country have taken to wearing inflatable costumes at rallies, and one person in attendance Saturday in Boise said it was a symbol of resistance to violence.
Sandy McBride, a Boise resident, came to the protest in an inflatable frog suit after being inspired by the people in Portland who protested Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions there as frogs.
“I think using humor really de-escalates anger, and I think they’re really trying to rile us up and make us give them an excuse to do martial law or the Insurrection Act, so If we’re silly and fun and loving, then we just show everyone in Boise how silly and fun we are,” McBride told the Statesman.
The national “No Kings” organization said Saturday marked one of the largest single-day demonstrations, with an estimated 7 million people attending 2,700 protests nationwide. That was about 2 million more than participated in June protests, according to the group.
Boise’s June “No Kings” protest brought thousands to the Capitol steps, but Saturday’s turnout surpassed that.
The action Saturday came with the government shut down, and with outrage growing about Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Portland — and he hopes Chicago — to aid ICE deportation efforts. There also has been more talk that the Republican president will invoke the Insurrection Act.
With a lot of attention on Portland, McBride said she wanted people to know that Boise is just as “weird” as Oregon’s largest city, and many others joined her.
“It’s such a sense of camaraderie, and it’s inspiring and exciting,” McBride said about seeing others in costumes. “Everybody is so joyous, and I wish the rest of America could see how we’re all part of one community.”
Sam Linnet with the ACLU told the crowd that this is a “dangerous time” with Trump’s embrace of nationalism, politicians being silenced and the military being deployed in U.S. cities.
Linnet noted that two weeks ago, a federal judge blocked the president’s order to deploy troops in Portland. Linnet called Trump’s act an illegal government overreach.
“We must dream of an America with people before profit, community before corporations and hope before fear,” Linnet said. “Everyone here proves that democracy still has a pulse, that power belongs to the people willing to stand and fight.”
Hadden Nyx, a local organizer for the Party for Socialism and Liberation, spoke about the group’s Defending Immigrant Families Campaign. Nyx called on the crowd to defend immigrant rights in the wake of Idaho’s signed 287(g) agreement, which allows ICE to delegate immigration enforcement to the state police.
“We cannot simply wait until the next election. The right wing will continue to try to strip more of our civil rights unless we get organized,” Nyx told the crowd.
The campaign organizers said they will hold a demonstration on Nov. 2 at Boise City Hall to call for an end to the state police’s 287(g) agreement.
Mike Robinson showed up to the rally in his U.S. Army veterans hat. He said he served for 30 years and wanted to show that many military members and vets don’t support the Trump administration.
“It’s gratifying to know that so many Americans are sharing my distaste for this authoritarian regime,” Robinson said. “We’ll find our way through this. I’m hopeful that young people will help us get out of it. We made this mess, and you’ll help us get out.”
This story was originally published October 18, 2025 at 6:59 PM.
