Author: rayela

Brazil 18years + Chicago 20yrs + Paducah since 2005 These have shaped my path and interests. I spent many years as an active artist (ceramics and textiles) but have focused on promoting the creative community online since 2010. My current projects are Artizan Made and this site, Creative PlaceMakers.

This was the second No Kings protest we had here in Paducah, Kentucky, organized by Four Rivers Indivisible.  The first one was in June and you can see the post from that one here.  We had around 900 people at the first one and second was estimated at around 1500 participants!  It will keep growing!

Nationwide, protest numbers were impressive!  Google’s blurb:

Date: The most recent major day of action was October 18, 2025.

Participation: An estimated 7 million people participated, a significant increase from a June 2025 event that drew an estimated 5 million people.

Location: The protests took place in over 2,700 cities and towns across all 50 states.

Purpose: The protests were a nonviolent demonstration against authoritarian policies and actions, affirming democratic principles and rejecting the idea of a monarchical or one-person rule.

Scale: The October 18 protest was one of the largest single-day demonstrations in U.S. history.

Participants: The protests were described as overwhelmingly peaceful, with police reporting few protest-related incidents or arrests in major cities.

This video shows some highlights of the protests here in the United States.  There were also protests in many other countries in solidarity with us.

the 3.5% theory

The 3.5% theoretical threshold, often referred to as the “3.5% rule”, is a political science concept which suggests that no government can withstand a challenge of 3.5% of its population actively participating in sustained, nonviolent resistance during a peak event.

This “rule of thumb” is largely attributed to the research of political scientist Erica Chenoweth, who, in a study with Maria J. Stephan, analyzed hundreds of campaigns from 1900 to 2006.

are protests effective?

Let’s set the tone:

Some people call for economic boycotts instead of having protests.  Boycotts and ending support for any company or institution that supports injustice are definitely effective and they are in use, too.  It’s not an either/or dilemma….  Protests get us out on the street, meeting each other, sharing solidarity in person rather than electronically.  Some thoughts:

• There is so much art and creativity at the protests!  People come up with such wild sayings and so many of the signs are handmade and took some effort.
• Music and dance help spread a fun atmosphere.  It is essential that protests remain peaceful and they have been, overall!  Even when protesters have been attacked violently by masked kidnappers.
• Inflatables and costumes also help set the mood for joyful expression, but they also have some practical applications: anonymity (they make it hard for facial recognition software to identify them), barrier of protection (they do help shield tear gas and other chemicals that are being sprayed.  The Portland guy who was the first inflatable frog protestor was actually attacked by an ICE agent who sprayed tear gas INTO his vent!), and confusion (their awkward sizes make it harder to get grabbed).
• The Ugly American:  The US has lost a lot of support abroad due to its current aggression, tariffs, bizarre deportation practices, complicity with other aggressors and totalitarian states, blatant racism, ineptitude on the world stage, and its disregard for poverty and injustice here in the United States.  As we take to the streets, the world watches.  They see that we are not complying, that we hate what is going on here! Even so, Trump, Putin, Netanyahu and other aggressors all create more danger for their citizens, especially if they travel abroad.
• From the footage I have seen, most of the protesters are older white people. And, Republicans are joining in.  This is a good thing.  Even though Trump’s administration hates white liberals, they are starting to realize that their base is beginning to crumble.  The fight is not about left and right, it’s about how the top few are oppressing the many on the bottom. From Day 1 of Trump 2.0, the whole goal has been disruption, chaos, and gutting our institutions and safety nets.  Our National Parks are in extreme danger of being mined, logged and ruined.  We’ve only had 11 months of this.  Imagine four years?  Right now, white citizens are still in a safer space than our black and brown sisters and brothers.  But, when the time comes, we will all rise up, peacefully, and stop the madness.
• Maybe we have had to go through this.  Our society has become materialistic, shallow, individualistic, and aggressive.  We have had a wake up call and I believe that we will rise to the task of choosing new leaders and resetting our path to one that is kinder, inclusive and caring.

paducah photos

I live in Paducah, Kentucky, USA.  We are at a crossroads, a couple of hours away from Nashville, Memphis and St. Louis, so our organizers, Four Rivers Indivisible, welcome all people who live in the area. We meet along a park that is on our busiest street.  Lots of cars drive by, honking their support, waving, laughing and showing us their posters. With both protests, Trump supporters have been across the street, all seven of them!  I am in a red state and a lot of people voted for Trump here, but I haven’t seen any of his yard signs out in a long time…  What a relief!

The guy inside the eagle is an Episcopalian priest!

Two old hippies!

Me. I’m glad we don’t have to walk…

She gave me the hat when she left!

Two veterans.

Doggie protesters!

trump’s response

We had such an uplifting time, meeting new people, sharing stories…  And, then…  then next day our President of the United States posted this:

disgusting.

history seems to go around in circles, bringing back challenges we thought we had overcome.  why go through all that suffering over and over?

but, it changes.  we move forward standing firmly on the ground with all of those who have come before us.  they showed us the way, we just need to claim it.

Join us!

We are creatives standing up for social justice and sharing our talents to create a better world!  Get on the map and connect with people locally or online!