Around 20 protestors convened around the Iditarod’s Burled Arch Saturday, just two weeks after hosting a similar protest. The protestors held cardboard signs bearing phrases like “no kings,” and “democracy, not dictatorship.”
Sharon Keeney-Olson returned to Nome’s Anvil City Square for the second protest. She directed her frustration toward President Donald Trump.
“The president, who is a convicted felon, is destroying our democracy, destroying our security in the world, food-wise, health-wise,” Olson said.
Hannah Anderson said she felt it was important to use the opportunity to speak her mind.
“My question is, why wouldn't I come out here?” Anderson said. “I mean, things are in such chaos and our country is being destroyed, I feel like I have to. I have to make my voice heard.”
Nome resident Roxanne Thurman helped organize both demonstrations. She said that unlike the first event that gained traction through social media, the second was spread entirely through word of mouth.
“I think it's going to build, I think it's just giving people their voice, and feel like they have a community of people where they can, you know, speak what they think,” Thurman said.
Thurman said this won’t be the last protest she organizes.
“I think we just need to continue doing this until more people join us, because this is a nationwide issue, and we need to stand together and keep on going until things change. We need to make the change,” Thurman said.
Similar protests were seen across the state Saturday, including in Wasilla, Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau.
