Hundreds Show Out at Laramie Courthouse
In the midst of attacks on Iran, the release of the parts of the Epstein Files and millions of tax dollars funding war overseas, “No Kings” protests have resparked in cities nationwide. Laramie, despite its notably smaller population, joined in these protests with a large turnout.
The weather during this demonstration was warm with slight wind, prompting a substantial attendance — one that involved citizens of every background who unified over the same sentiment.
One protester, Walter Clapp, felt that the root cause of our issues within the government that prompts these nationwide protests is a power imbalance in the legislature and the executive.
“It’s a power battle between the legislature and the executive, and the legislature is losing.” Clapp said. “There aren’t enough [legislatures] who actually care…We have something like a king. Our Founders intended very specifically for that not to happen.”
Walter Clap is also putting together a debate happening this upcoming Friday at Coal Creek Coffee Uptown to practice representation with No Cap Fund to discuss the war in Iran.
Another protester by the name of Justin Atterbery stood out from the crowd by holding a towering sign in opposition of the current government.
“When we see these things that go against our beliefs and our feelings on what is right and wrong, [it is important] to do something and speak out.” he said.
Atterbery also said that if the purpose of these protests, to impeach and remove Trump from office, was successful, “We would go back to the law and the Constitution.”
Halfway through the protest, people began to march around town toward the college campus, waving their signs, acknowledging the cars beeping in solidarity as they passed and chanting phrases such as “No justice, no peace!” and “No Kings!”
Despite needing mobile assistance due to an injury, one marching protestor, who wishes to remain anonymous, shared her reasons for joining including being a mother of an LGBTQ child and being a former Minnesota resident.
“It truly breaks my heart to see so many friends in Minnesota having such a hard time because they’re being targeted by this regime and ICE…and [being] a mother of an LGBTQ child, it is really concerning with all the types of legislation going on.” she said.
One of the primary reasons that she joined the protest in Laramie in particular, was because of a distasteful interaction she had experienced with Wyoming Rep. Harriet Hageman at a town hall meeting.
“Someone had said, ‘What are you going to do for any of our trans, nonbinary [citizens], especially in Laramie with a horrific history with Matthew Shepard?’ and her response was [along the lines of], ‘I don’t know what that means,’” the anonymous protester said.
The anonymous protester however, said that not every interaction that she has shared with politicians have been negative.
“I emailed Tom, who is a Republican, but was really responsive to any concerns about what’s going on in Laramie in a very positive way.” she said.
Despite the fact that those partaking in protests are within larger cities across the nation, even smaller Wyoming communities such as Laramie, Casper and Cody across the state of Wyoming showed up to show disapproval for our country’s administration’s actions and to demand change.
