Protest signs ran the gamut from corruption to racism to ICE killing Renee Good to the Epstein files. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
The crowd of peaceful protesters at the local event for the national 50501 Free America Walkout scheduled on Saturday, Jan. 17, arrived slowly starting at noon at the Humboldt County Courthouse in Eureka. But by 1 p.m., the estimated number of those present on both sides of Fifth Street exceeded 1,000 people who were raising their voices (“Uphold the Constitution,” “End executive overreach”) and signs in opposition to the Trump administration and its proposals to annex Greenland, actions in Venezuela and its mobilization of ICE in Minnesota, where an agent shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Good on Jan. 7, and elsewhere. The signs, chants and crowd presence elicited positive responses from passing vehicles in the form of blaring horns. (See photos below.)
Local organizers chose to schedule this Eureka protest on Saturday instead of the official Tuesday, Jan. 20, date set by 50501 as a way to attract a larger crowd, according to AJ, a protest marshal. “We did this because we don’t typically get very good turnout on Tuesday protests, so we wanted to give people that opportunity without forcing them to take time off from work. We still plan to have people meet here at the courthouse on Tuesday.” (See more about the planned national Jan. 20 Free America Walkout at freeameri.ca.)
The positive energy at the very social protest featured a bake sale for a local food bank, a table for voter registration and live music by the Humboldt Musicians for Peace, the Raging Grannies and a brass band. Members of the Eureka Police Department were visible on nearby streets, and they made at least one traffic stop of a vehicle passing the protest on Fifth Street.
A small number of protestors showed up in Trinidad on Saturday for a similar protest over the Trump administration, as reported by a number of media outlets. Organizer Barbara Snell, 94, was quoted saying that she plans rallies for every Saturday.
A student walk-out protest is also planned for noon at Cal Poly Humboldt on Friday, Jan. 23, with a march from the Josiah Lawson mural at 1301 D St. to the Arcata Plaza and back.
Mark Larson (he/him) is a retired Cal Poly Humboldt journalism professor and active freelance photographer who likes to walk.
Both sides of Fifth Street at the courthouse filled with protesters on Saturday. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThe crowd of peaceful protesters for the local version of the national 50501 Free America Walkout at the Humboldt County Courthouse exceeded 1,000. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonProtest signs ran the gamut from corruption to racism to ICE killing Renee Good to the Epstein files. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonCaricatures of Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem (right) and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (left) on a protest sign on Saturday. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonLady Liberty (Gail Moore, of Eureka) joined others in singing protest lyrics to “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” at the Free America protest on Saturday. “Liberty is being trampled today, and I want people to remember,” said Moore. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonKenny, a character from South Park, showed up again at Saturday’s protest, this time with a sign in hand. Protestors also carried “Make GOOD Trouble” signs in memory of Renee Nicole Macklin Good, a 37-year-old American woman who was fatally shot by an ICE agent on Jan. 7. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonJudy Reiger, of McKinleyville, carried her colorful sign and sang with the Raging Grannies at the Free America protest in Eureka on Saturday. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonMike McClimon of Fortuna brought his homemade sign with its gold-painted message to the Free America protest in Eureka on Saturday. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonCommentary about inflation and inaction by members of Congress appeared on Sarah’s sign at the Free America protest in Eureka on Saturday. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonMany of the Humboldt Musicians for Peace provided a steady soundtrack for the Free America protest, along with singing by the Raging Grannies and music by a brass band elsewhere along Fifth Street. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonDorothy Skjonsby of Eureka quoted the Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church for Greenland on her sign and said, “The streets are filled with protestors today in Denmark.” Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonPonch the dog wore a sign that read, “Never trust a petless President” at the Free America protest. His owner Dave Cadorette, said, “It’s the truth.” Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonCeleste had her own peace sign on her back at the Free America protest but said she borrowed this one about angry grandmothers (abuelas) from Stephany Joy, who had set up a pop-up sign-making location along Fifth Street across from the courthouse. “I’ve been making signs my whole life,” said Joy, who explained that in many cultures, throwing slippers (chanclas) or shoes at someone is a common protest action. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonMarley, a young woman from Eureka, made this sign for the Free America protest with her ICE-related message that animals are suffering due to climate change. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson“My sister lives in Minneapolis and is afraid to leave her house,” said Rima, who carried this sign addressing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Free America protest. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonErik Schjeide of Arcata said he used his graduate studies in Old Norse literature to find this “Norse spell to bind facism” written on his sign at the Free America protest. Credit: Photo by Mark LarsonThis sign and others at the Free America protest elicited honks of support. Credit: Photo by Mark Larson
