While many University of Central Missouri students spent their time enjoying fall break with their families, some chose to join the millions of Americans across the country who protested the US government on Oct. 18 at the second ‘No Kings’ rally. In addition to students, members of the local community also joined in a peaceful rally on the lawn of the Johnson County Courthouse from 12-2 p.m.
“Welcome to the 250th anniversary of the first No Kings protest. This country was founded on protests against the mad, out-of-control king, and here we are again,” said Burg Resist founder and former UCM professor Steve Ciafullo, who led the rally.
Ciafullo welcomed more than just Warrensburg residents, however, as many people traveled from their homes to join the rally. Counties represented included Johnson, Cass, Lafayette, Bates, Jackson, Pettis, Clay and more.
According to the marchers, the central message of the rally was that America will not bow or bend a knee to a would-be king. This was the same message being spread at the first No Kings protest on June 14. However, tensions on both sides of the political line have ramped up since then.
“We gather peacefully here today because we care deeply about this country that we love. Speaker Mike Johnson said last week that this rally is a Hate America Rally. He could not be more wrong,” said Angela Palmer, president of Citizens for Environmental Action.
Many of those in the crowd agreed with Palmer’s stance that the rally wasn’t about hating America but instead was for people who love their country and want to see it change for the better.
“As a matter of fact, it’s Love America, we want our America back,” said Treece.
Other marchers, as well as speakers during the rally, had their own messages for the community. In total, an estimated 750 members of the community showed up to the rally, an over 200 person increase from the previous 500 turnout at the June 14 ‘No Kings Day’. However, some think this number still isn’t high enough.
“There should be more people our age, there should be more people of every background, there should be more angry people,” said 2025 UCM graduate Logan Shaw.
Of those who did show up, many wore yellow and some even wore costumes. The yellow stems from the official No Kings organizers telling those attending to wear the color to show the unity between demonstrators. As for the costumes, those came from a trend started in Portland, Oregon to push back against the rhetoric that those attending the rally are there to incite violence.
“It doesn’t seem like it today, but it is easy to think that this chaos feels different from this small town of ours. But if we don’t push back, authoritarianism will reach our communities,” said UCM professor Aaron Scully.
Talk of authoritarianism was a common theme among speakers at the rally, with Ciafullo comparing the Trump administration to George Orwell’s “1984”.
“We’ve got ‘dear leader’ banners with his picture hanging on federal buildings in Washington DC. That’s Big Brother 1984 is what that is,” Ciafullo told the crowd, later adding, “When someone talks like a fascist, when someone walks like a fascist, when someone acts like a fascist, what do we call them? A friggin fascist.”
The rally in Warrensburg was just one of over 2,700 across the country and world and it won’t be the last. Burg Resist plans to host more peaceful demonstrations and future events from the group can be found on their Facebook page.
“It’s time for disruptive democracy, no more business as usual,” said Ciafullo. “It’s gonna take boycotts, sooner or later it’s gonna take mass civil disobedience in the streets of America to get their attention. I’m ready, are you?”
