HUMBOLDT — Over 150 area residents participated in a “No Kings” rally at downtown Humboldt’s square Saturday morning. The event coincided with a nationwide day of protests, with an estimated 8 million Americans attending over 3,300 events in all 50 states and every congressional district. It was the third iteration of the “No Kings” movement, which began in June 2025.
Mike Bruner of Humboldt was the event’s chief organizer. Rev. Christian Watkins, a Disciples of Christ minister who grew up in Chanute, facilitated the event, with several candidates for office addressing those gathered.
Anne Parelkar, currently running for the Kansas Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate, addressed the crowd first. She was followed by Alyssa Murray, daughter and campaign manager of Erik Murray, who is also seeking the Democratic nod for the U.S. Senate. Republican Roger Marshall, the incumbent, is up for reelection this November.
Dr. Don Coover, a Neosho County veterinarian who is taking on incumbent Rep. Derek Schmidt for Kansas’ Second District in the U.S. House of Representatives, also spoke, as did Thomas Muther, who must have some sort of record for logging over 300 consecutive days of pro-democracy protests.
ABOUT A DOZEN counterprotesters were on hand. Three speakers explicitly welcomed them; Muther spoke to them directly, saying, “To our counterprotesters, welcome. You have every right to be here.” The morning’s events proceeded peacefully throughout, with the crowd dispersing shortly after noon.
“Our founders did not create a perfect nation, but they did create a nation with a more perfect premise,” said Parelkar. “That power must be restrained, divided, and accountable; that leaders are temporary; and that no person — no matter how wealthy, famous, connected, or feared — should be above the law. That is what Americans all over the country, and Kansans all over the state, are assembling today to reiterate.”
Watkins mixed up bits of humor between each speaker. “For those of you who are paid to be here, your check is in the mail. The secret’s out. Really important,” she said as those in the crowd chuckled.
For Ethan Sierra of Chanute, it was his first “No Kings” event. “I’m just tired of Trump,” he said with a laugh. “And I don’t support the MAGA vision of Christianity. It’s not right — it’s the opposite of what Christianity really is.”
JENNIFER SANBORN and Rob Wagner, also of Chanute, were handing out free cookies. “I’m actually shocked by how many people are here today,” said Sanborn. “I was expecting like 10 people.”
Wagner said he was “looking for community” and “wanting to hear from the speakers.”
Watkins, the only speaker not running for office, engaged the audience best. She also spoke last.
“I want there to be space at the American table for all of us,” she said, leaning over the bandstand’s guardrails as she scanned the crowd. “We support our neighbors. And we have grit. My goodness, do we have grit. I know we have grit because I was raised here. So we’ll be at the next rally, and the next rally, and the next rally.”
The event concluded with Watkins leading the group in singing “This Little Light of Mine.” The popular children’s song was an anthem of the Civil Rights Movement, and the gospel tune has been a mainstay among African-American Christians for generations. In 2017, the hymn was sung in Charlottesville, Va. by protestors gathered in opposition to white supremacists during the Unite the Right rally.
“This little light o’ mine, I’m goin’ let it shine,” sang the crowd once, then twice. Then everyone left. It was a nice spring day, and there was plenty more to do.
