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Tag Archives: protest

Keeping a civil tongue

13 Saturday Sep 2025

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

#resist, Johnson County Courthouse, missouri, protest, Warrensburg

There was a peaceful “Rally Against Truth Decay” at 12:30 p.m. today on the Johnson County Courthouse lawn in downtown Warrensburg, Missouri. The temperature was in the 90s. There were about 75 individuals in attendance who listened to speakers, held protest signs (against the excesses of the Trump [r] Administration), and signed initiative petitions.

A drive-by commenter:

“Killers…”

He turned the corner and kept shouting.

https://showmeprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ProtestWbgMo091325KillersDriveby.mp3

“Killers…”

“Killers…”

So much for civil discourse.

The First Amendment must really chap some people’s asses.

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D) – Labor Day Rally – 47th and Main – Mill Creek Park – Kansas City, Missouri – September 1, 2025

01 Monday Sep 2025

Posted by Michael Bersin in Congress, Resist

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#resist, 5th Congressional District, dissent, Emanuel Cleaver, gerrymandering, Kansas City, missouri, protest, Redistricting

Today at noon close to 2000 individuals gathered at Mill Creek Park, 47th and Main, in Kansas City Missouri to protest the continuing shitshow of Donald Trump (r), his administration, and his sycophants and enablers.

Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D), who represents Kansas City as part of the 5th Congressional District, stopped by the demonstration to visit with and encourage his constituents.

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D).

Representative Cleaver also spoke with media covering the demonstration.

https://showmeprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/EmanuelCleaverInterviewLaborDay090125.mp3

….Question: ‘We’ve heard a lot of fear coming from voters, a lot of concern, that their vote is being disenfranchised because of this. Do you share in that fear? You know, what’s your message?’ [crosstalk]

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D): ‘Oh, absolutely. Uh, absolute. Just think about all of the business organizations, from the Chamber on up, or around, are denouncing this. And the reason is they believe that they will be disenfranchised because, uh, they don’t have a chance to elect, uh, someone whose views reflect theirs in terms of, of the economics of this community. So, the Chamber, the City Council have all come out strongly, saying this is wrong and it’s not helpful….’

….Question: Representative, are you confident you can hold on to a seat if this map is redrawn, or, what are you thinking?’

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D): ‘Well, I don’t know. Uh, but, what I do know is that, uh, they messed with the wrong person. If they thought I was going to lay down, uh, and just let it go….’

Question: ‘What do you think is the real reason they’re doing this?’

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D): ‘It’s pure, uh, politics because there is no rationale. You know, they can’t say, well, we wanted the Kansas City School District to be in one congressional district, or, I mean there’s nothing logical about it except what the president said. He needed, uh, some more seats because of his fear of losing the House in the, in next year’s election….’

….Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D): ….We were in, uh, Austria, uh, and I was in the hotel lobby and a woman walked up to me, she looked around to see if anyone was, uh, listening and she said, are you guys going to be all right? And I think that’s where the world is right now. They’re concerned about what’s happening in the United States.

Question: ‘Are we going to be all right?’

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D): Uh, I, I think the lights are flashing red right now. Uh, and it all depends on how we react, how we respond to this crisis….’

Previously:

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D) – on Donald Trump’s (r) early redistricting scam (August 29, 2025)

Hey, Brandon Phelps (r), are you going to vote for this gerrymandered bullshit? (August 30, 2025)

Democracy dies, strangled by a cult of sycophants in a legislative special session (August 30, 2025)

Anti-Trump Labor Day Rally – 47th and Main – Mill Creek Park – Kansas City, Missouri – September 1, 2025 (September 1, 2025)

Anti-Trump Labor Day Rally – 47th and Main – Mill Creek Park – Kansas City, Missouri – September 1, 2025

01 Monday Sep 2025

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#resist, dissent, gerrymandering, Kansas City, missouri, protest

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump

GREAT Governor Mike Kehoe, of the Wonderful State of Missouri, which I love and won SIX times, including with
1.8 Million Votes in 2024 (by far the most Votes in History!), just called a very Special Session to begin passage of a new, much fairer, and much improved, Congressional Map, that will give the incredible people of Missouri the tremendous opportunity to elect an additional MAGA Republican in the
2026 Midterm Elections — A HUGE VICTORY for our America First Agenda, not just in the “Show-Me State,” but across our Nation. [….]

Today at noon close to 2000 individuals gathered at Mill Creek Park, 47th and Main, in Kansas City Missouri to protest the continuing
shitshow of Donald Trump (r), his administration, and his sycophants and enablers.

“Fuck Trump and Fuck You for Voting for Him”

“No Human is Illegal”

“Mike Kehoe is Trump’s Bitch”

“No Kings”

The constant car horns…

https://showmeprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CarHornsAntiTrumpLaborDayKCMO090125.mp3.

“Stop Kehoe and Schmitt’s Gerrymandering”

“Abolish ICE, America’s Gestapo”

Media.

“Chinga La Migra”

“Gerrymander This”

“Science Saves Lives, Ignorance Kills”

“Defy Fascism”

“Fuck Ice”

“Do Not Obey in Advance”

“Tax the Rich”

Ironically, on the Country Club Plaza.

Previously:

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D) – on Donald Trump’s (r) early redistricting scam (August 29, 2025)

Hey, Brandon Phelps (r), are you going to vote for this gerrymandered bullshit? (August 30, 2025)

Democracy dies, strangled by a cult of sycophants in a legislative special session (August 30, 2025)

Protesting Trump (r) – Sedalia, Missouri – August 2, 2025

02 Saturday Aug 2025

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#resist, dissent, Donald Trump, missouri, protest, Sedalia

Today, starting at 11:00 a.m., a group of eight demonstrators opposed to the administration and policies of Donald Trump (r) set up in the right-of-way near the intersection of U.S. Highway 65 and U.S. Highway 50 in Sedalia, Missouri. There is a lot of passing traffic at this intersection.

https://showmeprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/SedaliaMoProtest50Hwy080225.mp4

“Are we great yet?”

“No Kings”

There were a few passing Trump (r) loyalists. They were upset by the demonstration. Most of them used language you’d expect.

“…[@#$%&!^] liberals…”

“Only You Can Prevent Fascist Liars”

Those showing support far outnumbered those expressing disapproval.

A honk on the car horn, a thumbs up.

“Nope”

Good Trouble – Johnson County Courthouse – Warrensburg, Missouri – July 17, 2025 – 12:00 noon

17 Thursday Jul 2025

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#resist, dissent, Good Trouble, Johnson County, missouri, protest, Warrensburg

Today at noon over seventy-five individuals gathered on the Johnson County Courthouse lawn in Warrensburg, Missouri to commemorate the birthday of John Lewis (D) and to resist the continuing excesses of the Trump (r) Administration.

There were chants. There is a joy in the battle. There was a cowbell.

There were honking horns. There was a shout – “Socialists” – from a passing car in the public street. Think about that for just a brief second. There were a few revved motors – you guessed it – from pickup trucks.

There were mostly honking horns.

“Good Trouble”

“Protect Public Ed!”

“Stop the ICEholes”

Later, a passerby stopped to “ask” about the flag. What did it mean? It turns out that the passerby was disturbed about this particular display. The holder explained what it meant, and added, “I am a veteran.”

“Melt ICE, deport Trump”

“Human rights”

“Separate Church and State”

“Where is the list? With Liberty and Justice for All.”

A benediction:

“Stop the billionaire coup”

“This is not okay”

There was a reporter from a national publication interviewing demonstrators.

The resistance will continue.

“RESIST” (2024)
Posterboard. Permanent marker. 22 x 28.

Previously:

March and Rally – Warrensburg, Missouri – March 29, 2025 (March 29, 2025)

#HandsOff – Warrensburg, Missouri – April 5, 2025 (April 5, 2025)

https://showmeprogress.com/2025/05/30/march-and-rally-warrensburg-missouri-may-30-2025/ (April 19, 2025)

March and Rally – Warrensburg, Missouri – May 30, 2025 (May 30, 2025)

Warrensburg, Missouri – No Kings – June 14, 2025 (June 14, 2025)

Good Trouble – Henry County Courthouse – Clinton, Missouri – July 17, 2025 – 10:00 a.m. (July 17, 2025)

Good Trouble – Henry County Courthouse – Clinton, Missouri – July 17, 2025 – 10:00 a.m.

17 Thursday Jul 2025

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#resist, Clinton, dissent, Good Trouble, Henry County, missouri, protest

It was raining. It had rained heavily overnight.

This morning at 10:00 a.m. over thirty individuals gathered at the Henry County courthouse square in Clinton, Missouri to celebrate John Lewis (D) and hear a few words about continuing to protest and the right wingnut assault on public education in Missouri.

A week day morning. There were signs. There were passersby.

“If not us, then who? If not now, then when?”

“In America we shouldn’t have to protect Democracy from the President”

“Equality is greater than division”

“No Kings. No idiots, either.”

“12 million will lose healthcare”

“Love, not hate, makes America great”

“Power to the people”

“I identify as a former republican”

The organizers and participants are a persistent bunch. They plan to continue these demonstrations.

Previously:

March – Clinton, Missouri – April 26, 2025 (April 27, 2025)

Clinton, Missouri – No Kings – June 14, 2025 (June 15, 2025)

Patriot demonstration in Sedalia, Missouri – July 4, 2025

04 Friday Jul 2025

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

#resist, 4th of July, demonstration, Donald Trump, missouri, protest, Sedalia

The sights and sounds of freedom on our national holiday.

This afternoon around twenty individuals with signs gathered along the right-of-way near the intersection of U.S. Highway 50 and U.S. Highway 65 in Sedalia, Missouri. On summer holidays and weekends there’s a considerable amount of traffic passing through the city at this location.

“Freedom, Democracy, Justice, Tolerance”

“No Kings…”

“Immigrants Make America Great”

An hour into the demonstration two Sedalia Police vehicles appeared. Apparently a Karen in an establishment next to the empty lot complained that a few protesters’ vehicles were blocking access to a few of the angled parking spots to the side of her building. The police asked that those vehicles be moved – they were. In one conversation one of the officers asked, “Did you get a permit?” [Hint: There was no march, the demonstration was on the right of way on public property. There is no requirement nor need for a “permit”.] The police officer stated that he would be contacting the owner of the empty lot where the demonstrators parked their cars. Like non-existent customers ostensibly blocked from parking in a few spaces in a more substantial parking lot, good luck finding or contacting anyone at 2:00 p.m. on a national holiday.

“The Ballad of Karen”

“Resist!”

A reporter for the Sedalia newspaper interviewing one of the protesters:

Interview.

There were a few shouts and other signs from angry people in pick-up trucks, some who made multiple passes, which by appearances one would assume the owner was underwater on their loan.

ICE and Donald Trump’s (r) DOJ keep telling us that tattoos are a primary indicator of something, something, right?

Detail.

A few upset passersby shouted unintelligible phrases, one individual made multiple passes in an over accessorized pick-up truck using a sound system to call out other unintelligible phrases. One self-righteous individual pulled up in a white pick-up and tried to start an argument with a veteran holding an upside down American flag. He drove off after a minute or so.

“No Kings!”

There was a constant and substantial number of supportive honking horns from passing traffic throughout the demonstration:

https://showmeprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SedaliaMOProtest070425HonkingHorns.mp3

“I’ve seen smarter cabinets at IKEA”

“Hate will not make us great”

A Vietnam veteran:

“Due process for all!”

“Never stop insisting on a better world”

It doesn’t get more American than that.

About that Executive Order

16 Monday Jun 2025

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist, social media

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#resist, dissent, Executive Order 25-25, governor, Kansas City, Mayor, Mike Kehoe, National Guard, protest, Quinton Lucas, social media

Quinton Lucas.

From Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Quinton Lucas:

Mayor Q ‪@mayorq.bsky.social‬

No one who claimed things merited troop deployment will acknowledge that thousands gathered safely together in Kansas City and many other places today, using their rights to voice constitutionally protected dissent.

I appreciate y’all and your voices. Keep speaking up.

June 14, 2025 at 6:07 PM

Yep.

What did the Missouri National Guard do this weekend? Just asking.

Mike Kehoe (r) [2024 file photo].

Previously:

Mike Kehoe (r) wets his pants (June 12, 2025)

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas on Gov. Mike Kehoe’s (r) executive order activating the Missouri National Guard (June 12, 2025)

Intimidation and Suppression (June 12, 2025)

Same Planet, Different Worlds (June 15, 2025)

Same Planet, Different Worlds

15 Sunday Jun 2025

Posted by Michael Bersin in social media

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

dissent, No Kings, protest, right wingnuts, social media

Posted on a right wingnut Johnson County, Missouri social media page a few days before the “No Kings” rally in Warrensburg:

[XXXX]
June 12 at 12:25 PM
Idk if this is right spot to post this but there’s going to be Anti Trump protests happening nationwide Saturday and one is IN warrensburg! Is there any motor cycle or truck groups that’d want to park in front of our towns business on the main strip to help protect them and fly US flags?? These people are being bussed in from out of town to protest and one of the sponsors is BLM. Between what’s currently happening and prior protests, I’m concerned bout them destroying property and hurting people.
[….]

There have been at least four large rallies and/or marches in the same location since January.

The responses are educational:

They are blaming the wrong president. President Biden is the one who lied to these people by telling them to ignore our laws and come on in. President Trump is only enforcing the existing laws.

They literally stated they are doing this because Trump is having a military parade for FLAG day and it just so happens to be Trump’s Bday too!

I’m really hoping that this group decides our town is too small and goes to the city or better yet stays put of Missouri all together.

I also bet that it won’t be peaceful by the time they get here…. I’m keep an eye when they are in lees summit

Well, Lee’s Summit can do that to some people…

yeah I head they’re ginna bus protesters in so It could get violent I hope the local organizations that invited thos group are ready for the backlash if damage is done to our town.

No, really, you’ve already done enough yourself.

I’m going to be hanging out with the Trump Store Ladies tommorow and we will celebrate Flag Day if y’all wanna join! Bring your lunch n we will listen to music

Yes, there actually is one in town.

Is there a place we are meeting to arrange where we stand? I’d be in favor of trying to protect our local shops as much as possible.

Oh, FFS.

Stay awake in school, kids.

Spoiler Alert: On June 14th in Warrensburg a bunch of people gathered on the Johnson County Courthouse lawn, celebrated the First Amendment, waved American flags, listened to speeches, then, after an hour and a half, they all went home.

Previously:

No Kings – #Resist – on Saturday, June 14, 2025 (June 12, 2025)

Mike Kehoe (r) wets his pants (June 12, 2025)

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas on Gov. Mike Kehoe’s (r) executive order activating the Missouri National Guard (June 12, 2025)

Intimidation and Suppression (June 12, 2025)

Oh, FFS, Mark (r). (June 12, 2025)

Lee’s Summit, Missouri – No Kings – June 14, 2025 (June 14, 2025)

Warrensburg, Missouri – No Kings – June 14, 2025 (June 14, 2025)

Lee’s Summit, Missouri – No Kings – June 14, 2025 – part 2 (June 15, 2025)

Clinton, Missouri – No Kings – June 14, 2025 (June 15, 2025)

Clinton, Missouri – No Kings – June 14, 2025

15 Sunday Jun 2025

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#resist, Clinton, dissent, march, missouri, No Kings, protest

The Clinton, Missouri “No Kings” march (I’m now seeing a reported head count of around 180) was completely organized by a self-organized group of people who are not the usual activist suspects. The march was scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m. It was sunny, with the temperature in the high 80s.

In April, their first march: March – Clinton, Missouri – April 26, 2025 (April 27, 2025)

I can’t overemphasize how good they are. Before the march they signed in participants at their starting location. They’ve pulled in/included young and old. They planned for every detail, passed out straightforward written instructions (“rules”, de-escalation, rights, route), and arranged for an escort by the Clinton Police Department (albeit a single officer). They had an individual pulling a cart in the march for any trash, so that no one could later complain. There were no issues.

The Clinton march organizers had a post-march picnic, grilled hotdogs and and hamburgers, side dishes and desserts to pass, in a celebration of Pride. I had a nice conversation with a charming and bright 96-year-old Clinton resident at the picnic. She grew up during the depression, her late husband had been through all of the European battles in WW II. I asked her if this was the worst time she had witnessed in her lifetime. “Oh, yes, absolutely, this is the worst.”

Going over de-escalation and the march route:

“Fighting MAGA misinformation one unpaid protest at a time”

“Diversity equals Strength”

“Fuck Trump”

“Patriot protesting pro bono”

“No King”

“Respect Existence or Expect Resistance”

When cruelty becomes normal, compassion becomes radical”

“Are we great yet?”

“My first protest in seventy-five years”

“Now you’ve done it, you pissed off grandma”

Staging for a pair of MAGA SUVS, apparently to cruise the car show on the town square or something:

“Yukon”

Previously:

No Kings – #Resist – on Saturday, June 14, 2025 (June 12, 2025)

Mike Kehoe (r) wets his pants (June 12, 2025)

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas on Gov. Mike Kehoe’s (r) executive order activating the Missouri National Guard (June 12, 2025)

Intimidation and Suppression (June 12, 2025)

Oh, FFS, Mark (r). (June 12, 2025)

Lee’s Summit, Missouri – No Kings – June 14, 2025 (June 14, 2025)

Warrensburg, Missouri – No Kings – June 14, 2025 (June 14, 2025)

Lee’s Summit, Missouri – No Kings – June 14, 2025 – part 2 (June 15, 2025)

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