There were cardboard signs, chanting, and some random yelling. But no mayhem to speak of. At two protests in Anchorage and one in Fairbanks, thousands of Alaskans who gathered in solidarity with protesters around the country were orderly, unlike their counterparts in cities where violent riots have put cities under siege.
The message delivered to the afternoon rally in midtown Anchorage painted a different picture of America than the America that patriots perceive. Instead of the greatest nation on earth, speakers in Anchorage found no redeeming qualities to the United States. None.
Rather, they said this is an immoral nation built by slaves on land stolen from indigenous peoples. And with a foundation like that, America is rotten to the core, a “profoundly sick society,” said one speaker at the Midtown Mall rally. Words like “racism,” “intersectionality,” “colonialism,” were repeated by several speakers. Alaska law enforcement officers were accused by one speaker of being some of the worst in the nation for killing of minorities.
A large number of the attendees appeared to be white, but there was representation from many ethnicities among the speakers. There was no visible police presence at the Anchorage rallies that took part two hours apart.
Protesters to the 2 pm rally came with handmade signs and listened to anti-Trump remarks before taking part in call-and-response chanting and then lining Northern Lights Blvd. to get their message to drivers passing by. Just one American flag was to be seen; it was not burning. Nearly everyone participating wore face masks but they were not as effective at the best practice of keeping their distance from each other during what is a pandemic.
Among lawmakers in attendance were Rep. Harriet Drummond, and Sen. David Wilson, who was a featured speaker.
