With just a day to go before President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin arrive in Anchorage for a high-stakes meeting on the war in Ukraine, left-leaning activist groups are ramping up protest plans across the city, and sharing tactical advice to avoid being identified.
On social media pages, organizers are urging participants to conceal their identities. One post reads: “Federal government employees especially might want to consider wearing a hat or mask or sunglasses.” The 50501 Anchorage group posted: “Fellow Alaskans! If you plan to protest this week PLEASE remember, do not take photos of yourself OR others and post them. This is DANGEROUS. Please remember to bring some sort of sunglasses and mouth cover in case people ARE filming and you do not want to be filmed.”
Other posts point to heightened awareness of law enforcement monitoring. Ivan Hodes, a prominent figure in the protest movement, wrote: “We must assume that various law enforcement agencies are reading this… Come peacefully and come correct: we shall overcome.”
Events are planned throughout the next two days:
- Thursday, Aug. 14, 4:30 pm — Seward Highway at Midtown Mall.
- Friday, Aug. 15, morning — At both Boniface and Government Hill gates to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER).
- Friday, noon — 510 L Street, across the Senate offices.
- Friday, various times — MLK Memorial at Delaney Park, where protesters say they will “unfurl one of the largest Ukrainian flags in the world” beginning around 1:30 pm.
The summit itself will take place at JBER. Both the US and Russian delegations are being housed at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Due to the height of Alaska’s tourism season and limited hotel space, federal officials requested the university’s facilities for the delegates.
The Trump–Putin meeting marks the most significant political gathering in Anchorage in years, and the protests, some openly encouraging anonymity and masks, are expected to be among the largest the city has seen in history.
Additional protests are being organized in other Alaska communities. At least one pro-Trump rally is planned for Friday in Anchorage.
Deport them all. They may choose between China, Venezuela, or Afghanistan.
Quite the trendsetters, those masked ICE agents.
The Haters,
Are they protesting about their 401K accounts? Or is it Men in Women Sports?
Or is it confused Children being mutilated? Oh I know it must be the all the lies, hit jobs, false prosecutions, fake impeachments, illegal searchers, that did not work out the way they wanted.
President Trump is easily the Best thing that has happened to Alaska in my lifetime.
All these well to do Haters, just need something to hate on. Once you accept that fact, the rest is noise.
“Left Leaning”????? They tipped over long ago!!!!!!
These are the same people who demand ICE agents remove their masks, but it’s okay for them. “We shall overcome.” Overcome what? These poor oppressed people who are able to fly all over the country to protest and sing their stupid little songs.
Suzanne for the ones who need it explained like a first grader can you please tell when where & where to park on disability funds are low but I want to show up for support is all. Sorry & thank you ma’am
I’m sure it will be peaceful just like January 6th wasn’t.
This headline is misleading. It states as if we are to brace for impact. They won’t have an impact.
Those who hold another country’s flag up above our own nation’s deserve none of our attention.
If anything, most of the sunshine protesters will be comfy in their homes as there may surely be rain.
There are better things to do with our time than to give petulant children our attention. They deserve only a time-out.
It is their choice to be happy or miserable. I steer clear of those who wish only misery upon themselves and the world.
The Dems can put on circus make up, or Groucho Marx mustache/nose glasses, as they line Boniface & storm Lisa office (again)
Clowns that they are.