An effort by progressive activists aligned with the national “No Kings” protest movement to shift the theme of Palmer’s traditional Colony Day Parade met swift resistance from local residents and was ultimately halted before it could materialize.
The group Mat-Su United for Progress, a local affiliate of the national Indivisible network, posted on social media earlier this week calling on supporters to “Join us for the #NoKingsDay parade in Palmer Saturday June 14th!”
The message was seen by many residents as an attempt to co-opt the historic Colony Days Parade—an annual celebration honoring the 200+ pioneer families who came to Alaska’s Matanuska-Susitna Valley in 1935 under President Roosevelt’s New Deal resettlement program.
Conservatives in the community quickly responded with calls to the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce, demanding that the event not be politicized or renamed by outside activists. The Chamber had not approved any “No Kings” contingent or theme and confirmed that the official parade will proceed as planned under the historic Colony Days banner.
Adding to the confusion, Mat-Su United for Progress initially promoted a sign-making event at Bleeding Heart Brewery, encouraging people to prepare protest signs for the parade. However, the brewery distanced itself from the group, saying that the sign-making event was not authorized.
After facing community backlash, Mat-Su United for Progress walked back its statements, saying the group had been misunderstood and never intended to march in the official parade. But by then, the damage was done. Local organizers and residents made it clear that any effort to shift the day’s focus away from honoring Palmer’s agricultural roots and heritage would be met with firm opposition.
The attempt to takeover the Colony Days Parade is reminiscent of an effort in 2022 by the Palmer Chamber of Commerce to rename it the Braided River Parade, something that was also met with community resistance.
“This isn’t about politics. It’s about community pride,” said one longtime Palmer resident who plans to attend the parade draped in red, white, and blue. “People are tired of these national protest movements trying to hijack our local traditions.”
The attempted disruption comes as cities across the country brace for nationwide “No Kings” protests scheduled for Saturday. The movement, largely fueled by left-wing opposition, some funded by George Soros and similar leftist billionaires, to President Donald Trump. Protests are expected in Alaska, including gatherings in Anchorage and Juneau, on the same day that others will be celebrating Flag Day and the 250th anniversary of the US Army.
In Palmer, residents are making it clear: Colony Days is about honoring the past, not becoming a platform for partisan protest.
The parade will step off Saturday morning with floats, farm-themed decorations, vintage tractors, and children waving American flags, just as it has for decades. And this year, perhaps more than ever, the sense of tradition and unity will be front and center.
More about the radical Indivisible group at these links:
