(Emma G. Schaible / Fourth Estate)

Protestors from Fairfax join a nationwide demonstration

BY EMMA G. SCHAIBLE, OPINIONS EDITOR

Music, costumes, car honking and homemade signs created an atmosphere of resistance on the streets of Fairfax this morning, 18 days into a federal government shutdown. 

Today, the intersection of Main Street and Fairfax Boulevard is just one of the hundreds of  ‘No Kings’ protests taking place around the nation.

This is the second No Kings protest since President Donald Trump took office in January. On June 14, Fairfax hosted around three hundred protestors; today, organizers estimate over one thousand lined the streets of Fairfax. The protests’ purpose is to speak against what demonstrators see as an assault on the principles America was founded on. They are resisting what they believe to be an authoritarian regime, like that of King George III of England, whom the founding fathers rebelled against. 

While many bystanders reacted either positively or simply ignored the collective, others slowed their car, shouting things like “Trump 2028!” or calling protestors “filthy communists.” 

The Fairfax protest was organized by Robert Jelf, a local public servant who “felt call[ed] to the cause.” Jelf stated that the protest was entirely locally organized, with resources provided by Indivisible, a progressive grassroots movement of millions of activists banding together to “resist the agenda” of the Trump administration. The organization provides guides, printables and an online network of local events for activists across the country. 

Volunteer safety marshalls were among the crowd, trained in extensive online safety conduct to ensure that protestors did not endanger themselves or others. Volunteers passed out signs, “know your rights” cards and even cleaned up the area after the protest ended. 

Additionally, the organizers were in contact with a liaison from the Fairfax City Police Department to ensure mutual safety of protestors and bystanders. 

Although there were protestors of all ages present, Jelf addressed both students at Mason and Generation-Z: “We need you, we are listening.” 

(Emma G. Schaible / Fourth Estate)

“This is a time of stewardship, where the people of the United States must be willing to look after and advocate for one another,” said Jelf, echoed by many of the protestors.

Anne Maust, a freshman majoring in dance and kinesiology at Mason explains “it’s really important to remind people there is still hope.” 

This is not Maust’s first protest; she recounted marching in the Black Lives Matters protests in 2020, explaining that “it is amazing how many different age groups have united,” from older veterans in walkers to small children dancing around with their own homemade signs.  

(Brian A. Hayum / Fourth Estate)

Demonstrations included an estimated five million people in 2,600 cities across all fifty states, including groups made up of veterans, teachers, parents, children, public servants and other concerned citizens. Many other protestors also showed interest in going into Washington D.C. where another protest of several thousand took place. 

Jelf said they decided to host the Fairfax protest from 9 to 11 a.m. today to encourage demonstrators to attend the movement in D.C. as well.