April 23rd, 2025

Protest for Freedom

More than 200 people held a wide range of signs — including a "No King" piñata — for several hours during the  afternoon of Saturday, April 19, in downtown Albany, protesting the Trump administraton's awful daily actions and policies. Unlike previous protests on Ellsworth Street, this one was held one block east of Ellsworth on Lyon Street, with protesters lining both sides of the street, from Fifth Avenue almost to Third. The move was done to avoid disturbing the opening day of Albany Farmers' Market. The Linn County Democrats and Mid-Valley For the People organized the protest. The Dems collected food for Fish of Albany and had an information table staffed by Susan Heath and Cathy McGuire. Slate cards with our endorsed school board candidates also were distributed. Two of the Democrats' endorsees, Greater Albany Public Schools Board candidate Stephanie Lunceford and Linn Benton Lincoln Education Service District candidate Michael Thomson participated in the protest and chatted with protesters. Among those holding signs were Barbara Nixon, a retired Methodist minister, and Rev. Hillary Hughes, executive director of Authentic Hope Center for Peace and Development. "I can't think of a better place to be — speaking for and advocating for justice between Good Friday and Easter —  than out here on the streets doing this work," Nixon said; "I'm glad to be here.