We Shall Not Be Moved – Voices of Truth and Peace in a State of Emergency

I taught myself to play guitar when I was in Junior High School in North Georgia. My real inspiration came during a church youth group retreat at a rustic summer camp in the mountains. The older teenagers played folk music with guitars, banjos, and ukuleles, singing powerful lyrics about war, peace, racial justice, love, and freedom. The captivating sounds of Bob Dylan, Peter, Paul, and Mary, Pete Seeger, and Woody Guthrie helped to ignite my passion for music. That Christmas, I asked my parents for a guitar, and they obliged. I bought a Bob Dylan songbook at the local music store and set out to learn my first song, "Blowin' in the Wind," which I heard for the first time at the youth group retreat.

Woody Guthrie with his guitar that says, “This machine kills fascists.”

Decades later, I found myself with a guitar standing in front of the Missouri State Capitol, along with other musicians and singers, leading a crowd of over a thousand people in song at Jefferson City’s No Kings rally. The “No Kings Day of Defiance” was a series of protests across the country held on Saturday, June 14, 2025, to denounce authoritarian actions and policies of the second Donald Trump administration. Those include grievances eerily similar to those stated by the founding fathers in the Declaration of Independence against the British king: obstructing laws, abusing military and police power, and undermining justice and governance. Imprisoning people without due process, arresting lawmakers who dare to ask questions or challenge administration officials, slashing governmental programs while enriching billionaire allies are but a few examples.

No Kings Day Demonstrators singing at the Missouri Capitol.

Just two days before the No Kings Rally, Gov. Mike Kehoe declared a “state of emergency” and activated the Missouri National Guard. Kehoe said he was taking the action as a “precautionary measure” in anticipation of protests across the state – and in response to “civil unrest” in California. The declaration came as the Missouri State Highway Patrol, National Guard, and Department of Public Safety established a “Unified Command” to monitor protests statewide.

In response, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas criticized Kehoe’s “…enhanced state enforcement for one set of protestors, but no action or aid to local law enforcement when Neo-Nazis march through Missouri’s urban streets.” He noted that over a thousand of the city’s residents had already protested peacefully against the President’s immigration policies. Heavy-handed actions from the state were unnecessary and “undermines local law enforcement and makes all less safe.” Democrat House Majority Leader Ashley Aune called Kehoe’s declaration “a blatant attempt to intimidate and suppress First Amendment rights.” She added, “Governor Kehoe should staunchly defend the rights of Missourians, not mimic the authoritarianism of the president.”

The same day that Kehoe issued his declaration, about forty residents gathered at the Missouri River Regional Library in Jefferson City to practice singing for the No King’s rally. We sang songs like We Are a Gentle Angry People, and If I had a Hammer. There was a lot of grey hair in the group, and if I had to guess, most who attended were probably retirement age. Hardly a threat to the local community that would warrant a “state of emergency.”

Demonstration rehearsal while the Unified Command makes its own preparation plans.

While over 60,000 people attended the peaceful No Kings rallies across Missouri, and millions across the country, military tanks were rolling on the streets of Washington, DC, with thousands of marching soldiers and other weapons of war. Ostensibly, a military parade to honor the 250^th birthday of the US Army and Flag Day. But we all know it was designed to pay homage to “the king”, a president who, once he took office, made it clear he had no patience with democratic norms and processes but would rule as an autocratic “king.” And use military force to assert his will.

At the Missouri Capitol rally here in Jefferson City, we sang songs that were written in earlier eras, like those I heard at the youth group retreat, but updated to reflect the struggles and ideals we face today. Like We Shall Not Be Moved, an African American Spiritual, sung by sharecroppers in the 1930s, protesting peacefully for better working conditions and higher wages. It was sung in the 1960s as a civil rights anthem demanding voting rights and desegregation of public spaces. And last Saturday, We Shall Not Be Moved was sung, once again, by a large, peaceful crowd fearful that their liberties have become more imperiled and their country’s democracy would quickly erode.

Interviews with Demonstators

So, who were the people who attended these rallies? While I was focused on guitar and song, my wife, Susan, mingled with the crowd to find out who was there and why. While the focus of the rally was on Trump and his impact on the federal government, we found at least two people who were victims of cruel and politically motivated actions of Missouri state officials and Republican legislators. Their stories are included below.

Erin Sehorn. She was dressed in a t-shirt that read “In a Constant State of Missouri.” Note: Erin’s partner was one of about two dozen employees of the Missouri State Archives and the State Library that lost their jobs this month because of a politically motivated budget cut targeting Secretary of State Denny Hoskins. Although Senate Republicans believed they exacted the personal revenge on Hoskins they were hoping for, it had real-time consequences for innocent state employees, their families and their livelihoods.

“I’m angry about everything. I think all thinking people here are. I came here for two reasons. One is to sit in at the Friends of the State Archives meeting to ask the state Archivist why he decided to fire these twenty people that he fired. The order came down from the Secretary of State who is a CPA and I feel like people need to read about why he decided to make that choice.”

“My partner was one of the ones who were let go after working there for 20 years and was due to get an increase in salary that was supposed to be a reward for people that have longevity in the State of Missouri. And she was escorted out of the building. So, I came to ask uncomfortable questions about that which I really didn’t get an answer for. And then I walked on over to protest everything else that’s going on in America.”

Gary and Cheryl Armstrong. Gary is a Vietnam War Veteran and was wearing a US Army t-shirt. He and Cheryl are both retired state employees. Trump claims to be supportive of the US military, and most veterans voted for him. However, he has made numerous disparaging remarks about Americans who have proudly served their country.

“I don’t think Trump is a constitutional president, and that’s important to me. I was a veteran, and I was drafted in ’68. I am not against the draft. They should never have stopped it. But he (Trump) is a draft dodger, and that has always bothered me. We have got to get rid of Trump. People also need to put their minds on the 2025 Doctrine [Project 2025]. It is trying to re-interpret the constitutional government, and that is not good for us.” ~ Gary

“I really am disappointed in our leaders, you know? I mean, the President and his cabinet, the whole works. They are not working for the people. We can still say, you know, say our peace, hopefully. So, I am here to do that.” ~ Cheryl

No Kings Day Demonstrator, Jefferson City

Barbara Ross, retired Director of Social Concerns for the Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City. Barbara has organized weekly peaceful protests on the sidewalk in front of the of the main post office in Jefferson City, initially following the murder of George Floyd and now in response to the Trump administration.

“I am here to stand with everyone else. We stand every Tuesday in front of the US Post Office right across the street. It’s people who despise what Trump is doing to our nation, which is nothing short of fascism and it cannot be left unsaid. We have to push back against this. So that’s what I am doing here, just trying to join other people to push back, to say no to this insanity that has gripped the nation.

Demonstrators at the U.S Post Office, Jefferson City

And listen, this isn’t going to just end with immigrants. I mean, this surveillance thing is going to catch us all. Anybody who opposes him is going to be surveilled.

I’m waiting for the next Kent State to happen. A friend just told me…that two Minnesota Democratic [Congressional] members were murdered in the night, last night.” ~ Barbara Ross.

Kent State shooting where the Ohio National Guard fired into a crowd of demonstrators, killing four students on May 4, 1970. Photograph by John Fila.

Ashlee. She did not want to give her last name to be safe.

“My goal for being here today in Jefferson City at the capital here in Missouri is to stand up for democracy and everything that it represents. You know, we’re carrying some signs today that say, “You fly a Trump flag. We fly the American flag. We are not the same.” My wife is holding a flag that says, “with liberty and justice for ALL.” And we’re emphasizing that “all”. And then we have a friend with us, too. This is her first time protesting and being at a march, and she’s carrying a sign that says, “So sorry, my civil rights bother you”.

So, we’re here to stand up for our rights, like what the Constitution says, and to fight for people who don’t have the privilege to be out here to march today, and we’re just in awe of all the people who have shown up here today. So, thank you for the opportunity to give you my opinion.” ~ Ashlee

Frances Klahr, retired:

“I am here because I believe in democracy. I believe our rights are being eroded, and the people need to take control. They need to take over. It’s we, the people, not a king. So that’s why I’m here, and that’s why I’ll keep coming.” ~ Frances Klahr

No Kings demonstrators march past the Missouri Governor’s mansion.

Jordan Herrera, Kansas City, candidate for US for Congress

“Oh, my nation, born out of what? Yes…no taxation without representation, right? So let’s talk about the O.M.B.B., the Only Millionaires and Billionaires Benefit Bill, and let’s talk about the damage that it’s doing to us. Under this bill, our tax code has become the modern-day Stamp Act. This is our tea tax, folks, this is our Boston Tea Party. Folks, that lights the revolution, and you are the American patriots doing it.”

“I have to warn you about some news, though, that happened this last week. I decided to stand up and use my voice. I served our military for 16 years, I served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and I didn’t do all that, building hospitals and war zones, just to come back and watch Americans suffer. I didn’t do all of that just to see our Lady Constitution continually assaulted. Our Lady Constitution continually battered, and Our Lady Constitution continually perverted by this President.”

“And just this week, when I exercised my constitutional rights on Tuesday, standing in solidarity with Los Angeles and immigrants resisting ICE, [Missouri Attorney General] Andrew Bailey saw me on the news, and within two days, this disabled veteran was unemployed, wrongfully terminated. On Thursday, yesterday, I was given one sentence, no justification or cause. You are dismissed. June 12, 2025.

“Oh, well, thank you, Bailey. I see your office over there. I see the Supreme Court over there, and I’m here to tell them they can fire me, but they can’t silence me. They’re not gonna win. I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to let them win, not under my watch. I’ve defended this Constitution before. I laid down my life. I’ll lay down a job, no problem. I’m here for you.” ~ Jordan Herrera

I expect the No Kings rallies in other towns were similar to this one. People of all ages, from diverse walks of life, backgrounds, and political affiliations. All wanted to take a stand and have their voices heard, striving to find ways to take action and preserve the democracy that, in 2026, would hopefully have survived for 250 years.