On March 18, 2026, millions poured into the streets for “No Kings” protests worldwide. In Ouachita Parish, a crowd of about 360 gathered outside the courthouse, each carrying a story and ready to hear the ones around them.
The “No Kings” protests are a series of political demonstrations against President Donald Trump and his administration. Organizing across the region is Indivisible North Louisiana, a local chapter of the progressive organization born in 2016 in response to Trump’s election.
However, the group does not stop at protesting the president; they also take on local politicians who “aspire to be kings.”
“Everyone thinks ‘No Kings’ is just about Trump, but it’s not,” Ruston podcaster Joel Sharpton said. “Governor Jeff Landry is trying to be a king down in Baton Rouge. He is trying to go around our legislators and shove down these amendments. He failed before, because you all listened. And they are going to fail again.”
Two lead organizers run the North Louisiana chapter: Paula Stinson in Ruston and Crystal Rommen in Monroe. For this particular protest, a third co-organizer stepped in: Betty Ward-Cooper, who handled logistics such as securing the venue and coordinating with community members.
The co-organizers hosted a “No Kings” protest in Ruston from 10–11 a.m. before driving to Monroe for a second protest from 2–3 p.m. By 1:45 p.m., a hefty crowd had formed in Monroe, surrounding each station the protest had.
Tables and tents stood across the site. Volunteers directed attendees to a registration area where they provided names, phone numbers and email addresses to hear updates from the chapter. Attendees received stickers as confirmation of registration before dispersing to other stations.
A voting education table along the main walkway offered informational packets and digital resources detailing five amendments scheduled for the May 16, 2026, ballot. Volunteers also assisted attendees with voter registration and status verification.
“Go learn about those amendments,” Sharpton said. “We have a tale set up with all the info, including actual language they are trying to use.”
A separate donation table accepted contributions in exchange for shirts and provided complimentary signs to participants.
Attendees moved between stations, gathering as much information as possible. However, it was the voices in the crowd that lingered.
Chase Bartley, a loyal protester with the chapter, explained why he keeps showing up. He explained how the economy is hitting him now, and how they first pushed him to take to the streets.
“Doctors removed my entire pituitary gland,” Bartley said. “Now, I take 13 different medications every day, and the cost is killing me. If I lose the Affordable Care Act, I will be dead in one month. Millions of people voted for my death. So, no king, not now, not ever.”
Throughout the afternoon, speakers gave the crowd the correct language to express how they felt. Sharpton opened with remarks on tariffs and the conflict in Iran. Community advocate Amber Perez called for accountability across party lines. Vice President of the NAACP Louisiana State Conference Lynnetta Whitehurst urged the crowd to vote, calling it “our currency.” Former Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo and co-organizer Betty Ward-Cooper also took the podium.
Ward-Cooper left the crowd with a parting message, acknowledging the weight of carrying so much of the world. Instead of accepting this, she advised them to walk together, not alone.
“When we vote, when we stay informed, when we stay involved, when we help each other—we become unstoppable,” she said.
That sentiment of mutual aid and neighborly responsibility resonated beyond the day’s speeches. For many in Monroe, the fight for democratic participation is not just about national politics but about local accountability.
A recent list of inactive voters published for the area underscored a persistent issue: low voter turnout in Louisiana, especially in Monroe. Yet for some attendees, the question of what local leaders are doing about it remains unanswered. The answer lies in the attendees themselves.
“We have such a low voter turnout in Louisiana, especially in Monroe,” Ward-Cooper said in an interview with The Hawkeye. “A recent list was published of inactive voters, but what is Louisiana doing about it? What is our great parish doing about it? Nothing. So, we have to help each other, to love our neighbors.”
Across the sidewalk, two pro-Trump supporters briefly heckled passersby before leaving. Inside the gathering, the 360 held their focus. Even after the protest concluded, attendees such as Meloney Martin wanted to do more.
“I am researching candidates to decide who to vote for, and I will be donating to their campaign. I also purchase the T-shirts, buttons and stickers that show support for the campaigns.”
When the last signs were packed away, the question facing the ~360 attendees in Monroe was how to use their newfound voices. The answer, repeated across every station and every speech, was simple: stay active. Vote. Research the amendments and the candidates. Donate what you can. Then, take all of those efforts and share it with the people closest to you. Change begins with a conversation, one person at a time.
