No Kings in Des Moines: Smaller crowd but focused on mobilizing voters

It was quiet in Windsor Heights’ Colby Park Saturday afternoon as volunteers from many organizations were out canvassing neighborhoods encouraging people to vote early as part of the No Kings Day of Action.

It was a contrast with previous years’ No Kings events in Des Moines, where thousands of people rallied on the State Capitol Grounds, waving signs and shouting slogans. Instead, volunteers worked on various projects aimed at motivating and mobilizing voters ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

Marie Herring, an organizer with the organization Indivisible 515, said the Saturday event looks different from previous No Kings rallies held in Des Moines because it was not meant as a day of protest, but a day for organizers to get out the vote in Iowa.

“It’s a much different goal that we are working to meet,” she told a crowd of roughly 40 people gathered at Colby Park in Windsor Heights.

Earlier in the day, participants met at the park before heading out out to door knock and canvass in the region, encouraging Iowans to sign up to vote and early vote. Herring said this was a nonpartisan effort.

“We had over 200 sign-ups for that,” Herring said. “And I think people are still out knocking doors now because its nice out. That’s the real work we’re trying to accomplish today – actual engagement, having one-on-one conversations.”

Overpass activism

One of the day’s events was overpass activism, where volunteers post signage on pedestrian bridges along I-235. Brenda Double, a Des Moines resident, was on the bridge near Roosevelt High School waving her American flag along with several others.

“I’m out here today to try and get the message out to make sure people get out and vote,” Double said. “This isn’t a party issue. This is an American issue. This is a global issue.”

She said that the country is losing democracy and needs to, “get these disgusting sycophants out.”

“We have now aligned with Russia and all our allies are now really upset with us and they’re all starting to work against us, you know, work without us,” Double said. “They are making plans and working ways to get together without the help of the United States because they’ve lost faith with us.”

People are often seen on Friday on the same bridge as part of FED UP!!! Fridays. Double said the Friday afternoon protesting is also known as Fascist Fridays, and she can often be found on the same bridge waving as drivers head home from work.

Saturday’s group was “all different neighbors from different areas in Des Moines and in Polk County. So we just get together randomly periodically for this. Sometimes I join with the Invisible Brigade. Some of the girls here do the Fascist Fridays. So we are all over. We’re not one particular organization. We are just neighbors coming together to help fight for our democracy.”

Voter information

Multiple advocacy organizations, including Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and One Iowa, as well as nonpartisan voter registration groups, had tables at the Windsor Heights park.

The League of Women Voters of Metropolitian Des Moines had a booth set up to help people register to vote — but Christie Gerken, the voter education and registration coordinator lead, said relatively few people registered to vote at the event.

“This is Polk County, where most people are registered, especially coming to an event like this,” Gerken said.

Instead, much of the group’s efforts were focused on providing more information to voters about how to vote, providing pamphlets with information about early voting, requirements for voting, as well as how to cast a provisional ballot if challenged.

The group also encouraged people to make a plan on when they planned to vote and where to find factual information about the election, referring people to “fact check” websites to find information about the candidates and constitutional amendment on the Iowa ballot.

The Des Moines area events were part of a national No Kings event that included rallies and get-out-the-vote activism in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Read live updates about events around the country here.