Julie Wadsworth’s short silver bob was soaked with sweat after two hours in the heat. Of the roughly 200 people gathered along the corners of Langston and George Mason Drive, she was a stand-out as she waved two American flags at passing cars, leaning forward to urge those going by in cars to show support by honking. And honk they did. “You know what the best part about today was?” she asked, ‘It was eye contact. I was looking out at people and they were meeting my gaze right back. We appreciated each other. We were unified. And that hasn’t happened in a while.”

There was a lot of that unity going around. People described the two hour protest along Langston Boulevard as “fantastic,” “joyful,” and “a huge relief to know so many people feel the way we do.” Although the demographic was largely older Americans, including some 80 year olds, there were plenty of young people, some as young as 9, like Nora, who purposely designed a sign that “wasn’t mean and didn’t use bad language.” Some recent graduates from high school and college were there. Entire families came.

It was a Flag Day like no other. Arlingtonians didn’t just hang their flags. They came out in force to the “No Kings” protest held on bridges and along Langston Boulevard, eschewing the costly military parade in favor of peaceful protest waving flags, wearing flags, wearing red,white and blue, honking horns, holding signs expressing concern about what is happening in the U.S., and embracing what it means to be an American … shoulder to shoulder along the 5.2 mile route running from Rosslyn to Falls Church on Langston Boulevard. 

The Arlington County Police Department said the crowd ran “three deep” on the boulevard, estimating about 6,000 protesters including those on bridges. 

Typical of the atmosphere of cooperation and unity, several businesses along the route of the “No Kings” protest offered free cold water and sodas to protestors, among them, the Asia Halal Market and Gharer Khabar, a Bangladeshi restaurant in the same shopping area, “because it is too hot out!” Siam Myalek in Cherrydale did the same, as did neighbors who came out of their houses with water. 

The two “No Kings” events in Arlington were organized by We of Action Virginia (WofA), in collaboration with Indivisible, Third Act,  and Falls Church Visible and Indivisible. When the No Kings! WofA Visibility Brigade, aimed at providing messages of patriotism and protest on pedestrian bridges over I-66 to motorists became over-subscribed, WofA leader Micaela Pond said she did not want too many people on bridges - as a safety precaution - and she did not want to send people away who wanted to protest, so, she evoked her motto. “Then we’ll just go with my favorite solution, ‘Go big or go home!’” She directed her protesters to form “Hands Across Arlington County,” expecting over 1,500 Northern Virginians to form a 5.2 mile-long human “chain of conscience” across Arlington. The number of protesters was considerably higher, and that doesn’t count the thousands of cars that drove by honking support.  

The No Kings mobilization was a response to Donald Trump’s $45 million military parade and birthday celebration, an event funded by taxpayers while millions are told there's no money for Social Security, SNAP, Medicaid, or public schools. 

WofA is an Indivisible group and movement for change  founded by an Arlington public school teacher in November 2016. The group advocates for a just and impartial government, respecting the separation of powers, and upholding civil rights and liberties.