Voices from the Crowd: Why Loveland Residents Showed Up for the “No Kings” Rally

On a bright, cool afternoon along Loveland-Madeira Road, a crowd gathered with signs, conversation, and a shared sense of urgency. The third Loveland “No Kings” rally, held March 28^th, near Loveland Elementary School and the Shoppers Haven, brought together residents from across the area—each with their own reasons for being there.

While the signs and chants were visible to passing traffic, the deeper story of the rally was found in the conversations happening on the sidewalk.

For Cindy, who has participated in several similar events in the region, the motivation was both broad and deeply personal.

“The hope is that we get to a place where we don’t have to do this,” she said. “I feel like everyone’s really exhausted… and that’s the point, is to become exhausted and to give up. And we just refuse to give up.”

That sense of fatigue came up repeatedly in interviews throughout the afternoon. Attendees spoke about the pace of current events—both at home and abroad—as a driving force behind their participation. Several pointed specifically to concerns about global conflict, including the war in Iran, as well as what they described as ongoing tensions around rights and governance in the United States.

Others framed their presence through a different lens: faith.

Reverend Martha Canelli and Reverend Dr. Katie Steele, both attending the rally, described their involvement as an extension of their religious calling.

“The work of the church is in the world,” said Reverend Canelli. “We’re meant to be the church, so we’re here.”

Reverend Dr. Steele added that faith, in their view, requires action. “We are called to be ‘Jesus with skin on’—to show up and do the work.”

One of the organizers, Terrie Puckett, the rally was part of a growing local effort that has taken shape over the past few years. What began as small gatherings has evolved into a more consistent presence, including previous rallies and a candlelight vigil earlier this year.

“We’ve been a group of neighbors that have organized all the No Kings rallies here in Loveland,” Terrie said.

That grassroots nature was evident throughout the event. There were no large stages or formal programming—just clusters of people talking, holding signs, and engaging with passing drivers.

Reactions from the road varied. Some drivers honked in support, while others—particularly a handful of trucks that accelerated and revved their engines as they passed—appeared to signal support for Donald Trump.

Despite those moments, attendees described the rally as peaceful. No organized counter-protests were observed during the event, and participants said interactions remained largely civil.

For many, the day wasn’t about a single issue, but a culmination of many.

“It’s all of it,” Terrie said. “Every day it feels like there’s something new.”

That sentiment—of accumulation, of exhaustion, but also persistence—seemed to define the afternoon.

As traffic continued to move past and shoppers came and went from nearby stores, the rally unfolded as a distinctly local expression of national concerns. For those who stood along the roadside that day, it was less about a single moment and more about continuing to show up—again and again—until, as one participant put it, “we don’t have to anymore.”