Across the state, Wyomingites protest war in Iran, immigration policies, other grievances

This story has been updated.

CHEYENNE—Saturday afternoon, hundreds of people gathered at the Wyoming Capitol. Their signs displayed the breadth of their concerns: “You can’t bomb your way out of the Epstein files”; “ICE out of Cheyenne”; “Keep the immigrants deport the racists”; “This is USA not Russia”; “No Kings No ICE No War.” 

The crowd thronged around the Capitol steps with signs, bullhorns and camping chairs. The flags of Mexico, Ukraine, Canada and Greenland waved along the sidewalk facing 24th Street. A woman with a bullhorn chanted “Tell me what democracy looks like!” Two men, one in a tall Uncle Sam hat, followed her beating a rhythm on snare drums. The crowd responded “This is what democracy looks like!” 

The same day, millions across the country participated in similar “No Kings” protests, the first of which occurred last June on the day of the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary parade, which coincided with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. Elsewhere in Wyoming on Saturday, from Cody and Casper to Douglas and Torrington, people gathered to protest a growing list of grievances against the president, from the Epstein files to his immigration policies to the war in Iran. A White House spokesperson described the nationwide rallies as “Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions,” according to reports. 

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One man held a large sign that said, “Grab him by the Epstein files!!!” An ex-Marine who had served on both coasts and overseas, Gilbert Garcia said he was particularly upset about Trump’s war in Iran. 

“Whenever he does something wrong, he does something else to take the spotlight off of that,” Gilbert said. “He doesn’t care how many people die in Iran or what he costs the country as long as he can blame someone else for it.” 

People had written notes in chalk on the sidewalk: “Chinga la Migra”; “Dump Trump”; “Send Barron to Iran.” Drivers honked as they passed. One leaned on the horn, giving a long, loud blast as he waved at the protesters. 

Dillon Williams, campaign manager for Wyoming 4 Palestine, stood on the lawn waving the Palestinian flag in the wind. He wore a “Dads Making a Difference” cap. His young daughter, face whitened with sunscreen, tugged at his legs. 

“We’re here protesting Trump’s unjustified war against Iran,” Williams said. He took issue with the U.S. supporting Israel when the country isn’t a party to the international Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Dillon said he believes it’s “unjustified” for the U.S. to ally with Israel against Iran for allegedly possessing nuclear weapons when Israel likely has them and is “using its non-nuclear weapons in a very genocidal way.” 

Kellie Seaman, a cake decorator and single mother with blue and purple hair, arrived at the protest with her son Maximus Seaman. Kellie carried a black U.S. flag symbolizing “the death of America.” 

“Our country, to me, is being killed,” Kellie told WyoFile.

She wants the country “back to what it used to be, a decent country.” Rising gas prices stemming from the war in Iran have hit her hard. “There’s always going to be some inflation, but gas going $1 higher in a month is ridiculous for someone’s little fake war that they’re now bored with.” 

Kellie has a spouse from Yemen who have been unable to come to the U.S. because of strict travel bans on that country. “We want our lives, we want our freedoms, we want our choices,” Kellie said. 

Kellie’s son hoisted a transgender flag over his shoulder. “I kind of just want to, you know, stand for my rights,” Maximus, who is transgender, said. “I’m only 14, but this is impacting me, and my family, of course, and I don’t want that to happen.” 

Tami and Becky, who didn’t give their last names, stood on the outskirts of the crowd. The Cheyenne couple protested the administration’s immigration policies, the SAVE America Act, and restrictions on LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights. “We’re married, so, I mean, we definitely see it impacting queer rights, trans rights. We have a lot of trans friends,” Tami said. 

People rested on the Capitol steps. A woman across the street danced with a flag. Leashed dogs milled about. Many signs played on one of Trump’s often-parodied physical characteristics: “The only orange monarch I want,” one sign, illustrated with a monarch butterfly, proclaimed. “Veto the cheeto!” said another. 

“I mean, we have got to be the laughing stock of the world,” said Julie, a stay-at-home mom who arrived at the protest with her family. Julie asked that her last name not be published. “Everything” Trump is doing, she said, is “awful, hateful, racist, disgusting. I get really upset. It’s stunning.” 

She has attended all of the No Kings protests in Cheyenne. “This is what I can do. I’ve been here several times, and I’ll keep coming.”