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Downtown Elkhart, Indiana is a sleepy place on a Saturday, and usually has plenty of parking for those who want to wander around. But on Main Street last Saturday, the traffic was backed up to the McDonald’s entrance. And assuming you haven’t been to Elkhart, that’s pretty far and quite uncommon.
Many were coming for the No Kings rally, for sure, but more were driving through just to see what was going on. In Elkhart, we’re not known as protestors, but we do know how to honk a horn and wave a flag. There was zero acrimony and none of the America-hating vibe we were promised from Washington during the lead up to Saturday.
Most of us saw the coverage of the massive crowds across the United States, standing up to authoritarian policies and giving voice to millions of citizens who are struggling in today’s America. It was, in fact, the largest protest in US history — and it went deep into communities you’ve never heard of.
It wasn’t just Times Square or the National Mall where the patriots gathered last weekend. In my home town of Elkhart, Indiana, No Kings was the local feature event on a bright autumn weekend.
I met Vince, a retired US Army Ranger and Barbara, a seamstress in a boat production plant. Neither had ever been to a protest in their life. Vince, an old Republican, worried about the young officers coming up under Hegseth’s leadership. Barbara, mostly a non-voter, relies on “Obamacare” for her health care. I’ll bet these two folks didn’t agree on much, but they both shared a deep concern for where things are headed under the Trump Administration.
Elkhart County, Indiana is about manufacturing and farming and it sits at the center of the reliably red 2nd Congressional District. Home to the nation’s recreational vehicle industry, it is also a thriving agriculture center, anchored by a prosperous amish community. In years gone by, IN-2 was considered a swing district, hosting multiple visits by Presidents, including Bush, Obama and Trump. The GOP has almost always eked out a win here. And Indiana communities like Elkhart have grown even more red in recent years, which has tempted Republicans, under White House pressure, to attempt a quickie redraw of the congressional map.
But it is also places like Elkhart and the 2nd Congressional District where the opposition to Trump’s policies are incubating and finding a way to make a difference. Manufacturers and farmers are having their way of life threatened as they struggle under the Trump tariff regime. People of faith are concerned about increasing demand at shelters and food banks. And the working people who dominate these conservative communities wrestle with high costs of food, housing and health care. GOP Voters in these places haven’t left the Trump fold yet, but increasingly their communities are facing an onslaught of policies that make life harder or even violate their basic sense of right and wrong.
Elkhart County will likely remain in GOP hands for the time being, but the No Kings rally in here was successful because it took place at the heat of where Trump finds support. Showing up there is half the battle because, even in Red America, people are anxious and scared about the future.
The latest news from Indiana is that they don’t have the votes to redraw the district lines this year. The White House fights on, but maybe, just maybe, there are a few Hoosier lawmakers left who understand that in America, there are no kings — and democracy is still a powerful force.

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