About 100 protestors rally in Idaho Falls against Trump policies
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IDAHO FALLS — More than 100 individuals rallied on the Broadway Bridge in downtown Idaho Falls against changes implemented by President Donald Trump’s administration in the past month.
‘We are here today because Trump’s policies are an attack on working people, marginalized communities and the very values of fairness and justice,” rally organizer Shantelle Duran stated. “From mass deportations to cutting Medicare, gutting diversity programs and handing more power to billionaires like Elon Musk, his agenda only serves the rich while ordinary Americans suffer.”
“We refuse to be silenced,” she continued. “We refuse to let racism, corporate greed and inequality shape our future. This is our country too, and we are here to fight for it.”
Idaho Falls City Councilman John Radford, who attended the rally, said people need to be able to trust that their government operates — both locally and nationally.
“We really need government to function and not to be in a state of chaos,” Radford said. “Predictability is good for business. It’s good for our city, it’s good for our organizations, and I didn’t expect that we would be in this sort of chaos so quickly.”
He cited the cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as tactics that have cut off federal employees’ pay and interrupted the federal government’s ability to provide expected services — such as the Center for Disease Control’s ability to fight bird flu.
“I think DOGE and the Elon Musk effect has been way bigger than than anyone expected, right? We thought it was going to be a committee that people would look at,” he said. “… We have people in the government — inspector generals. Why are we having someone like Elon Musk, who’s unvetted by Congress, have access to people’s personal information (and) financial dollars of the Treasury?”
Compass Academy juniors Grace Gardiner and Martha Aquino likewise shared their dissatisfaction with the nation’s current trajectory.
“It definitely is seeming like it’s turning into an oligarchy, with Elon Musk not being elected and him controlling a lot of the government right now,” Gardiner said. “Everything seems really scary when there’s mass deportations happening, so it feels like right for me to be here.”
The protest follows a rally two weeks ago where more than 350 people — largely Hispanic — protested the Trump administration’s immigration and deportation policies.
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While smaller, this Saturday’s protest drew a different demographic — ranging from kids, teens, parents and older citizens – who are concerned that the federal government’s system of checks and balances are all in the hands of one party, said former Bonneville County Democrat Chairwoman Miranda Marquit.
“Our Congress has abdicated their responsibility — their constitutional responsibility — to control the power of the purse and to be a check on the executive,” Marquit said. “The executive is blatantly saying that they will ignore the checks from the judiciary.”
Two vehicles with Trump flags paraded up and down Broadway during the protest. There was also a large outcry on social media about the protest went it was announced. EastIdahoNews.com had over 1,400 comments on social media and on our website, with the majority of people being critical of people protesting.
RELATED | Protest against Trump administration policies planned Saturday in Idaho Falls
“Wish y’all were this passionate about your state politics instead of crying ‘Orange Man Bad’ at every opportunity,” wrote Jace Kunz on Facebook.
Others encouraged demonstrators to make their feelings known via the ballot box.
“I liked when I protested against Bidens policies… it was called Election Day,” wrote Alana Humphries.
As a whole, the 100 protesters were observed to be peaceful in their opposition, with some yelling slogans as cars drove by.
An additional protest is planned from noon to 3 p.m. Monday at the Bonneville County Courthouse.
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