Several hundred Fairbanks-area residents lined the sidewalks along Cushman Street around Fairbanks City Hall on Saturday as part of a national demonstration protesting the Trump administration’s latest actions.
The protest, organized by the 50-50-1 organization, focused on protecting the freedom to gather and protest. It centered around President Donald Trump’s executive order directing the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to determine whether he could invoke the Insurrection Act by today (April 20) and federalize the National Guard for mass deportation efforts.
Demonstrators waved signs critical of the president, called for the protection of the right to assemble, and demanded the preservation of democracy. Other signs referenced the president’s recent cuts to federal workers and programs and called for the reversal of White House policy on deporting immigrants with protected status or those awaiting deportation hearings to El Salvador.
Andy Keller worked at a station for people needing to make last-minute signs while speaking with a University of Alaska Fairbanks student.
“We are doing our part here in Fairbanks to resist the incredible, undemocratic actions of the Trump administration,” Keller said.
Keller criticized Trump’s actions against universities such as Princeton and Harvard, including freezing federal grants unless they eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. He also raised concerns about international students on visas facing deportation.
Four University of Alaska Anchorage international students had their visas revoked last week.
“This is something you would expect out of Russia or China, but here?” Keller said. “We are in dire straits ... we have to resist.”
Fairbanksan Berice Doble said he joined friends and neighbors to protest the Trump administration’s current policies.
“It seems like some people think there are some limits on what he can do,” Doble said. “It’s ridiculous that he seems to do whatever he wants to do.”
Doble added that it’s essential for people to “express what we want to express without expecting retaliation.”
“This is all peaceful gatherings,” he said.
While Fairbanksans demonstrated, others held a fundraiser for Bread Line, which operates the Stone Soup Kitchen and other essential programs in Veterans Memorial Park.
Ken Miller, the lead organizer, said “Soup for My Family” was independent of the protest and aimed at collecting food and donations for Bread Line. Volunteers served soups ranging from gumbo to vegetarian chili.
“This is a way to help the Bread Line while providing some warm soup for people,” Miller said.
He emphasized the importance of supporting Bread Line, especially as other programs face cuts. Stone Soup Kitchen has seen a large influx over the past year, particularly following the expiration of a federal grant that helped sustain it during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While volunteers served soup to attendees, the Pavva Iñupiaq Dancers performed on a makeshift dance platform.
“We invited these nice people before we were aware of the protest,” Miller said.
Contact reporter Jack Barnwell at 907-459-7587 or jbarnwell@newsminer.com.
