BY MILES LAYTON

EDENTON — A “No Kings” rally and a Flag Day/250th Army Birthday counterprotest was peaceful on Saturday morning at the corner of South Broad and Water streets.  

The protests were “for real” peaceful, not “Los Angeles peaceful.” It’s still early on a Saturday, so let’s see how the rest of the country fares.

A gallery of photos and a video appears with this story.

There were far more No Kings protestors than Flag Day folks, but then again, No Kings’ organizers have an app to gather protestors and time to rally on Saturday, when most people are doing weekend chores or farming rather than spending their time holding signs and shouting slogans denouncing President Trump, who lives rent-free in some folks’ heads.

That said, there were a few Virginia license plates, one Colorado plate, and even a Canadian plate, but then again, Edenton, being the most friendly town in the South, tends to attract people and their ideas from all over the country. Most folks on either side of the divide appeared to be middle-aged or older – a long way from their college days. 

A short hop from the shadow of the Confederate Memorial, Rod Phillips – whose name is synonymous with being anti-Confederate statue – was on scene. He sent out an advisory telling folks about the rally. Bless your heart. Love your weekly email missives. There was a smattering of local Democrat party leaders on the No Kings side — that’s OK; It’s a free country.  

On the other side of Broad Street celebrating Flag Day/Army Day, elected officials included Chowan County Commissioners Bob Kirby, Ron Cummings and Larry McLaughlin, as well as former Commissioner Joe Hollowell, who is still quite active in politics — all Republicans. And let’s not forget, happy birthday, President Trump – 79 years old on Saturday.   

For the most part, people were kind to each other, although they tended not to want to interact with folks who didn’t share their worldview. No one hurled insults or got into shouting matches.  

Law enforcement presence included Chowan County Sheriff’s Office and Edenton Police, who monitored folks to make sure they didn’t step into the streets so as not to impede traffic.  When driving through S. Broad/Water streets, people pumped their horns for activists on both sides of the street. 

One truck driven by Trump supporters sported a big Trump flag in the truckbed as it made two passes around the No Kings crowd. Another truck pounded the exhaust loudly as it passed through the No Kings crowd.  

More takeaways –  Local media was present. Trigger warning — Two folks from No Kings asked the Albemarle Observer not to take pictures, to which this writer said, “Too bad, it’s a public place. I have every right to be here taking pictures.” Love how Tommy Lee Jones says “I don’t care” in this scene from the Fugitive. Another protester put her hand in front of my phone while I was taking a photo – to no avail. “Karen” — if I can endure and thrive covering weekly protests in a college town, I can certainly handle mean comments from a couple of disgruntled retirees engaged in a display of public theater. 

No Kings’ side played Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA”. Both sides of the coin sang “God Bless America” more or less at each other (click the video), but it was still reassuring that the groups could unite on something. 

Instead of bricks that have mysteriously appeared at peaceful rallies across the country, No Kings’ ralliers hurled bubbles, peaceful bubbles, across the crowds gathered at the intersection. Thank God there were no drum circles.

There were two beagles on the No Kings side, however, neither dog chose to chant slogans or hold signs critical of Trump.  

Someone held a sign that said “Let’s go TACO” – which prompted many people to ask if TACO had something to do with lunch or some sort of weird misguided epithet. But it is an acronym – “Trump Always Chickens Out” – which is not as good as the acronym FAFO that has come to be associated with President Trump’s leadership. There was someone dressed in a shark costume in the No Kings’ crowd — not sure what that was all about, but hey, Edenton is an inclusive community.

And I’ll say it again – on a serious note, don’t let the mainstream media or the talking heads, many of whom are morons, pit Americans against each other – we have far more in common with one another than we do disagreements.