Jax, a stately Italian shepherd, pranced down the Chapel Hill Street sidewalk past Pizzeria Toro. A sign hung off his harness, contrasting against his ivory coat, read “Dogs Against Dictators!”
“He’s a guardian breed and he’s a guardian of democracy today,” said Jax’s owner, Durham engineer Robyn Neaville.
Neaville brought Jax to Saturday’s “Durham Protecting Democracy” march, one of many weekend demonstrations nationwide calling attention to the Trump administration’s recent actions.
Held at CCB Plaza near the Major the Bull statue, the protest brought in about 800 people, despite a similar “Hands off!” protest having just occurred the week before. Attendees came out to protest issues such as the Trump administration’s deportations, proposals to gut federal health agencies, potential DOGE threats to Social Security, and tariffs.
The protest was co-sponsored by Durham Democrats, Engaged Durhamites for Democracy, and the Durham Progressive Democrats. Jonathan Riley, organizing director for Durham Progressive Democrats, said protesters hope to catch the attention of Congressional representatives such as Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), who is up for re-election in 2026. Riley, 35, said the country faces a “national emergency.”
“Trump does not have superpowers, all these powers have been given to him by representatives that think their constituents are on board with this,” Riley said. “Today we are here to show them that we are not on board with kings in America.”
By late morning, CCB Plaza was filled to the brim with protesters hoisting signs and ringing cowbells. Every few minutes cars driving down East Chapel Hill Street honked their horns in support of the crowd. All age ranges were present, with elementary students holding signs with slogans like “Nobody Elected Elon.”
Even non-Durhamites attended the rally. Sam Sloss, 76, and Sheroa Andersen, 76, a retired couple from DeLand, Florida, were in the area visiting family. They took part in the protest because, as Andersen said, “It feels good to be a part of something like this. You got to do something.”
Ryan Wang, chair of the Durham Progressive Democrats, told the crowd that Democrats need to hold the Trump administration accountable. “Our leaders and elected officials in the Democratic Party need to step up and fight rather than keel over to facism,” Wang said.
Mika Twietmeyer, president of Durham Association of Educators (DAE) and a former local high school teacher, has been an educator in Durham for 17 years. She emphasized the role of public education in a healthy democracy, saying it must be defended from privatizers and budget cuts. Twietmeyer said, “What we have been seeing at the federal level, the state level, is not about cutting waste — it’s about cutting opportunity.”
After the speakers finished their remarks, participants poured onto the sidewalks and marched around the block while motorcycles revved down the street to chants such as “up, up, uprise the people!” The sun peeked out from behind the clouds, just enough to shine a spotlight on the protesters’ signs and American flags.
Protesters had a range of stories and individual grievances with the current administration. Shannon Greene, 48, works in nonprofit fundraising and said the Trump administration’s actions have directly affected her friends and family. She’s witnessed her loved ones lose jobs. Others are afraid of speaking out because their organizations are at risk of losing federal funds.
“It affects your day-to-day living. Having that level of anxiety hanging over you is real,” Greene said.
As marchers rounded the corner, Neaville clung to Jax’s leash while he sniffed the passing protesters.
Neaville said she was motivated to attend the protest for many reasons. Her daughter’s vote is one of more than 60,000 ballots that were challenged by state Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin. Neaville has worked at the polls and helped her daughter through the correct process of voting from abroad, so found it “infuriating” that her daughter would be disenfranchised.
Moreover, Neaville is preparing for retirement, and worries about the future of Social Security and the balance in her 401(k). With the economy so unpredictable, it’s a scary time for people looking to retire. “We just don’t have time for these kinds of money games,” Neaville said.
Despite the many worries on peoples’ minds, the protest was a welcome opportunity to show defiance and bring the community together.
“Hope is a form of resistance,” said Riley. “They would like us to say that there’s nothing that we can do. But we fully expect our representatives to hold the Trump administration accountable.”
Above: Demonstrators gather downtown to protest the Trump administration’s recent actions. Photos by Abigail Bromberger — The 9th Street Journal
