Heavy turnout for Viroqua ‘No Kings” rally

Oct. 21, 2025

VIROQUA, Wis. — Hundreds of protesters gathered in Viroqua on Saturday, joining a nationwide wave of “No Kings” demonstrations opposing what participants describe as the Trump administration’s drift toward authoritarianism.

The Viroqua rally drew a substantial crowd of between 400 and 500 people at its peak, making it one of dozens of “No Kings” events held across Wisconsin that day, mirroring larger mobilizations in major U.S. cities like New York, Boston, Chicago, and Washington.

The national protests represent the third mass mobilization since President Donald Trump’s return to the White House and come amid an ongoing government shutdown. Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, have disparaged the events as “Hate America” rallies.

In Viroqua, speakers emphasized the fight to defend democratic institutions and rights, which they feel are being eroded.

Wayde Lawler, the Chair of the Vernon County Democratic Party, stressed the importance of unity and local action in fighting the regime.

“No matter how much they try to pit us against one another, we will love because it is the most powerful gift we can give to ourselves and to one another, and we will not let them take that away from us,” Lawler said.

Lawler encouraged attendees to focus on actionable steps, such as volunteering at the polls, registering voters, running for local offices like school board or city council, and preparing to support immigrant neighbors if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents show up in the community.

He affirmed that elections still matter, noting that the reason Wisconsin is not currently “rigging the game” like Texas is because enough people were elected to key positions who are “standing up for what’s right”.

Tara Johnson, the 96th Assembly Representative, emphasized that the Viroqua protest was part of a committed, long-term national movement to defend democracy.

Johnson argued that many Americans were “sold a bill of goods” by Trump and that defenders of democracy should be “gracious and empathetic” in welcoming those voters who are now realizing the president’s true agenda.

She noted that the current political situation, including the government shutdown and the “big ugly bill,” is causing “real harm” to Americans. Johnson also focused heavily on immigration enforcement, stating that the actions taken by ICE and Homeland Security in U.S. cities are “so clearly illegal, immoral”.

“We are a country of democracy. We are a country of a criminal justice system. It means that there are no kings. It means that everybody follows the rules. No one is above the law,” Johnson said.

Johnson also said the Trump administration policies are hurting the rural economy because of the loss of soybean markets due to tariffs and the cost of inputs.

“I’ve had farmers tell me, we don’t want a handout, we want to be able to sell our products,” said Johnson.

Local Concerns Mirror National Fears

Viroqua residents attending the rally expressed concerns ranging from immigration enforcement and judicial independence to economic issues and the politicization of the military.

One Viroqua resident, noted a feeling that the country is “falling apart,” specifically citing the apparent lack of due process, such as masked police “basically kidnapping people off the streets” without identification. Turner also worried about the judicial system being influenced by “one person and his ideology,” stressing that an impartial judicial system is necessary for protection.

A Navy combat veteran and his wife criticized the misuse of the Hatch Act and the growing political sizing of the military. Stating that anti-DEI efforts are “getting rid of good people,” arguing this ultimately makes the military weaker.

A couple from Crawford County listed several grievances, including the destruction of the planet, the erosion of constitutional rights, and economic inequality, noting that a small segment of the population controls most of the wealth. They felt that the current era of “lies and all the stealing and all the, state sponsored violence” is “all on steroids now” with “no facade anymore”. They advocate for taxing billionaires fairly, arguing that the Trump administration exploits genuine grievances for power.

A retired organic dairy farmer said he has been “fired up about this administration since 2016” because they promote hate and want to portray certain people as “not really Americans”. He also noted the administration’s negative impact on farmers, who have lost markets due to tariffs, and noted discrimination against black farmers, people of color, and women farmers seeking loans.