On October 18, 2025, about 150 residents of conservative Pella, Iowa, participated in a 'No Kings' protest against President Donald Trump. The event highlighted deep political divisions in the small, traditionally Republican town. Organizer Louise Esveld emphasized the need to speak out for future generations.
Pella, Iowa, a picturesque town known for its Dutch heritage, annual tulip festival, and status as one of the safest cities in the state, rarely sees protests. Located 44 miles southeast of Des Moines in Marion County, the area has voted Republican reliably since 1952, except for brief periods in 1964, 1976, and 1988. In 2024, nearly 70 percent of the county supported Republicans. Yet on October 18, 2025, locals gathered in a park under the Tulip Totem for the 'No Kings' demonstration against Trump, whom they view as undermining democracy.
Louise Esveld, a 73-year-old local political figure, hosted protesters for breakfast that morning, serving raisin rolls and Dutch letters. She expressed fear of stirring tensions but felt compelled to act for her toddler granddaughter, who she believes faces a world with fewer rights. 'What kind of legacy is she leaving if this is the world her grandchildren inherit?' Esveld told the group. Joined by friends in their 70s, including organizer Jen Lily, 54, and Dan Timmer from Iowa City, they joked about being 'Antifa' despite their age and 'bad knees.' One woman hid her participation from her conservative trucker husband, who argues on Facebook.
Tensions simmer in Pella, where Democrats face accusations of being 'baby killers' and 'groomers' for supporting LGBTQ+ rights. During a July 4 parade, a man yelled 'Baby killers' at the Marion County Democrats' float. A petition to remove 'Gender Queer' from the library and place it under city control was narrowly defeated. Esveld countered, 'We are the ones who were groomed,' recalling restrictions like bans on women wearing pants in high school.
The protest drew 70 RSVPs but swelled to an estimated 100-150 participants, chanting 'This is what Democracy looks like!' and 'No kings! No crowns!' They stayed on the sidewalk, following rules led by Lily on a megaphone. A Vietnam veteran in an 'I'm antifa' shirt argued with skeptics, insisting, 'We are not terrorists, we are your neighbors.'
Across the street, onlookers reacted with folded arms and whispers of 'disgusting' and 'disrespectful.' One older woman shouted at a journalist, while Scott Werner and Bob Klein, both veterans and critics, called the event pointless. 'This is not going to do anything,' Werner said, suggesting letters to congressmen instead. They viewed protesters as 'brainwashed liberals' from out of town, despite evidence many were locals from nearby churches like Hope Lutheran. Klein noted Pella's safety stems from Republican policies and urged honesty over division. No one was listening, they agreed, each in their own silos.
The event ended peacefully, with no litter left behind, restoring the town's tidy calm amid gold and rust fall colors. Social media later praised such rural turnout as a sign of resistance.