Local
Protesters turn out to ‘No Kings’ protest for variety of reasons
A No Kings sign at the La Crosse protest on June 14. 
A man wearing a Marine Corps Veteran hat waives an American flag at the No Kings protest on June 14 in La Crosse. 
Standing up through the sunroof of her vehicle, a woman waives an American flag at the No Kings protest in La Crosse on June 14. 
A No Kings crown seen at the La Crosse protest on June 14. 
A vehicle flies a flag through the sunroom of a vehicle passing down Losey Boulevard on June 14 in support of the No Kings protest 
A flag displayed at the No Kings protest in La Crosse on June 14. 
A woman holds up a sign at the No Kings protest on June 14. 
Protesters along Losey Boulevard at the No Kings protest on June 14. 
“No Kings In America” written on the side of a van seen at the No Kings protest in La Crosse on June 14. 
No Kings protesters along Losey Boulevard 
No Kings protesters along State Road on June 14.
Hundreds of people spent a few hours of their Saturday at a busy La Crosse intersection protesting the policies of the Trump Administration.
They took part in the “No Kings” protest, one of about many across the nation, at the intersection of State Road and Losey Boulevard. People lined both sides of both streets. A mix of cheers and car horns from supporters filled the air.
A mix, too, of signs and flags from those who came to the protest. Some waived American flags, others held signs with messages against the president while others spoke to specific issues.
WIZM News spoke to several people at the protest and why they came.
Tom Naegle
One of them was Tom Naegle of Genoa. Wearing a shirt with a message about immigration, he was surprised and happy that so many people came out.
When asked, he mentioned several reasons for him coming to La Crosse. Starving children in Sudan, Ukraine, and ICE raids where mothers are taken from their children were among his reasons.
“Everyday there’s something different. I don’t even know waking up in the morning what’s going to happen next. The whole country feels that way. They don’t know what’s going to happen the next day anymore. All I hear is Trump, Trump, Trump. I’m sick of hearing about him. That’s all on people’s minds is frickin’ Trump,” Naegle said.
Amy Bantle
Amy Bantle is an educator who said she’s upset about what’s happening in our country.
She said she expected a big crowd at the protest as she’s been to previous protests held at the intersection.
“I know that power is in the streets. That’s my sign,” she said, showing the sign she held at the protest. “I know that we have power as people and it was great to see so many people here and be part of this positive energy, people are loving America, and really loving democracy and understanding that we have power.”
“I’ve always been really overwhelmed with how many people show up. There’s all different ages of people here. All different types of signs. Everyone brings signs that are for Medicare or Veterans against Trump or I don’t know…like 8647. There’s like clever signs, there’s dogs that have, it’ll say Dogs against DOGE, so just a lot of clever commentary on the political situation.”
River Fife
Her daughter, River Fife, returned to La Crosse to visit her mother this summer. She said she was impressed seeing an older crowd turnout. That’s rare back where she lives in Seattle she said.
As far as being at the event, she said it was important to come out to support all the issues. Sometimes there isn’t a lot of awareness in more conservative places on how issues affect everyone not just certain people.
“This was a good unifying protest, I guess, with the whole “No Kings”, like we’re not just happy with what this administration is doing. And that there’s so many different rallying points, whether its about like Medicaid, Medicare, Palestine, ICE and their deportations and everything.”
One moment came when one of the protesters had what appeared to be a minor medical episode. A rescue crew from the La Crosse Fire Department and a team with Gundersen Tri-State Ambulance came. Several people cleared a path for the rescue vehicles to get into the K-Mart lot and to the person.
At least two officers from the La Crosse Police Department were at the event. They spent their time watching the peaceful event and occasionally conversing with members of the crowd.
MORE: Hundreds join Losey Boulevard gathering in La Crosse on “No Kings” day around the U.S.
Tom
June 15, 2025 at 9:45 am
It’s Sunday! Going to worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords today. Anyone else?
Kevin
June 15, 2025 at 9:46 am
They are delusional – it should be a – thank you for following the constitution and enforcing the law day!
nick
June 15, 2025 at 9:58 am
To Tom, I was in church this morning as well.
Eric
June 15, 2025 at 3:53 pm
Kevin, suggestion
Spend your time fixing WIZM news
It can’t get any worse . Content, delivery, topics, consistent time
And tainted by TDS . The local community deserves better.
walden
June 15, 2025 at 4:12 pm
Eric, so true. The WIZM “news” staff has demonstrated in the last week multiple times they don’t even understand the difference between Medicare and Medicaid, using the terms interchangeably in multiple articles. These guys are out of their depth by the time they’ve finished their corn flakes in the morning.
walden
June 15, 2025 at 4:20 pm
I’m guessing absent the government union employees (AFSCME) and the unionized teachers and their families there would be remaining only a few sappy Boomers left in the crowd, who, like the wizm staff, obviously don’t even understand the difference between Medicare and Medicaid.
The one lady thinks “Dogs against Doge” is clever commentary. whew!
Kevin
June 16, 2025 at 7:42 am
I don’t understand the demonstration or the claims:
1) Trump Lies – he said he was going to enforce the immigration laws, he said he was going to start with the criminals – where is the lie?
2) He said he would work to make the United States fiscally solvent; this must include removing the illegal immigrant from the entitlement roles. The US taxpayer, and I am afraid when a leftist reads that line, they read the white person, that interpretation reveals the passive aggressive racism of the left and soft middle of the political spectrum.
3) He said he wanted peace, he would govern through strength and negotiation, whenever possible, seems to be in keeping with this foreign policy.
4) He said he wants the folks that are willing to work to prosper, once again in keeping with his domestic policy. The purchasing power of the dollar goes up, real wages go up, where is the lie?
5) Inexpensive energy, very good for the poor, keeps prices down for everything, goods, services. He never said poor stewardship, we can argue what good and bad stewardship of resources looks like.
6) Remove the baked in political class from government, seems like something everyone wants, seems to be doing that. You can call that baked in class anything you want, deep state, lifer bureaucrats, dei hires, don’t care. It is that group of folks that get that job and can never seem to get fired or layed off or removed and IS NOT elected. Want to fix that, give those employees a 5year contract, force a rehire or fire review on the fifth year.
7) Find waste, fraud and abuse, this is in progress, programs are going to get cut & trimmed, states and communities will need to pick up the slack. That slack should be in the state and local governments so we can keep an eye on who is getting the money and how it is being used.
8) Quit giving money to people that hate us – seems like USAID programs and other bizarre ways to give pallets of money to foreign interests
There are more reasons I voted for this guy, but these are a few, of the things that the folks wandering about looking for something to bitch about don’t ever acknowledge. They are ‘intellectually dishonest’ and frightened of change and work.
Kevin
June 16, 2025 at 7:43 am
I don’t understand the demonstration or the claims:
1) Trump Lies – he said he was going to enforce the immigration laws, he said he was going to start with the criminals – where is the lie?
2) He said he would work to make the United States fiscally solvent; this must include removing the illegal immigrant from the entitlement roles. The US taxpayer, and I am afraid when a leftist reads that line, they read the white person, that interpretation reveals the passive aggressive racism of the left and soft middle of the political spectrum.
3) He said he wanted peace, he would govern through strength and negotiation, whenever possible, seems to be in keeping with this foreign policy.
4) He said he wants the folks that are willing to work to prosper, once again in keeping with his domestic policy. The purchasing power of the dollar goes up, real wages go up, where is the lie?
5) Inexpensive energy, very good for the poor, keeps prices down for everything, goods, services. He never said poor stewardship, we can argue what good and bad stewardship of resources looks like.
6) Remove the baked in political class from government, seems like something everyone wants, seems to be doing that. You can call that baked in class anything you want, deep state, lifer bureaucrats, dei hires, don’t care. It is that group of folks that get that job and can never seem to get fired or layed off or removed and IS NOT elected. Want to fix that, give those employees a 5year contract, force a rehire or fire review on the fifth year.
7) Find waste, fraud and abuse, this is in progress, programs are going to get cut & trimmed, states and communities will need to pick up the slack. That slack should be in the state and local governments so we can keep an eye on who is getting the money and how it is being used.
8) Quit giving money to people that hate us – seems like USAID programs and other bizarre ways to give pallets of money to foreign interests
There are more reasons I voted for this guy, but these are a few, of the things that the folks wandering about looking for something to bitch about don’t ever acknowledge. They are ‘intellectually dishonest’ and frightened of change and work.