A group of about 30 older liberal Alaskans gathered along the road outside Palmer on Aug. 7 to chant well-worn anti-Trump slogans during a campaign stop by U.S. Congressman Nick Begich.
The crowd, which looked to be overwhelmingly composed of senior citizens, gathered to oppose both Begich and his guest, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who was in Alaska to help boost Begich’s re-election with a series of private campaign stops.
The counter protest was organized by a leftwing organization called Mat-Su United for Progress, which hosts periodic political events focused on deriding Trump’s efforts to cut wasteful government spending, secure the southern border and restrict government funds for abortion and LGBTQ initiatives.
Other past demonstrations organized by the group have been “No Kings” rallies and anti-immigration protests.
On Aug. 7, the group was seen chanting “No ICE,” and waiving homemade signs to passing cars, while insulting those who were on hand to attend the campaign stop.
Mat-Su United for Progress is also actively pushing liberal candidate Bill Hill, who is challenging Begich.
Later this month, however, the group will be at the Alaska State Fair with the stated aim to “promote voter awareness and inspire our community to make their voices heard in the upcoming November 3 election.”
The activists will be expected to remain nonpartisan while manning their approved booth. According to a notice about the upcoming event, volunteers will be greeting fairgoers and handing out election resources, registration details and voting guides. They will also be encouraging passersby to vote.
The fair has long approved booths for political organizations such as the Mat-Su Democrats and the Mat-Su Republican Women’s Club, along with various nonprofits, government offices, and community entities. Fair rules generally allow political advertising/materials if the specific lease permits it.
It does not appear that Mat-Su United for Progress has permission to engage in its typical partisan activism while manning the booth, but it will have direct access to tens of thousands of Alaskans attending the popular fair.
ALASKA WATCHMAN DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
Last summer the group crashed the popular Colony Days celebration in Palmer, an event that celebrates the original farming colony that established Palmer in 1935. The event attracts thousands of attendees for parades, games, music, car shows, crafts, tractor pulls, reindeer rides and various other festivities to honor the community’s founding.
Mat-Su United for Progress saw the longstanding celebration as a chance to push its brand of hard-left anti-Trump messaging. While Colony Days officials barred them from carry divisive signs during the actual parade, the group was allowed to march down main street. Immediately following the parade, they staged a “No Kings” political protest near the Glenn and Palmer-Wasilla Highways with the stated aim “to continue our message in a more public and politically visible way.”
