Strong winds Saturday morning did not deter hundreds of Tucsonans from gathering at the intersection of East Speedway and North Country Club Road for a “No Kings” rally focused on voter turnout. Wind gusts measured between 55 mph and 80 mph, with the National Weather Service maintaining a wind advisory until 2 p.m., and Tucson International Airport recording a peak gust of 66 mph at 1:15 a.m. The day before, the city unofficially set a record daily average wind speed of 24.4 mph.
The rally, part of a nationwide series of more than 3,000 “No Kings: Vote Early” events, emphasized the importance of voting as the midterm elections approach on Nov. 3. Participant Karen Karl, who has canvassed door‑to‑door for four years, said, “We’re only two weeks away from the election — a very consequential election. We want to make sure people truly understand the significance of it and take back their power because a lot of people sat out two years ago.” Karl added that the event seeks to reach voters who are not yet hyper‑political, offering guidance on the ballot and encouraging turnout.
Organizer Ethan Hibner highlighted the location’s centrality, noting that the Speedway intersection is a crossroads for diverse economic neighborhoods throughout Tucson. Hibner said, “This is the crossroad of the city. You have all different economic neighborhoods. Everyone crosses Speedway.” He reported that the event ran from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with participants arriving early and expressing excitement about the community gathering.
While the rally featured a circle of volunteers playing ukuleles and mini banjos while singing protest parodies, it faced minimal opposition. Hibner observed that a few drivers flipped off protesters or shouted as they passed, but no personal confrontations occurred.
The Tucson gathering was one of four local “No Kings” events, with additional rallies scheduled at the Rooney Ranch Shopping Center in Oro Valley; at East River Road and North Via Entrada; at South Houghton and East Rita roads in Rita Ranch; and at the Speedway Pedestrian Bridge at 8301 E. Speedway. Hundreds also turned out in Green Valley, and a separate Phoenix rally featured U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego, who marched to the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center to drop off completed ballots.
Saturday’s rally coincided with other community activities, including the Tucson Meet Yourself cultural festival downtown and the Party in the Park/Boots in the Park music festivals at Rillito Park, illustrating a busy weekend for the city despite the blustery weather.
What’s next: Tucson residents are encouraged to register, verify their polling locations, and cast their ballots on Nov. 3. Organizers plan to hold additional “No Kings” events through the election weekend to continue promoting voter education and participation.
Sources: tucson.com
