State Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs, spoke to thousands of demonstrators gathered Saturday morning at Bethel Plaza in Glenwood Springs during the “No Kings” protest — part of a nationwide movement opposing the Trump administration.

“We know that there are corporations taking over the federal government,” Velasco told the crowd beneath the Grand Avenue Bridge. “We are seeing a lawless government that is defunding all the things we care most about — the environment, public lands and protections for workers — and we will not stand for it.”

Protesters filled Bethel Plaza and nearby streets to express frustration and anger over federal policies and the ongoing government shutdown, now in its 19th day.

“They’re coming for everything we care about,” Velasco continued. “They don’t want us to have access to clean air or clean water. But I know our community is stronger together, and we are going to fight against this lawless government because we are the people.”

The event, organized by Mountain Action Indivisible, marked the group’s third mass mobilization since Trump’s second term began in January. Mountain Action Indivisible is a local branch of Indivisible, a national grassroots movement formed in response to Trump’s 2016 election.

After Velasco’s remarks, protesters marched down Grand Avenue and back before joining the “Raging Grannies” in spoken word and group dance performances.

“Everyone here cares about their neighbors and sees a broken federal government,” Velasco told the Post Independent. “We are protesting and standing up for the things we care about, because we are all in this together.

“We’re all being harmed by policies happening at every level of government, and it’s important that working people — those closest to the issues — are the ones making the rules, not corporations.”