COUNCIL BLUFFS -- An estimated 10,000 people took part of a No Kings protest at Tom Hanafan Park in Council Bluffs Saturday.

Gov. Jim Pillen had activated the National Guard prior to protests at several locations in the state, but the Council Bluffs event, which spilled over to the Bob Kerrey bridge, was peaceful.

 

When a platform speaker announced the murder of a Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman and her husband he asked for a moment of silence. In the silence someone yelled “political assassination." Moments later there was yell, “off with his head.”

To that the speaker replied “No. No violence.” The moment of silence continued uninterrupted.

 

Event organizers had stressed the importance of a peaceful protest. Materials advised people, if they were approached with hostility, to sit on the ground, put down their signs and look away from the aggressors. There did not seem to be any reason for such actions Saturday.

 

There were a few young men dressed in black with face coverings that walked through the crowd.

Although No Kings is a nationwide pro-Democracy movement, immigration was a conspicuous theme at the rally.