A number of New Vista High School students participate in the “Free America” walkout condemning the Trump Administration in Boulder on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Sagan Randall/CU Independent)
On Tuesday, protesters lined the corner of 28th Street and Colorado Avenue bordering the University of Colorado Boulder. The demonstration was part of the nation-wide “Free America” walkout organized by Women’s March, a U.S. based feminist organization.
Taking place on the anniversary of President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, the walkouts across the country aimed to demonstrate “collective resistance” against the Trump administration, according to the website. Some local protestors said they wished to raise awareness and solidarity.
According to the website, nearly 400 people RSVP’d for the event. Dozens of New Vista High School students marched out of school to join the crowd in protest.
Local youth attend an anti-Trump walkout in Boulder to condemn the administration on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Sagan Randall/CU Independent)
“I think a lot of people think that protesting isn’t effective and I can understand why it might seem like that,” CU Boulder senior Kaela Kennedy said. “The sense of community and the awareness is really key.”
The protest organizers encouraged participants to bring signs and wear red, white and blue clothing. Some protesters carried signs protesting against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while other signs condemned fascism and corruption.
A number of New Vista High School students participate in the “Free America” walkout condemn the Trump Administration in Boulder on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Sagan Randall/CU Independent)
Kennedy, an English and sociology major, said she attended the protest with a coworker from her on-campus job. She noted there were “barely any college students” at the protest, despite Boulder being considered a college town.
“I think that speaks a lot to how little awareness there is and how little community organization there is,” she said. “I have a lot of respect for everyone who is out here and I really hope to see more college kids and fellow students in the future.”
Kennedy said she was excited to participate in the local protest and stood for its message. Her biggest concern with the Trump administration was its allocation of funding. She said she believed more funds should be allocated to education and healthcare.
“He’s really delegating parts of our budget to parts of the economy I don’t necessarily support and missions of the military that I don’t necessarily support,” she said.
She noted how for others, issues of immigration enforcement were “on the top of the list” of their concerns.
“I definitely think that military presence within national cities is pretty extreme and uncalled for,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy referenced President Trump’s threat to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota, which would deploy federal troops to the area. Protests increased in Minneapolis after the fatal shooting of Renee Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent earlier this month.
Sarah Crank, a New Vista High School senior, was against the recent actions of ICE. She said she wanted the Trump administration removed from office.
Local youth attend an anti-Trump walkout in Boulder to condemn the administration on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Sagan Randall/CU Independent)
“I’m supporting the cause, anti-ICE, anti-Trump, everything about that, making sure that our communities are safe,” she said. “I want it to make sure that we don’t have our neighbors taken away from us.”
Beth Cook protests the Trump administration in Boulder on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Sagan Randall/CU Independent)
CU alumna Beth Cooke was present at the walkout. She was waving the so-called thin blue line flag – a black and white American flag with one blue stripe. The flag is often used to show support for law enforcement. While it has been associated with conservatism in contemporary American politics, Cooke distanced herself from that ideology.
“I’m protesting Trump and ICE and the [Republican Party],” Cooke explained. She described herself as “very, very upset about Renee Good.”
Cooke, who has been attending protests since President Trump’s first term in office, said she hoped “things turn around.”
Contact CU Independent News Editor Avery Clifton at avery.clifton@colorado.edu.
Contact CU Independent Visuals Editor Sagan Randall at sagan.randall@colorado.edu.
