Standing at the intersection of Main Street and James Garner Avenue, roughly 250 Norman residents held cardboard signs reading “Stop ICE,” “Free America” and “Fight Fascism,” among others, as they protested the Trump administration Tuesday afternoon.
The “Free America” walkout is a national movement calling for the Trump administration to raise wages and provide affordable home and health care, reproductive rights and an end to Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids across the nation, among other demands. Nearly 50,000 people across the nation were expected to participate in the walkout Tuesday, which marks the one-year anniversary of President Donald Trump’s second presidential inauguration.
Several protests against the Trump administration took place over the course of 2025. More than 7 million people at over 2,700 events nationwide attended the “No Kings” protests on Oct. 18.
Ashley Green, organizer of the Norman walkout, said she’s not happy with how the Trump administration is managing the country and hopes for others to protest as well.
“I want to see people out there standing together, acting peacefully, singing ‘Kumbaya’ or chanting, …” Green said. “It’s not OK to take our rights away as citizens, as women. … We don’t want people being taken with no due process.”
Green said the organization had been in contact with the Norman Police Department to make sure attendees were safe. She also said Norman North High School administration allowed students to attend the walkout.
A spokesperson for Norman Public Schools wrote in an email to OU Daily Tuesday afternoon that it was aware of the walkout but no student or staff member had requested to participate.
Mayor Stephen Tyler Holman wrote in a text message to the Daily Tuesday afternoon that he supports the right to peacefully protest.
“I fully support everyone’s constitutional right to free speech and to peacefully protest,” Holman wrote.
Kathy Brown, a retired United Methodist pastor who recently moved to Norman from Tulsa, said people need to stand up.
“We need to let people know that there are people who are willing to stand up for it, and the way things are going right now is not the way our Constitution was written, …” Brown said. “We’ve got to stand up against governing agencies that don’t follow the Constitution.”
Nicole Peralez, a stay-at-home mom, said she attended the protest for her daughter, as she aims to ensure a better future for her.
“I want this America to be what we actually stand for. Trump is making a mockery of everything, …” Peralez said. “I just want a better future for her. I want her where she can feel safe, where she doesn’t have to worry about her friends and family being taken in the middle of the night, or someone dictating what she should do with her body. No. It should not be like this.”
University of Central Oklahoma professor Sara Doolittle said, in light of celebrating the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, it’s important for people to come together as a community and share the things they will not tolerate.
“The actions in the last couple of weeks — but maybe also months and maybe last year — have just grown to be too big to not take action,” Doolittle said.
NPS board member for Office 4 Dawn Brockman said she attended the walkout to call for women's rights, an issue she said was important to her.
Brockman said community members need to stand up for several issues before Norman residents become affected by them.
“We all know we’re an inclusive community, and I think that we’re at a point where the rubber meets the road and we’re gonna have to let people know where we stand on issues,” Brockman said.
Jeff Pixley, a congressional candidate for Oklahoma’s fourth district, spoke to OU Daily about why he participated in the walkout.
“I’m here today because the people of Norman and the people of the fourth district in Oklahoma, and Oklahomans and Americans in general, are sick of seeing our government turn against us,” Pixley said.
Pixley carried an anti-ICE sign that read “It was murder,” referring to the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis.
Jeff Pixley holding a sign reading "It was murder" during the Norman Free America Walkout on Jan. 20. Pixley is running as a candidate for Oklahoma's 4th Congressional District.
“I am running for office here, but today I’m here about this,” Pixley said, referencing his sign. “I’m a supporter of law and order, of everybody getting a fair shot, of the American people and anybody within our borders being treated with dignity and respect. What’s happening right now with ICE across the country, especially in Minnesota, doesn’t represent any of those values.”
Pixley told the crowd that he and others will attend protests across the state.
“We are here today together, fighting for justice,” Pixley said. “We are out here on this street today, not asking for much. What do we want? We want justice. We want equality. We want diversity, equity and inclusion in our country.”
Green told OU Daily the movement called for all Americans to have the same rights and opportunities.
“This is about peacefully protesting in the same way Martin Luther King (Jr.) did for civil rights,” Green said. “This is about making sure we create community among ourselves. … This is a movement that says ‘I’m not going to stand for fascism. I’m not going to stand for the way this country is going and that I'm willing to work to make this a better world for future generations.’”
This story was edited by Natalie Armour, Macey Thaxton and Audrey McClour. Tori Pham and Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
