Residents from across the Eastern Sierra are invited to participate in the NO KINGS 4.0 March for Voting Rights in Bishop on Saturday, October 17, 2026. This peaceful mobilization will take place at Bishop City Park at 2:00 PM and marks a significant shift in the movement’s strategy. The event aims to focus on nonpartisan voter participation, fostering community connection, and ensuring that every eligible voter is prepared to cast their ballot, understands their voting options, and is ready to make their voice heard.
Over the past year, hundreds of community members have actively participated in NO KINGS events held in Mammoth, Bishop, Independence, and Lone Pine. These locally organized gatherings have consistently rallied against what organizers described as authoritarian threats to democracy from the Trump Administration. Participants at these demonstrations, which mirrored thousands of similar peaceful events nationwide, highlighted concerns regarding the perceived corruption of the Trump Administration and its wider impact on the American system of government. The upcoming Bishop march is presented as the next phase, intending to translate the local power cultivated by residents directly into action at the ballot box.
Karyle Tong, a local march organizer, underscored the significance of community involvement. Tong explained that the strength of the Eastern Sierra community stems from public participation, including organizing, speaking out, voting, safeguarding rights, and holding leaders accountable. She noted that "pivoting our strategy from marching to voting" represents the movement's use of "the most fundamental democratic tool available to us when it matters most," according to the press release.
Organizers also connect the importance of voting to everyday challenges faced by families across the country. They point to struggles with the increasing cost of groceries, gasoline, electricity bills, and general daily expenses. The choices made by those in positions of power directly influence the lives of residents, and elections are the mechanism through which the power to make these critical choices is determined. The upcoming march aims to empower participants to utilize their vote to shape the future they desire for their families, communities, and the nation.
Emphasizing the essential role of voters in a democratic system, Nancy Upham, an INYO350 Board Member from Bishop, articulated that no single individual, institution, or political party has the authority to predetermine who leaders will be before the public votes. Upham highlighted concerns that some leaders across the country are actively working to undermine public trust in elections, weaken established voting rights, and intentionally complicate the process for people to legitimately express their opinions. She asserted that these leaders do not possess the authority to choose who votes, whose voices are counted, or what future communities are entitled to; instead, voters retain that power.
The NO KINGS movement is fundamentally built by individuals at the local level, drawing its strength from local organizers, dedicated volunteers, community leaders, and everyday residents who collaborate to bring their neighbors together and instigate action within their own communities. When the integrity of elections is perceived to be under threat, the press release states that there is a collective responsibility to step forward, protect the voting process, and ensure that every legitimate ballot is accurately and safely counted.
The event on October 17th will commence with a brief pre-march rally at Bishop City Park, featuring music to engage attendees. Following the rally, participants will proceed with a sidewalk march along Bishop's Main Street. Attendees are encouraged to bring handmade signs and wear costumes to express their messages. A core principle guiding every NO KINGS action nationwide is a steadfast commitment to nonviolent engagement. INYO350 and the event organizing committee urge all participants to act within the bounds of the law, maintain peaceful conduct, and actively seek to de-escalate any potential confrontations that may arise with those holding differing views.
