Bishop community members are invited to participate in the NO KINGS 4.0 March for Voting Rights on Saturday, October 17, 2026. The event, which aims to mobilize local participation in the democratic process, will begin at 2:00 PM at Bishop City Park with a brief rally and music, followed by a sidewalk march along Main Street. Handmade signs and costumes are encouraged.
This upcoming march marks the latest phase in the NO KINGS movement, which has previously organized events in Mammoth, Bishop, Independence, and Lone Pine. Over the past year, hundreds of Eastern Sierra residents have joined these locally organized demonstrations, which have grown alongside thousands of similar peaceful events nationwide. These rallies have previously highlighted concerns regarding the Trump Administration and its impact on the American system of government.
For the NO KINGS 4.0 event, the focus shifts to nonpartisan voter participation. Organizers emphasize being in community with each other and ensuring that every eligible voter has a plan to vote, understands their voting options, and is ready to make their voice count.
Karyle Tong, a local march organizer, noted that public participation—including organizing, speaking out, voting, protecting rights, and holding leaders accountable—is the source of the Eastern Sierra community’s strength. Tong explained that "pivoting our strategy from marching to voting" represents the movement utilizing a fundamental democratic tool at a crucial time.
The organizers underscore the connection between leadership decisions and daily life, particularly as families nationwide face struggles with the cost of groceries, gas, electric bills, and other everyday expenses. Elections determine who holds the power to make these impactful choices, and the current moment is presented as an opportunity for voters to use their power at the ballot box to shape the future they desire for their families, communities, and country.
Nancy Upham, an INYO350 Board Member and Bishop resident, emphasized the power of voters in a democracy. Upham stated that no single person, institution, or political party should predetermine leadership; that right belongs solely to the voters. She pointed out that some leaders across the country are working to erode trust in elections, diminish voting rights, and complicate legitimate voter participation. However, Upham affirmed that such leaders do not get to choose who votes, whose voices are heard, or what future communities deserve—voters do.
The NO KINGS movement is built by local organizers, volunteers, community leaders, and everyday individuals who bring their neighbors together and take action in their own communities. With elections facing perceived threats, the movement stresses a collective duty to step up, protect the vote, and ensure every ballot is counted safely.
INYO350 and the event organizing committee reiterate that a core principle behind all NO KINGS actions nationwide is a commitment to nonviolent action. Participants are called upon to act lawfully and peacefully, and to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontations with those who hold differing views.
