WINONA Minn. – Above it all, the iconic Baby Trump balloon made its Winona debut at the No Kings Day protest at Windom Park. Tethered in the treetops the baby blimp looked down on a crowd estimated  variously at 1,400 to 2,000. Although Trump markets all kinds of self-flattering trinkets, the blimp did not come from his inventory of over-priced suggest-you-buy-this items. The baby blimp was pure mockery with oddly orange flesh and a hair-do of strange yellower-than-yellow sweeps. Then too there was the over-size safety pin on the nappy. Although the protest was seriously unfriendly to Trump, particularly his monarchial behavior, the crowd was peaceful. A Winona police patrol vehicle was parked a discreet block away. The officers never got out. The crowd’s hostility toward Trump found some balance in a merriment somewhat lke an old-fashion block party with friends you forgot haven’t seen in ages. Kindred spirits enjoyed kindred spirits.

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Street corner message. Can you name all four authoritarian thugs? Dozens and dozens of cars circled Wjndom Park with drivers honking their support at every intersection and passengers  gesturing thumbs up.

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A mocked presence. Even his pecs sag on this his 79th birthday..  Images: Andy Frank

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Bowser too. Fit right in to Day of Defiance protest.

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Voices from the grassroots. In the heart of Winona’s Windom park district of historic homes.

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From Spanish. “Verguenca” translates as shame.

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Where was Brad? Southern Minnesota’s representative in Congress, Brad Finstad, a Trump toady was conspicuous by his absence — but not forgotten.

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Where was Brad? Southern Minnesota’s representative in Congress, Brad Finstad, a Trump toady was conspicuous by his absence — but not forgotten.