Last Saturday was a busy day in Marin. It presented a splendid opportunity to see thousands of Marin women and men publicly exhibit their patriotism.

The morning started with a “Pancake Party” organized by Marin’s Republican Central Committee to celebrate President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday along with Flag Day. That was followed by Democrats locally as well as across America holding “No Kings Day” to protest actions during Trump’s first five months back in office.

To get a sense of what was going on, I did a drive-by to most of those events. My count of those in attendance at the various events are my best estimate.

Since pancakes are for breakfast, at 9:45 a.m. my first drive-by was at Civic Center Lagoon Park where the GOP faithful assembled. It was a family affair. I estimate about 45 to 50 people were gathered under the trees to celebrate everything Trump.

From there I headed to Novato. At 10:15 a.m., I drove DeLong Avenue from Whole Foods past City Hall to Redwood Boulevard. What I saw was hard to believe. About 3,000 folks were peacefully lining DeLong waving signs. A memorable one read, “Make America Great Again: Dump Trump.”

For so many normal northern Marin residents to leave their homes on a beautiful Saturday morning, they had to be really angry about the recent turn of national affairs. It’s no secret that anger is the most powerful motivator across the political spectrum.

Due to the common sense of Marin residents and its organizer, Indivisible Marin, the “No Kings” rallies were as peaceful as the Republicans’ Pancake Party. In Marin, the police presence was appropriately light. It wasn’t a surprise that the “defund the police” radicals, thugs and anarchists determined to create mayhem as seen in Downtown Los Angeles were absent.

Heading south on Highway 101, along the overpass at DeLong, there were 75 to 80 sign-carriers waving at cars and trucks. Similar scenes were repeated at Novato’s Rowland Boulevard overpass and at San Rafael’s Merrydale Road overcrossing.

I branched off for the Ross Valley, passing through Downtown San Rafael where almost 1,000 were gathered along Fourth Street. A powerful handwritten sign asked, “Who would Jesus deport?”

At the Hub in San Anselmo there were 400-to-500 homemade signs and American-flag-waving patriots. It was no surprise to find an equally enthusiastic assemblage in Fairfax on streets lined with Pride flags. Demonstrating how Trump’s attack on California and Gov. Gavin Newsom is playing out here, one sign read “Gov. Newsom speaks for us.”

Turning back and heading east on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, about 250 were in Kentfield near College of Marin. As I was running late, I missed seeing those demonstrators on the overhead walkway leading to Larkspur’s Ferry Terminal.

In Southern Marin, I counted 200 at Highway 101’s Seminary Drive pedestrian overcrossing between Mill Valley and Strawberry. There even was a bubble machine.

By the time I got to Tam Junction, it was 12:15 p.m. and the crowd was starting to thin. Likewise, in Downtown Mill Valley, the plaza was packed with the “No Kings” demonstration ending and the start of the city’s Juneteenth celebration.

Later, on television, I watched a living example of “waste, fraud and abuse” in Washington, D.C. The $45 million military parade was ostensibly to celebrate Flag Day and the 250th anniversary of the Army’s founding. It only happened because Trump wanted a grandiose celebration of his birthday.

“No Kings Day” events were organized by volunteers. Those who participated last Saturday were typical Marin residents, not the usual activists. They understand that our country is headed in a dangerous direction and that it’s up to all of us, as one sign spelled out, to “Make America Normal Again.”

Columnist Dick Spotswood of Mill Valley writes on local issues Sundays and Wednesdays. Email him at spotswood@comcast.net.