We are in a bewitching hour of toxic politics, and it shows.

Upwards of 5,000 people lined both sides of War Memorial Drive on Oct. 18 for the No Kings 2.0 Rally and Protest. Participants were gathered 10-15 deep in front of the fields at Peoria Stadium all the way down past Alwan & Sons Meat Market (more on that later) to Illinois Avenue.

Seven million reportedly showed up in the streets for 2,700 demonstrations across America — hundreds of thousands at major metropolitan areas — to make No Kings 2.0 the largest single-day protest in U.S. history.

Why did they come? Where were they from?

“Protest Donald Trump because I’m an American,” a Peorian said succinctly.

“Because of the injustices,” replied a lady from Pekin. “I’m concerned about where we’re going. I believe we have a dictator in the White House.”

“Dissent. Make them understand that they don’t have the majority,” said a woman from Peoria Heights amid the horns honking from steady streams cars along the half-mile stretch of road.

“I love our country, but I don’t like what’s happening to it,” said a woman with a walker and an oxygen tank who noted, “The mixture of ages is incredible.”

“We need to make our voices known, especially for the next generation,” relayed a Washington resident.

There was an “all of the above” attitude shared throughout the raucous gathering. When asked what was wrong with our 47th president, many replied like the Bartonvillian, who said, “Many, many reasons. Love to pick one if I could.”

Others were more specific:

“I’m a first-generation anchor baby,” an East Peorian replied. “I’m afraid of what would happen to my father if he were still alive.”

“Lie after lie,” from a Mortonite.

“We are antifacists, just like my grandpa in World War II,” parroted a pair from Spring Bay/Lacon.

“We love America — big fans of human rights,” another Mortonian made known.

There was a real sense of security at the peaceful protest — not only strength in numbers, but also the consolation to see so many like-minded souls together in one place. It’s getting to be a cold, cold world out there.

“Solidarity. To see people say things not on the internet. Empowerment,” said a Peorian.

Oh yeah, the internet. Social media stood ready to pounce on the protests that saw another million gather together worldwide. Then the sprinklers in the parking lot at Alwan’s came on, and rained on some protesters’ parade. Poisonous posts like, “They did it on purpose!” and “They’re related to Congressman Darin LaHood” and “I’m never shopping there again!” erupted, unfortunately, like Old Faithful.

Turns out the automated sprinkler system was programmed to turn on at 1:30 p.m., according to Alwan’s, which turned off the water within minutes. Didn’t help some employees were on the store’s roof during the snafu.

It also didn’t help that days before Speaker of the House Mike Johnson kept calling No Kings a “Hate America rally … You’re gonna bring together the Marxists, the Socialists the antifa advocates, the anarchists, and the pro-Hamas wing of the far-left Democrat Party.”

That’s all Trump supporters needed to fuel their fire against who our president lumps together as “radical, left-wing lunatics” and the “enemy within.”

“Nothing that is happening follows my faith,” said a pastor from Peoria. “Not what Jesus teaches — love your neighbor, protect the alien.”

There were plenty of “Go Trump!” shouts from trucks rolling through on War Drive. And there were also way too many comments from the protestors that were not appropriate for a family newspaper.

It can be nasty out there — or, more appropriately, in those devices we share. There’s an incivility invading our brains and poisoning our social graces.

How are we going to have our holidays? Hopefully we can avoid the uncomfortable silences that result when we’re too entrenched in our camps. How can we separate the truth from the dross?

MAGA must not discount dissent or dismiss it as never-Trumper or RINO or Trump Derangement Syndrome.

Anti-Trumpers be advised, too, there’s some good (intentions, at least) in what they do.

We all have a lot more in common than we don’t. Perhaps the most diplomatic reply at the protest was from a Peorian who explained, “Maybe (Trump) has some good ideas, but the way he does things is wrong.”

Fight the need to be right. Realize there’s more than one way to fly a kite. Listen to another point of view or two.

“We are the people,” a Peoria protestor piped in. “We don’t need any Trump shenanigans.”

That may be true. So what do we do? Be conscious of your rhetoric. The late, great Congressman from Peoria Bob Michel, a politician who went to war for his country, did not mix it into his politics. He didn’t have any enemies on Capitol Hill, he had opponents. He didn’t fight with his colleagues, he debated.

America has changed.

There’s hope — from Paducah, Ky., Jim Comer country where a woman commented, “I can respect this. This is how protests should be done. They’re voicing their opinions. There’s no cars set on fire and no violence. I don’t agree with this protest, but I can’t be mad about it here.”

History is watching and future generations will wonder what went on in our era — another theme at No Kings like a Peorian dutifully gleened: “I’m here so I can tell my grandkids I was here.”