In Washington, D.C., Senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Chris Murphy of Connecticut spoke. Bill Nye, the beloved children’s TV host, also gave a speech criticizing Trump and his government for failing to accept “basic scientific facts.”
“They do not promote scientific progress,” he said. “They suppress it, at the expense of our health, well-being and international competitiveness.” “It’s a formula for failure.”
Fired USAID workers also joined the “No Kings” march in D.C., including Amanda Nature.
“The common saying is that 50% of the country voted for this,” the 41-year-old Nature magazine resident from Washington told NBC News. “But 50% of the country did not vote for shutting down the government and dismantling the government and the services that people depend on.”
In Santa Monica, California, former second-in-command Doug Emhoff He shared a photo of himself With his son Cole at the No Kings protest.
In Chicago — where high-profile clashes have erupted between residents and federal immigration authorities in recent weeks — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker engaged in a defiant speech.
He criticized Trump and Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller for “coming out for immigrants, Black people of color, LGBT people and their political opponents.”
“History will judge us by where we choose to stand now, today,” Pritzker asked. “Future generations will ask: What did we do when our fellow human beings faced persecution? When our rights were abridged? When our Constitution was attacked?” “They will want to know whether we stood up or remained silent.”
Senator Elizabeth Warren addressed thousands on Boston Common, saying: “Standing up to a wannabe dictator? That’s patriotism. And peacefully protesting to protect our democracy? That’s patriotism!”
Overall, the protests have been peaceful, though some leaders, including in Texas, have said they will mobilize the National Guard to monitor potential unrest.