Protesters carry a banner representing the preamble to the US Constitution in downtown Los Angeles during an anti-Trump demonstration on No Kings Day on June 14.
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Protesters across the United States are expected to take to the streets by the millions on Saturday, organizers say, to protest President Trump’s policies. The marches are part of the “No Kings” movement, which has accused the president of acting more like a king than an elected official.
This will be the second massive wave of protests organized by No Kings — a network of progressive organizations fighting Trump’s agenda.
“In June, we did what many claimed was impossible: we peacefully mobilized millions of people to take to the streets and declare with one voice: America has no kings,” the group says on its page: “ Website.
The overwhelmingly peaceful June protests were in response to the military parade held on the military’s 250th anniversary — which coincided with Trump’s 79th birthday.
Critics said Trump pushed for the extravagant display not to commemorate the armed forces, but rather to show his arrogance.
“Now, President Trump has redoubled his efforts,” No Kings says on its website, citing immigration arrests by often masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, the administration’s aggressive cuts to federal education and environmental protection resources, gerrymandering, and other concerns.
No Kings organizers estimated that more than 5 million people participated in the June protests. They speculate that Saturday’s event could be larger.
House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the event, calling it “aHate America rally“, and other Republicans mocked the event as anti-American.
In response to NPR’s questions about the protests, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said: “Who cares?”
Republican governments Glenn Youngkin of Virginia and Greg Abbott of Texas, in preparation for the day of protesters, mobilized the National Guard in their states.
“The governor has authorized state active duty for training to help ensure the Guard is ready to respond if needed to help keep people safe,” Youngkin spokesman Peter Finocchio wrote in a statement. VPM.
Texas newsroom I mentioned “Violence and destruction will never be tolerated in Texas. Texas will deter criminal mischief and will work with local law enforcement to arrest anyone who engages in violence or destroys property,” Abbott said in a statement.
talking to Connecticut Generalthat state’s lead organizer, Jim Chapdelaine, reiterated the group’s commitment to peace and the importance of showing up for what you believe in.
“There are forces that would rather we all stay home and, I don’t know, crochet,” Chapdelaine said in an interview on Tuesday. “It’s really important to build community, solidarity and unity, [and] “It is especially important to do this in a very peaceful way.”