Third No Kings protests to see millions across US push back on Trump administration | Protest (US)
Millions of Americans are expected to take to the streets on Saturday for No Kings protests against the Trump administration. More than 3,000 events are planned in all 50 states and 16 countries, according to a coalition of organizers that includes the “anti-authoritarian” Indivisible and 50501 groups, labor unions and other grassroots organizations.
“I expected March 28 to be the largest protest in American history,” said Indivisible co-founder Ezra Levin.
Saturday’s protest will be the third No Kings; The last one in October drew 7 million people nationwide. A “flagship” event will be held in Minnesota’s Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul to commemorate residents’ resistance to the influx of Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents descending on the cities this winter. St Paul rally It will feature Senator Bernie Sanders, actor Jane Fonda, and musicians Bruce Springsteen and Joan Baez.
More than two-thirds of respondents who RSVPed were “outside major urban centers,” including Republican-controlled areas and major counties, Indivisible co-founder Leah Greenberg said at a press conference Thursday.
Organizers said numerous stressors, from ICE raids to voting rights threats, are expected to bring out the protesters. “Since the last No Kings, we are seeing higher gas prices and groceries while an illegal war continues in Iran,” said Sarah Parker, executive director of Voices of Florida and national coordinator of the 50501 movement. “The American people are angry”
The No Kings coalition has repeatedly emphasized the “non-violent” nature of the day of action. Leaders are trained in de-escalation, Parker said. The No Kings website states that participants are not allowed to bring any weapons, including those legally permitted. During the first No Kings Day in June, one Salt Lake City protester was killed and another was injured when a local 50501 “peacekeeper” volunteer was seen carrying a firearm. despite it is legal to do this Utah law.
While Trump has backtracked on his apparent disdain for the No Kings protests, his administration continues to target and federally prosecute anti-ICE protesters; Nine people were convicted of “antifa” terrorism charges in a recent trial in Texas related to a July 4 demonstration outside a detention facility. In January, Minneapolis residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed by federal immigration agents who were documenting the agents’ activities.
During the press conference, organizers were asked about reports of ICE agents putting boots on the ground at Saturday’s protests; This posed a higher level of risk to undocumented and other marginalized protesters. (Last year, journalist Mario Guevara was detained and eventually deported after livestreaming the June No Kings protest.) Deirdre Schifeling, chief political and advocacy officer for the American Civil Liberties Union, said any threat to ICE’s existence was an intimidation tactic and urged participants to take action. “Know your rights” materials On the ACLU website.
Organizers have repeatedly emphasized that No Kings Day is just one aspect of broader efforts to build people power and fight the Trump administration, and that this work “will not end after March 28.”
“The third No Kings Day of Action will take place on Saturday, and Trump will still be in the White House,” Greenberg said. “That’s why we see No Kings not only as a powerful day of defiance, but also as an organizing catalyst that will support local organizing everywhere.”
