Washington, United States. Thousands of rallies are expected across the United States on Saturday in the latest “No Kings” protest against the policies of President Donald Trump and his administration. Organizers say more than 3,200 events are planned in all 50 states.
Organizers project broad nationwide participation
Organizers said they hope the demonstrations will be the largest single-day nonviolent protest in U.S. history. They said the two previous No Kings events attracted millions of participants.
Flagship rallies and growth outside major cities
Flagship rallies are set for New York, Los Angeles, Washington, and Minnesota’s Twin Cities. Organizers said about two-thirds of participants are expected from outside major city centers, a nearly 40% increase for smaller communities compared with the movement’s first mobilization last June.
“The defining story of this Saturday’s mobilization is not just how many people are protesting, but where they are protesting,” said Leah Greenberg, co-founder of Indivisible, which started the No Kings movement last year and led planning of Saturday’s events.
Interest reported in Republican states and competitive suburbs
With midterm elections later this year in the U.S., organizers said they have seen a surge in the number of people organizing events and registering to participate in deeply Republican states including Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and Utah.
Greenberg said competitive suburban areas are seeing large increases in interest, citing Pennsylvania’s Bucks and Delaware counties, East Cobb and Forsyth in Georgia, and Scottsdale and Chandler in Arizona.
“Voters who decide elections, the people who do the door knocking and the voter registration and all of the work of turning protests into power, they are taking to the streets right now, and they are furious,” she said.
White House response
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement that the rallies were “Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions” of interest only to journalists.
Gathering in northern Virginia
In northern Virginia outside Washington, D.C., several hundred people began gathering on Saturday morning near Arlington National Cemetery ahead of a planned march across the Potomac River to the capital city’s National Mall.
Some passing drivers honked their horns in support, while others slowed down to berate the protesters.
Will you attend or follow any of the “No Kings” rallies planned in your area?