Thousands to join "No Kings" protests in Ohio targeting Trump administration moves
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A "No Kings" rally held in Toledo in June. Photo: Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
No Kings protests against the Trump administration are expanding this Saturday, with more than a dozen planned throughout Northeast Ohio.
Why it matters: The latest round of protests comes amid growing frustration about the ongoing government shutdown and opposition to President Trump's military deployment plans to Democratic-led cities across America.
Zoom in: The most high-profile local event will start at 1pm at the Free Stamp in Willard Park on East 9th Street and Lakeside Avenue.
- Other protests will take place at various locations, from North Ridgeville to Solon, and all the way down to Akron and Canton.
What they're saying: "Ohioans want free speech and the constitutional right to criticize the government without censorship or intimidation," local organizers said in a press release.
- "We want a legal system where no one is above the law and everyone has access to due process (even political rivals). We want an end to government grift, corruption and crony capitalism. We want affordable healthcare and food security."
- Local organizing groups include Cleveland Stonewall Democrats, Cuyahoga Democratic Women's Caucus and Mobilize the Vote NEO, per the press release.
The big picture: More than 2,500 events are planned across all 50 states, organizers said.
- Participating groups include the American Civil Liberties Union, American Federation of Teachers, 50501, Human Rights Campaign, Indivisible and MoveOn.
The other side: The recurring movement against the Trump administration has garnered sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers who say Democrats are protesting as a ploy during the government shutdown.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) called the movement a "hate America rally" and said they were being put on by "the pro-Hamas wing and the Antifa people."
Flashback: The first No Kings rally, part of a wider protest against the Trump administration, took place June 14 in response to a military parade Trump planned for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and the president's 79th birthday.
- The June rally at Cleveland's Free Stamp drew approximately 10,000 people, according to organizers.