Kansas City preps for nationwide "No Kings" rally

• Organizers say more than 2,500 rallies are planned nationwide, with millions expected to participate.

Zoom in: KC's rally kicks off at 2pm Saturday at Mill Creek Park on the Plaza, led by Beverly Harvey, founder of Indivisible Kansas City. It's one of seven "No Kings" events planned across the metro.

• "Trump thinks his rule is absolute in America. We don't do kings," Harvey tells Axios.
• She says Kansas Citians will gather for speeches and petitions organized by Do Something MO, with participation from groups like the Missouri Workers Center, the KC Women's Equality Coalition and 50501.

Harvey added that the movement is about defending democracy, not disruption: "This is bigger than politics. It's about power belonging to the people."

The other side: National Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Tom Emmer, have dismissed the protests as "hate America rallies."

• The White House accused organizers of "living in an alternate reality," warning that violence won't be tolerated.

What to expect: KCPD said they'll follow normal protest procedures and coordinate with city officials and organizers to manage traffic and focus on keeping the public safe.

The bottom line: KC organizers expect Saturday to be the largest coordinated day of protest since Trump's second inauguration.