More "No Kings" protests planned for Philadelphia region this weekend
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Another round of No Kings rallies is set for the Philadelphia region and across the country this weekend.
The big picture: The protests, which will bring road closures and traffic delays to Center City, come amid growing frustration about the ongoing government shutdown and widespread opposition to President Trump's military crackdown on Democratic-led cities across America.
State of play: Philadelphia's No Kings protest will start with a march around 12:15pm on Saturday from City Hall to Independence Mall.
- Speakers will take the stage at the mall at roughly 1:30pm, and include elected officials like U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon and Philly District Attorney Larry Krasner.
- A spokesperson for Indivisible Philadelphia, the lead organizer for the Philly rally, tells Axios that protesters are encouraged to wear a yellow accent as a show of solidarity.
- Other participating groups include the American Civil Liberties Union, American Federation of Teachers, 50501, Human Rights Campaign, Indivisible and MoveOn.
Zoom out: More than 2,500 events are planned across the U.S.
- That includes rallies in Northwest Philly, Havertown, Cheltenham, Norristown and Langhorne.
What they're saying: "Together, millions will send a clear and unmistakable message: we are a nation of equals, and our country will not be ruled by fear or force," No Kings organizers said in a statement.
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.
What we're watching: Philly's rally could be big.
- The city's last No Kings protest in June drew an estimated 80,000 people, per NBC.
🚧 Road closures: Streets along the Philly rally route will close in phases, starting at approximately 11am around City Hall.
- The city will lift road closures as streets are cleared.
- Parking restrictions will also be posted.
Plus: The Philly Bike Ride is also scheduled for Saturday, which will bring road closures along a 20-mile route stretching from City Hall to Penns Landing and Kelly Drive early Saturday.
- The ride starts at 7:30am with a festival scheduled in front of the Philly Art Museum, which will end at 12:30pm.