On Oct. 18, more than 100,000 protestors filled Pennsylvania Avenue and 3rd Street for the second “No Kings” protest in four months. Demonstrators voiced outrage at the administration’s ICE raids and troop deployments in US cities, cuts to federal programs, health care costs and more.
“I have an incurable illness,” said Aziza, a retired pediatric physician who requested Caplin News to only use her first name. “I would otherwise be dead already if it weren’t for the ACA.”
Organizers of the “No Kings” protest said about 2,600 events were planned across nearly every state. Nearly 7 million people nationwide came out to voice their concern, a bigger turnout than the 5 million who attended its previous nationwide action in June.
“As somebody who has to teach the founding documents,” said middle school history teacher Elizabeth Brooks, “including things like the 4th amendment to my students, who are mostly black and brown, who have had family members taken away, it’s a very hard thing to do this year.”
“I’m hoping they can’t ignore us,” D.C. resident Carolyn Rutsch expressed. “That Congress might recognize that we care about this country, too. And we believe in democracy.”
Speakers at the D.C. rally included journalist Mehdi Hasan, scientist Bill Nye and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, among others.
“No, President Trump,” Sanders said in his speech. “We don’t want you or any other king to rule us.”
Tensions were especially high because of the government shutdown, which had reached Day 18 on Saturday. GOP lawmakers and the White House are still locked in a standoff with Democrats over a funding bill, leading to federal workers either being furloughed or working without pay.
“Federal workers are working for the American people,” said Lora Moran-Collins, an artist and retired Smithsonian exhibit worker. “And to treat them like trash is just awful. GOP Congress, stop being worms and get a spine.”
On Friday, House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the “No Kings” protest, saying, “We refer to it by its more accurate description, the ‘Hate America’ rally.”
But many at the protest disagreed.
“My grandfather, my dad, my uncles and myself were all in the service to stop fascism,” said Mike Porter, a war veteran. “We fought against fascism. It’s time to do it again.”
“Everyone has a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” added Joel Fischman, the president of the Public Diplomacy Council of America. “But everybody also has a responsibility to be active and supporting our democracy.”
There’s been no date scheduled yet for future “No Kings” protests. However, the White House still remains mostly silent on the movement’s demands.
