‘No Kings’ protests against Trump administration return nationwide
In Washington, DC, Senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Chris Murphy of Connecticut spoke. Bill Nye, the beloved children’s show host, also gave a speech accusing Trump and his cabinet of failing to accept “basic scientific facts.”
“They do not promote the progress of science. They suppress it, to the detriment of our health, our well-being and our international competitiveness,” he said. “It’s a formula that leads to failure.”
Laid-off workers from the U.S. Agency for International Development also joined the No Kings rally in the capital, including Amanda Nature.
Nature, 41, of Washington, told NBC News: “The common adage is that 50 percent of the country voted for this. But 50 percent of the country did not vote for shutting down the government and dismantling the government and the services that people rely on.”
In Santa Monica, California, former second gentleman Doug Emhoff shared a photo of himself with his son Cole at the No Kings protest.
In Chicago — where high-profile clashes between residents and federal immigration authorities have unfolded in recent weeks — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker delivered a defiant speech.
He called on Trump and Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller for “coming for immigrants, for black and brown people, for LGBTQ people and for their political opponents.”
“History will judge us by the stance we choose to take today. Future generations will ask, ‘What did we do when other human beings were persecuted? When our rights were restricted? When our Constitution was attacked?'” Pritzker asked. “They will want to know if we stood up or stayed silent.”
Senator Elizabeth Warren addressed thousands at the Boston Common, saying: “Opposing a would-be dictator? That’s patriotism. Peacefully protesting to protect our democracy? That’s patriotism!”
Overall, the protests have been peaceful, although some leaders, notably in Texas, have said they would mobilize the National Guard to monitor possible unrest.
