At a No Kings rally in June, more than 1,500 demonstrators lined Capital Boulevard in Raleigh to protest the policies and tactics of President Donald Trump. No Kings rallies are planned across the Triangle and N.C. on Saturday.
tlong@newsobserver.com
Millions of Americans across the country are expected to gather today in their communities to protest the Trump administration’s “authoritarian policies.”
At least nine Triangle communities planned “No Kings” protests, with around 60 scheduled across the state. Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Clayton and Charlotte will have protests, as will Carrboro, Pittsboro and Wake Forest.
The protest in Raleigh is expected to be too large to share space with other events downtown — two festivals are also taking place Saturday — and instead will take place along Capitol Boulevard near Triangle Town Center.
Organizers write on their website that among the complaints they have about the Trump administration are policies on immigration, election laws, health care, environmental protections, education, redistricting congressional maps and not giving enough attention to mass shootings. They also blame the Trump administration for the state of the economy.
Organizers stress that these events are supposed to remain peaceful.
“A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action,” organizers said in a written statement on their website. “We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events.”
This is the second set of “No Kings” protests this year. The first protests brought an estimated 5 million people out on Trump’s birthday, in June, to counter Trump’s military parade down Constitution Avenue in Washington.
News & Observer reporters and photographers will be covering today’s events across the Triangle. This story will be updated throughout the day.
Danielle Battaglia
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