More Than 100 ‘No Kings’ Protests Planned across Michigan on Saturday – Detroit Metro Times

More than 100 rallies are planned across Michigan on Saturday as part of the nationwide “No Kings” movement, a day of action that organizers say is intended to defend democracy and draw attention to the growing threats to civil liberties and democratic principles.

The largest event in the state will take place at Roosevelt Park in Detroit from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., but at least 17 other protests are planned for metro Detroit. 

The coordinated protests are part of more than 2,000 “No Kings Day” events scheduled nationwide and overseas, according to organizers with Indivisible, a nonprofit coalition of civic and activist groups. The demonstrations are intended to be peaceful and nonviolent.

“The founders fought a war to ensure that America would never have a king,” said state Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, D-Livonia, who helped announce the Michigan events. “Yet we are watching a president claim unchecked power, punish critics, and deploy troops against our citizens. The only way to stop it is through massive, peaceful, non-violent protest and resistance.”

Jay Gibbs, an organizer of the Lansing rally, said residents are alarmed by the presence of U.S. troops in cities. 

“These deployments aren’t about public safety — they’re about domination and intimidation,” Gibbs said. “No politician should use our soldiers as pawns against other Americans. […] Because in America, we have no kings.”

Dr. Isa Azaria, a Detroit-based Indivisible leader, said the protests are also meant to highlight concerns about immigration raids and political intimidation. 

“Our neighbors are being disappeared in militarized raids and held in secret,” Azaria said. “Tyrants always start with the most vulnerable. If we don’t stand up for immigrants now, those same abuses will come for the rest of us.”

The “No Kings” movement began in June in response to the Trump administration’s attack of democratic principles, and earlier events have drawn millions of participants. At Clark Park in Detroit in June, about 5,000 demonstrators showed up for a peaceful but passionate protest. 

“The administration is trying to turn political disagreement into a crime,” Christy McGillivray, of Voters Not Politicians, said. “They’re investigating and prosecuting their opponents, like in any dictatorship. The best way to defend our rights is to use them — to speak, to organize, to march.”

State Rep. Carrie Rheinegans, D-Ann Arbor, is calling for unity and civic courage. 

“The courts won’t save us. The media won’t save us. Corporate America won’t save us,” Rheinegans said. “That leaves us — the people. Through peaceful resistance and local organizing, we can restore our democracy. This is our moment to lead.”

Other events in metro Detroit are planned for Hazel Park, Ferndale, Oak Park, Wyandotte, Taylor, Dearborn, Livonia, Northville, Novi, Farmington Hills, Lathrup Village, Walled Lake, Waterford Township, Lake Orion, Rochester, Rochester Hills, and Sterling Heights. 

A list of all events and times is available at nokings.org.

Related