‘No Kings’ protests planned in Charlotte this weekend. Here’s when & where

Multiple “No Kings” protests opposing the policies of President Donald Trump are scheduled across the Charlotte area this weekend.

As of publication, seven rallies in the area will take place Saturday, Oct. 18. These are in addition to many more across North Carolina and the country.

Local events are organized by volunteers and multiple groups. The Charlotte rally, for example, is being organized by Indivisible CLT and seven community partners.

Unless Congress passes a budget this week, the protests will come during the federal government shutdown. The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents 820,000 federal and Washington D.C. government workers, is encouraging its members to participate in one of the upcoming No Kings rallies.

No Kings protests were previously held Saturday, June 14 and coincided with Flag Day, the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army —commemorated with a huge event in Washington, D.C. — and Trump’s 79th birthday.

No Kings protest locations in Charlotte

Here’s where the Oct. 18 No Kings rallies will be:

• Charlotte: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at 301 E. 7th St.
• Concord: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. along the east side of Concord Parkway near Carolina Mall
• Cornelius: 2-3:30 p.m. at 20329 Catawba Ave.
• Gaston County: 2:30-5 p.m.; must sign up to see location
• Denver: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at 7120 NC-73
• Monroe: 5-7 p.m. at 300 N. Main St.
• Waxhaw: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at East North Main Street and North Broome Street

For a full list of protest sites and times, visit nokings.org.

No Kings writes on its website that its events are nonviolent, and no weapons should be brought to them. All participants are expected to deescalate potential confrontations.

Why are No Kings protests being held?

The October protests are also in response to the actions of Trump, who has “doubled down” on “authoritarian power grabs.” according to the No Kings website. Among examples of these actions, according to the No Kings website, are:

• Deploying “masked agents” who target immigrants, profile, arrest and detain people without warrants
• Threatening to overtake elections
• “Gutting” health care, environmental protections and education
• Ignoring mass shootings
• Gerrymandering to “silence voters”
• Increasing the cost of living

“The president thinks his rule is absolute,” according to the No Kings website. “But in America, we don’t have kings and we won’t back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty.”