One day after the Washington Post laid off roughly a third of its newsroom, former staff and supporters gathered outside the paper’s Downtown D.C. headquarters to protest the cuts.
The rally is organized by the Post News Guild and the Post Tech Guild l unions. The crowd listens as journalists and tech workers describe the impact of losing hundreds of colleagues.
D.C. communities reporter Michael Brice-Saddler tells the rally the Metro section staff can no longer adequately serve the region.
(WTOP/Mike Murillo )
WTOP/Mike Murillo
The rally is organized by the Post News Guild and the Post Tech Guild l unions.
The rally is organized by the Post News Guild and the Post Tech Guild l unions. The crowd listens as journalists and tech workers describe the impact of losing hundreds of colleagues.
Protesters outside of the Washington Post office demonstrate following a mass layoff, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Allison Robbert)
AP Photo/Allison Robbert
Protesters outside of the Washington Post office take flyers following a mass layoff, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Allison Robbert)
AP Photo/Allison Robbert
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Laid‑off Washington Post staff rally outside DC headquarters after massive cuts
One day after the Washington Post laid off roughly a third of its newsroom, former staff and supporters gathered outside the paper’s Downtown D.C. headquarters to protest the cuts.
Former transportation reporter Rachel Weiner, who spent 15 years at the Post, told the large crowd she was struggling with the loss of her job and what it meant for the community.
“Yeah, I’m sad about it obviously,” she said. “It is really disappointing having worked to cover as much as possible in this region because it’s also important. The Post has just decided it doesn’t matter to them.”
Weiner said this round of cuts was handled differently from past layoffs.
“They did something they haven’t done in previous layoffs and buyouts, which is you lock us out of the building and the systems immediately and not let us finish anything we were working on,” Weiner said.
The rally was organized by the Post News Guild and the Post Tech Guild unions. The crowd listened as journalists and tech workers described the impact of losing hundreds of colleagues.
D.C. communities reporter Michael Brice-Saddler told the rally the Metro section staff could no longer adequately serve the region.
“How is the Metro desk supposed to earn the community’s trust if you keep taking resources away from the Metro section of this paper?” he said.
The newspaper also eliminated its entire sports department.
Speaking for her colleagues, former sports reporter Molly Hensley‑Clancy said the loss of the desk was both “heartbreaking” and “senseless.”
“There’s nothing as riveting as sports, and there’s nothing that brings all of America together like sports,” she said.
She continued, “There is simply is no Washington Post without sports.”
Former enterprise reporter Marissa J. Lang, who was also laid off, said the full impact of losing so many journalists will ripple far beyond the newsroom.
“I don’t think we know yet the impact of losing 300 journalists who hold power to account,” she told the crowd. “I know that the region and the country and the world is a worse place today for having lost all of these incredible reporters.”
The rally also drew former staff who were not part of this week’s layoffs but came to support their colleagues. Among them was Kathryn Tolbert, who worked at the paper for 27 years before retiring a few years ago.
“It’s heartbreaking the way the heart and soul of the paper are being torn apart,” Tolbert said. “This feels different in a really fundamental way.”
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A former Navy SEAL with neo-Nazi beliefs faces up to 10 years in prison after he was convicted of transporting fireworks across state lines with the intent to injure law enforcement at a “No Kings” protest in San Diego, authorities said.
FBI agents found messages on Gregory Vandenberg’s phone indicating he was upset with President Trump because he believed the U.S. government is controlled by Israel and the Jewish people, according to the Department of Justice.
Vandenberg, 49, was planning on traveling from El Paso to San Diego to unleash harmful fireworks at a June 14 protest, prosecutors said.
Inside his car agents found T-shirts with a neo-Nazi symbol printed on them, a flag for the militant group the Caucasian Front, an Al Qaeda flag and a Latin message saying “Judea must be destroyed,” among other paraphernalia displaying anti-Israel and extremist beliefs, prosecutors said.
FBI agents said they found clothing in Gregory Vandenberg’s vehicle with anti-Israel slogans and neo-Nazi symbols.
(Office of the United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico)
On June 12, Vandenberg stopped at a travel center near Lordsburg, N.M., and purchased six large mortar fireworks as well as 72 M-150 firecrackers, which are designed to sound like gunfire. He repeatedly expressed his desire to use the fireworks to harm law enforcement at upcoming protests in California and urged the store clerk to join him, prosecutors said.
Vandenberg, who had no stable employment and lived in his car, told the clerk he had significant knowledge of explosives and prior special operations forces experience. He said he was not interested in the color or display of the fireworks, only in their explosive impact and ability to harm others. He even talked about the possibility of increasing their explosive impact by taping fireworks together.
He wore a T-shirt with the word “Amalek” on the front, which he said he designed specifically to mean “destroyer of Jews.” In the Torah, Amalek refers to descendants of Esau who are known as the Israelites’ sworn enemy. His home screen on his phone displayed a picture of the Taliban flag, prosecutors said.
A hat with the calligraphy of the Al Qaeda flag was among evidence.
(Office of the United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico)
He declined to provide his ID and then became paranoid, asking whether the store intended to track him and falsely saying that he was not from America, authorities said. Employees, shaken by the encounter, wrote down his license plate and contacted the police.
Federal agents tracked Vandenberg to Tucson, Ariz., where he was arrested on June 13 while sleeping in his car at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. He told agents he was traveling for work and visiting friends in Phoenix, despite being unemployed, prosecutors said.
After a five-day jury trial and around three hours of deliberation, a jury convicted him of transportation of explosives with intent to kill, injure or intimidate and attempted transportation of prohibited fireworks into California. He remains in custody awaiting sentencing.
Acting U.S. Atty. Ryan Ellison said in a statement that the verdict sends a message that attempts to use violence to express one’s political beliefs will be met with federal consequences.
“People in this country are free to hold their own beliefs and to express them peacefully,” Ellison said. “What they are not free to do is use explosives to threaten or terrorize others. Vandenberg intended to turn explosives into a tool of intimidation.”
Biffle died in a plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport Thursday along with his wife, their two children and three others.
“I also want to express my condolences to the people of this state and the loved ones of NASCAR legend Greg Biffle, who perished yesterday, had a tragic plane crash with his family in Statesville,” Trump said at a rally.
A fan visits Greg Biffle’s marker at the North Carolina Auto Racing Walk of Fame on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. KHADEJEH NIKOUYEH
‘Pay our condolences, our love’
The president told the crowd he twice met Biffle, who lived on Lake Norman in Mooresville with his family.
“He was a great young man, and what a tragedy that is with his whole family,” Trump said. “So I just want to pay our condolences, our love. North Carolina will never forget them.”
On Friday, National Transportation Safety Board officials held a news conference providing preliminary information on the crash. Between 10:05 a.m. and 10:15 a.m., the plane left the airport about 45 miles north of Charlotte, returned for an unknown reason and crashed before the runway entrance, NTSB member Michael Graham said.
Greg Biffle, center, is regarded as one of NASCAR’s top 75 drivers of all time. He and his family died on Dec. 18 after his plane crashed at Statesville Regional Airport, which is about 45 miles north of Charlotte. Courtesy of Lake Norman Humane
The 44-year-old Cessna 550 jet was in the air for about five minutes before it started to return, Investigator-In-Charge Dan Baker said. The jet left Statesville at about 10:05 a.m. It made a left turn toward the west followed by a left turn to the east, which led the aircraft back to the airport.
The airplane made initial impact with a runaway light about 1,800 feet from the runway, Baker said. It later hit trees, two other lights and the airport perimeter fence short of the runway before coming to a stop on the runway, Baker said.
The Cessna 550 jet was destroyed in the crash and subsequent fire, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
Witnesses noted on social media the plane cut a path through a wooded area near the airport, and left a smoking trail carved in the grass before it came to a stop. Graham added that when the plane was returning to the airport, witnesses noted that it returned at a low height.
.@POTUS in North Carolina: “I also want to express my condolences to the people of this state, and to the loved ones of NASCAR legend Greg Biffle, who perished yesterday in a tragic plane crash with his family… North Carolina will never forget them.” https://t.co/ItQN6bsrhEpic.twitter.com/ZomnOvGr4s
Joe Marusak has been a reporter for The Charlotte Observer since 1989 covering the people, municipalities and major news events of the region, and was a news bureau editor for the paper. He currently reports on breaking news. Support my work with a digital subscription
For the first time in months, President Donald Trump held a campaign-style rally, traveling to a Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, casino to talk about the economy amid growing consumer concerns about affordability that Trump has tried to paint as a hoax and a Democratic issue.
In his roughly 100-minute speech, he talked about his love of the word “tariff” and zeroed in on the “fake news” reporters covering the event. At times, supporters chanted “four more years,” although experts have told PolitiFact another Trump candidacy would violate the 22nd Amendment’s clear intent.
Trump’s Dec. 9 comments touched on other high-profile recent topics. As Minnesota is in the news for a fraud scandal involving Somalis, he attacked Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who is Somali, saying she “does nothing but bitch. She’s always complaining.” The crowd responded, “Send her back.” Omar is a U.S. citizen, as are the majority of Somalis in Minnesota.
And amid his recent focus on former President Joe Biden’s use of an autopen, Trump mused about whether Federal Reserve Board members appointed by his predecessor were serving illegally. There’s no way to nullify presidential actions signed by autopens, legal experts say.
Trump also repeated his Pants on Fire claim that every strike on a “narcoterrorist” boat in the Caribbean saves 25,000 American lives.
We fact-checked several of Trump’s statements about the economy.
Trump: The U.S. is “right around $18 trillion” in promises of new investment. “We could hit $20 trillion in the first year” of my presidency.
Trump has said that since he took office in January, the U.S. has attracted between $18 trillion and $22 trillion in new investment. But the White House website documents a smaller number — $9.6 trillion — and the investments listed on the website include aspirational, multi-year goals that may not come to fruition and future purchases or sales of products, rather than only capital investments.
In Pennsylvania, Trump also said, “I went to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and (the United Arab Emirates). I brought back $4 trillion.” These commitments are among the highest-dollar commitments on the White House list, but the list cites $3.2 trillion, lower than what Trump said, and that number still requires a major caveat. The Qatar and the UAE commitments are multiple times larger than their countries’ annual gross domestic product, which calls the pledges’ feasibility into question.
Trump: “It was just reported that four states had $1.99 a gallon” for gasoline.
This cherry-picks a small number of gas stations in three states.
The current national average gasoline price is $3.07 per gallon, according to the federal government’s Energy Information Administration. The American Automobile Association said the states with the lowest average statewide gasoline prices are Oklahoma at $2.38, Texas at $2.49, Arkansas at $2.52 and Colorado at $2.53.
According to Patrick De Haan of the gasoline price comparison site Gas Buddy, Oklahoma, Colorado and Texas have a few dozen stations with prices below $1.99 a gallon. These are a fraction of all U.S. stations, which number well over 100,000.
Trump: “Our prices are coming down tremendously from the highest prices in the history of our country.”
This is misleading.
Overall inflation on Trump’s watch is right where it started. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ consumer price index, year-over-year inflation in January 2025, when he took office, was 3%, and in the most recent month available, September, it was also 3%. (The government shutdown delayed more recent inflation data.)
When using the inflation rate minus food and energy, the rate has declined modestly. This rate was 3% year over year in September, lower than the 3.3% rate in January 2025. Economists sometimes prefer this measurement because it smooths out the price volatility in the food and energy sectors.
Trump’s statement about the highest prices in U.S. history is inaccurate in two ways.
The highest year-over-year inflation rate under Biden was around 9% in summer 2022. That was the highest in about 40 years, but the record-high U.S. inflation rates were recorded in the 1970s and early 1980s, when the inflation rate often hovered between 12% and 15%.
In addition, Trump ignores that during the final two-plus years of Biden’s tenure, inflation fell significantly. By Biden’s final full month in office, December 2024, the year over year inflation rate was 2.9%, meaning it fell by about two-thirds from its Biden-era peak and was slightly lower than the most recent rate recorded under Trump.
Trump: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act in 2025 enacted the “biggest tax cuts ever.”
We examined the tax revenue decreases from major laws passed since 1980. (Most tax laws prior to 1980 either raised taxes or cut them modestly.) We looked at tax cuts as a percentage of gross domestic product, which evens out differences over time.
President Ronald Reagan signed the 1981 law with the biggest tax savings. That law cut taxes by 3.5% of the nation’s cumulative five-year GDP.
A 2012 bill passed by the Republican Congress and signed by President Barack Obama ranked second. That bill, which cut taxes by 1.7% of GDP, extended the tax cuts passed in 2003 under President George W. Bush.
Based on initial projections, Trump’s 2025 law ranks third at 1.4% of GDP. Trump’s 2017 law ranks fourth at 1%, tied with a 2010 law Obama signed that extended Bush’s 2001 tax cuts.
However, the bottom-line impact on Americans’ tax liabilities beginning in 2026 might not be dramatic as these rankings suggest, because the 2025 bill extended the cuts from Trump’s 2017 bill, which would have expired otherwise. So people are already paying the lower tax rates and won’t necessarily see additional tax cuts.
The 2025 law adds some new tax breaks, such as for income from tips and overtime and for Americans 65 and older.
If considering only the new tax cuts and not the renewal of the 2017 tax cuts, then Trump’s 2025 law would tie for sixth biggest cut ever at 0.5% of GDP.
Trump: The Big Beautiful BIll Act included a provision for “no tax on Social Security for our great seniors.”
Because of a procedural quirk, Republican lawmakers were unable to include a complete elimination of taxes on Social Security benefits when crafting the legislation. Instead, the House and Senate agreed to workarounds that produced significant, but not full, overlap between people who would benefit from the tax break and people who receive Social Security payments.
A representative from the Joint Committee on Taxation, the bipartisan body of Congress that analyzes proposed tax legislation, estimated that 24 million Americans could still pay some amount of tax on their Social Security benefits.
Trump: Under Biden, “migrant workers and illegal aliens got 100%” of new jobs, “but since I took office, 100% of all net job creation has gone to American citizens.”
The number of native-born Americans working since he took office in January has risen by 2.58 million, a 2% increase. During that same period, the number of foreign-born workers has decreased by 1 million, a 3.1% decline. (A caveat: The data for these two statistics tends to be what economists call “noisy,” because unlike other employment statistics, these metrics are not seasonally adjusted.)
The problem with Trump’s statement is attributing the foreign-born employment data only to “migrant workers and illegal aliens.” There is no statistical category for “migrant” or “illegal alien” employment. The available statistics for “foreign born” includes large numbers of naturalized U.S. citizens, permanent residents and other immigrants legally in the U.S.
Right-wing provocateur and avowed racist Jake Lang arrived in Dearborn on Tuesday with a bulletproof vest, a Quran he threatened to burn, and a bag of bacon he shoved into people’s faces.
The Florida man also brought a criminal history: The Jan. 6 rioter was charged with repeatedly beating police officers with a baseball bat and riot shield, and a federal judge found that he “remains willing to engage in additional acts of violence.” President Donald Trump pardoned him and the other insurrectionists.
That’s who marched into a peaceful, largely Arab American city and tried to start a fight.
Lang, a Jewish Christian who openly calls himself a racist, came to Dearborn with a small crew of followers and a camera. His goal wasn’t dialogue or protest. It was provocation, panic, and propaganda. And when Muslims and their supporters shouted back after he spent hours taunting them, he plastered social media with videos claiming he’d uncovered a “violent Muslim stronghold.” His livestreams racked up more than 200,000 views in half a day, with many sympathizing with him.
Lang and his handful of supporters began congregating early in the afternoon, schlepping a banner reading, “Americans Against Islamification” and large, wooden crosses. He mocked the Arabic language. He told Muslims they were “violent, disgusting people,” waved bacon in their faces, and repeatedly used the n-word. He told one group they were “chimping out” and made monkey noises at teenagers.
He threatened to burn a Quran.
He prayed for God to “remove Muslims.”
He declared Dearborn a “Christian country.”
He called white people who supported their neighbors “white traitors.”
He wasn’t hiding who he was. At one point he said outright: “I am a racist because I don’t want other races taking over my country.” He then launched into a white nationalist rant about whites having “conquered” America.
As the march moved toward Dearborn City Hall, Lang ranted that “this is not America,” that Muslims “want us all dead,” and that the city was an “insurgency.” Despite all the taunting, he put on a performance of contrived innocence for the camera, repeatedly insisting he was shocked by how he was being treated.
The media treated the debacle like a debate instead of an ambush, calling the rally “dueling demonstrations” and a “debate over religion.” One headline attempted to summarize the day as putting “focus on the Muslim community,” as if a racist agitator threatening to burn a Quran is a legitimate point of civic discussion.
This is the problem with both-sides framing: It pretends the issue is religious disagreement rather than a violent Jan. 6 defendant traveling to a diverse city to harass residents and film their reactions. Dearborn’s 106,000 residents include Christians, Muslims, and non-religious people. Sharia law has never been practiced there, nor could it be, legally. About half the city’s residents aren’t Muslim. But Lang’s stunt relied on Americans who don’t know that.
The performance worked on many viewers, who appeared convinced they were watching an Islamic uprising.
Among the responses:
“Islam is robbing our country of unity.”
“They are a disgrace.”
“God asks us to stand up and fight against people who are his enemies.”
“Jesus said to the bad people like these ‘You vipers, you son of snakes.’”
This is all a bastardization of Christianity. It’s weaponized faith used as a racial weapon, not unlike American southerners who justified slavery by citing the Bible.
Later, as some young Muslims shouted back after two hours of taunts, insults, and monkey noises, Lang grinned at the camera. This was the moment he came for.
“The Muslim community is looking to drag us back,” he said. “They’re looking to destroy everything that makes America great.”
Outside City Hall as the sky grew dark, white police officers offered Lang’s group a protected space cordoned off by metal barriers. Lang scanned the crowd and said, “If they’re white and dressed normally, they’re allowed in.”
During a public comment period at the council meeting, Lang whined that the white population is “on the decline.”
He told the council and other Muslims, “You will never look like us. You will never eat like us. You won’t build buildings like us. You are nothing. You can build nothing. Just like President Trump’s great American friends have said: You guys are not us and get the fuck out.”
Then he raised his fist and said, “America first, America only, God bless America, Jesus is king.”
And here is Lang’s racist rant at a Dearborn City Council meeting about white people being replaced. He tells Muslims, “Get the fuck out of my country. I don’t want you here.” And then he complains to his followers that Muslims don’t want to co-exist. pic.twitter.com/kJfEOpuZiR
In a triumphant tweet afterward, he wrote: “Today we showed THE WORLD just how VIOLENT and disgusting the Muslim Stronghold of Dearborn TRULY IS!! I was assaulted dozens of times by little twig Pedolphile worshipping Muslims.”
Lang’s behavior in Dearborn wasn’t unlike some of the conduct that landed him in federal custody. Prosecutors say he played a front-line role in the Jan. 6 attack, hitting officers with a bat and riot shield. He publicly declared that the Capitol riot was justified and said the “next step” was “guns.”
A federal judge found “overwhelming evidence” that he remains willing to commit violence, yet he continues to cast himself as a political prisoner. And now he’s acting like the victim of a city he visited to antagonize.
Can you imagine if a group of Muslims showed up in a small Christian town to scream racial slurs, taunt teenagers, threaten to burn Bibles, and declare the area “Islam?” You can bet the reaction wouldn’t be peaceful.
Dearborn residents saw what Lang was doing. The cameras saw what he wanted them to see.
And the rest of us should see it for what it is. It was not a protest, not a clash of cultures, but a racist agitator manufacturing chaos to feed his movement and his ego.
A Republican gubernatorial candidate is spreading misinformation and stoking anti-Muslim sentiment ahead of a planned march in Dearborn that he’s calling the “American Crusade.”
Anthony Hudson, a truck driver from Grand Blanc Township and self-described “America First” candidate, has used his social media platforms to portray Dearborn as a threat, falsely suggesting the Detroit suburb is facing “Muslim infiltration” and “Sharia law.”
In a series of posts on X, Hudson announced plans for a “peaceful assembly” in Dearborn on Tuesday, calling on “patriots” to join him at Schaefer Road and Michigan Avenue at 4 p.m. He has repeatedly invoked Christian nationalist language, writing, “CHRIST WILL NOT BE MOCKED.” He also vowed to “expose Dearborn for what it is.”
Hudson has also claimed that the National Guard, Marines, and a “Patriot Militia” will attend the march, though no official agencies have confirmed any involvement.
The group plans to pray and sing gospel music before attending a Dearborn City Council meeting at 7 p.m.
“we won’t be leaving until a peace treaty is reached,” Hudson wrote. “Mark my words. The world is watching. We need all patriots there.”
He continued, “No backing down. No surrender. We the people will not be mocked, & neither will Christ.”
In another post, Hudson wrote that “Sharia law will be banned.”
Despite Hudson’s claims, Sharia law has never been practiced in Dearborn, nor would it be legally permissible under the U.S. Constitution. The city’s roughly 106,000 residents include Christians, Muslims, and non-religious people, with about 55% of Arab descent and an estimated 50,000 residents who are not Muslim.
Other X users have mocked Muslims or encouraged bigotry in replies to Hudson’s posts. One suggested, “Bring bacon bits….it’s like sprinkling holy water on a demon.”
Hudson responded, “They are demons lol.”
Another X user suggested bringing dogs, while others used pejoratives to describe Muslims.
The planned march follows the arrest of three young Dearborn men accused of plotting an ISIS-inspired attack on an LGBTQ+-friendly venue in Ferndale. Federal prosecutors say the men discussed the idea online but were stopped before carrying out any violence. Defense attorneys maintain there was no plan and that the defendants were engaging in online bravado.
Using the isolated and yet-proven case to justify his divisive rhetoric, Hudson falsely claimed there was Muslim “infiltration everywhere.”
Hudson insisted, “CHRIST WILL PREVAIL. LIGHT WILL WIN.”
“REMEMBER: THIS IS HOW THEY REALLY TREAT CHRISTIANS,” Hudson fumed. “DON’T LET THEM FOOL YOU. THEY HATE YOU. THEY DO NOT WANT PEACE. LIGHT WILL WIN.”
Since the FBI arrests, many right-wingers have been stoking fears with baseless and outrageous claims about Dearborn and Muslims. In a series of videos posted by conspiracy theorist Mellissa Carone, who was parodied on Saturday Night Live for her outlandish testimony as Rudy Giuliani’s “star” witness during a legislative election-fraud hearing, the bombastic Trump supporter alleged Muslims are intolerant and violent. She also inflated the Muslim population in Dearborn.
“A woman cannot walk down the street of east Dearborn and not get harassed in some way or even spit on,” Carone claimed. “I’ve seen friends of mine get spit on for not covering their hair and their face. You will not pass a building that is not written in Arabic. You cannot read anything. It’s like being in a third world country.”
Others mocked Hudson for his absurd, conspiratorial claims.
“Just looks like a fat guy with cardiovascular issues making his beard go grey prematurely,” Anthony Jorah wrote on X. “What’s he protecting us from, dessert?”
Hudson’s remarks have also drawn concern from civil rights advocates who warn that such language can incite harassment and deepen divisions.
“Unfortunately, Mr. Hudson is playing the politics of fear to apparently gain himself publicity,” Dawud Walid, executive director of the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), tells Metro Times. “Every city in Michigan, including Dearborn, is under the jurisdictions of the American and Michigan constitutions. We encourage the citizens of Dearborn not to take the bait of this individual and his acolytes who will attempt to provoke angry responses in order to demonize Muslims.”
Whether Hudson’s vitriolic, inflammatory, and divisive rhetoric can drum him up some votes isn’t yet clear. He has no statewide name recognition, and he’s facing well-known Republicans, including former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, U.S. Rep. John James, former Michigan House of Representatives Speaker Tom Leonard, and Michigan Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt. Other GOP candidates are construction manager William Null, Pastor Ralph Rebandt, and political organizer Karla Wagner.
Beyond his odious rhetoric, Hudson is pushing a platform that would gut funding for schools, universities, police, health care, parks, libraries, and infrastructure. He has vowed to eliminate both the state income tax and property taxes, a proposal that economists say would devastate Michigan’s ability to fund essential services. The state income tax, which generates roughly $9 billion a year, accounts for most of the state’s general fund and a significant share of the School Aid Fund, which supports K-12 education. Without that revenue, lawmakers would have to slash spending or find new sources of funding for numerous resources and services.
Property taxes bring in about $18.8 billion annually, according to the Michigan Tax Commission, and serve as the lifeblood of local governments. They fund police and fire departments, libraries, parks, local road repairs, and public schools. Eliminating property taxes would strip cities, counties, and school districts of their primary revenue source and leave them unable to pay for basic operations unless the state imposed new taxes elsewhere.
Combined, property and income taxes make up more than half of Michigan’s total tax revenue. Scrapping both would create a multibillion-dollar hole in the state’s budget and cripple services.
Hudson declined to comment for this story, saying he wasn’t available until Friday.
Neither Dearborn police nor Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud returned calls for comment.
On Monday, in celebration of the Dodgers becoming baseball’s first back-to-back champion in 25 years, Los Angeles will throw another party for the Dodgers.
The Dodgers’ 2025 championship parade starts at 11 a.m on Monday and runs through downtown, followed by a rally at Dodger Stadium. The rally requires a ticket, which can be obtained starting at noon Sunday at dodgers.com/postseason.
For fans with rally tickets, parking lot gates will open at 8:30 a.m. and stadium gates at 9 a.m. The event is expected to start about 12:15 p.m.
The parade and rally will be aired live on Channels 2, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 11 as well as SportsNet LA and AM 570, the team said.
In last year’s rally, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and Ice Cube performed next to each other, with Roberts dancing and Ice Cube singing.
At one point, future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw took his turn at the microphone and hollered, “Dodger for life!”
In September, Kershaw announced he would retire at the end of the season. In his only World Series appearance, he got a critical out in the Dodgers’ 18-inning victory in Game 3.
He’ll make his final Dodger Stadium appearance as a player as part of a second consecutive championship rally. He’ll be back: The Dodgers will retire his No. 22 — they retire the number of all their Hall of Famers — and he’d certainly be in line to throw ceremonial first pitches in the Dodgers’ future postseason runs.
For now, though: Three-time champion Dodger for life.
Healing and uplifting communities through music and unity is the foundation of this event space created by Zacil “DJ Sizzle Fantastic” Pech and Norma “Normz La Oaxaqueña” Fajardo.
For nearly a decade DJ Sizzle has built a reputation in the queer POC and Spanish-speaking undocumented communities for making the space for them to come together to celebrate their culture and partake in the ultimate act of resistance — joy.
Couples, companions, comadres all dance together on the dancefloor at Cumbiatón. (Photo courtesy of Cumbiatón).
Cumbiatón was created during the first Trump administration as a direct response to the erasure, racism, homophobia and xenophobia that was engrained into the administration’s mission for those first four years. Now that the second Trump administration is upon us, the racism, homophobia, transphobia and xenophobia are tenfold.
This event space is a ‘party for the hood, by the hood.’ It is led by women, queer and trans people of color in every aspect of the production process.
The recent fires that burned through Altadena and Pacific Palisades made DJ Sizzle decide to step back from marketing the event in Los Angeles, an area where people had just lost their businesses, homes and where their lives were completely thrown for a loop.
Now they’re back, doubling-down on their mission to bring cumbias, corridos and all the music many of us grew up listening to, to places that are accessible and safe for our communities.
“I started Cumbiatón back in 2016, right after the election — which was weirdly similar because we’re going through it again. And a lot of us come from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) movement. We were the ones to really push for that to happen along with the DREAM Act.”
DJ Sizzle says that she wanted to create a space out on the streets to celebrate life and come together, because of how mentally and physically taxing it is to be a part of the marginalized communities that were and still are, a major target for ongoing political attacks.
Edwin Soto and Julio Salgado pose for a photo at a Cumbiaton event in 2024. (Photo courtesy of Cumbiatón).
“We need these spaces so that we can kind of refuel and rejoice in each other’s existence,” said DJ Sizzle. “Because we saw each other out on the street a lot, but never did we really have time to sit down, have a drink, talk, laugh. So I found that music was the way to bring people together and that’s how Cumbiatón got started. It was honestly like a movement of political resistance through music.”
DJ Sizzle is an undocumented community organizer who aims to not only bring awareness to the issues that her communities face, but also to make space to celebrate the wins and bond over the music that brings people in Latin America, East L.A., Boyle Heights and the Bay area together.
Julio Salgado, a queer, visionary artist and migrant rights activist from Ensenada, Baja California with roots in Long Beach and the Bay Area, connected with DJ Sizzle over their shared passion in advocating for immigrant rights.
“Cumbiatón was created during the first [Trump] administration, where you know, a lot of people were really bummed out and so what Sizzle wanted to create was a place where people could come together and celebrate ourselves,” said Salgado. “Fast-forward to the second [Trump] administration and we’re here and feel a little bit more like: ‘oh shit, things are bad again.’ But, things have always been bad.”
Salgado is involved with Cumbiatón through his art. He is a mixed-media artist who creates cartoons using his lived experience with his sobriety journey, undocumented status and queer identity.
With a background in journalism from California State University, Long Beach, Salgado documents what activists do in the undocumented spaces he has been a part of throughout his life.
In 2017, Salgado moved back to Long Beach from the Bay Area, and at the time he started doing political artwork and posters for protests against the first Trump administration, but because the nature of that work can be very tiring, he says that he turned to a more uplifting version of his art where he also draws the joy and unity in his communities.
When he and Sizzle linked up to collaborate during that time, he thought he could use his skills to help uplift this brand and bring it to the forefront of the many events that saturate the party landscape.
DJ Sizzle doing her thing on stage, giving the crowd the music they went looking for. (Photo courtesy of Cumbiatón).
“We are familiar with using the dance floor as a way to kind of put the trauma a little bit away just for one night, get together and completely forget,” said Salgado.
Coming from an undocumented background, Salgado and Sizzle say that their experience with their legal status has made them very aware of how to go about the ID-check process at the door for their events.
“When you’re undocumented, you have something called a [High Security Consular Registration (HSCR)] and it’s kind of like your ID and many of these heterosexual clubs would see that and say it was fake,” said Salgado. “But at the gay club, they didn’t care.”
Just being conscious of what that form of ID looks like and knowing that it’s not fake, helps many of the hundreds of people who come through for Cumbiatón, feel just slightly more at ease.
Edwin Soto, who is another community activist and leader in the undocu-queer community, is also involved in the planning and organizing of the event.
In the long journey of making Cumbiatón what it is now, they say that they have all been very intentional about who they bring in, making sure that whoever they are, they also understand the experience of being undocumented and accepted anyway.
“Something that Sizzle and the team have been very intentional about is making sure that [the security at the door] knows that someone might be using their consulate card,” said Soto.
Bringing together this event space is no easy task, considering the fact that their events are deeply thought out, intentional and inclusive of not just people of color, but also people with differing abilities and people who do not reflect the norm in West Hollywood clubs.
“We created the space that we were longing for that we did not see in West Hollywood,” he said. “[Cumbiatón] is what life could really be like. Where women are not harassed by men. Where people are not body-shamed for what they’re wearing.”
When it comes to their lives outside of Cumbiatón and partying, Sizzle says that it does get exhausting and planning the event gets overwhelming.
“It is really difficult, I’m not going to lie,” said DJ Sizzle. “We are at a disadvantage being queer and being undocumented because this administration triggers us to a point that, anyone who is not a part of those identities or marginalized communities would ever be able to understand,” said Sizzle. “There are times where I’m just like: ‘I’m going to cocoon for a little bit’ and then that affects the marketing and the communication.”
Usually, the events bring in hundreds of people who are looking for community, safety and inclusion. (Photo courtesy of Cumbiatón).
That’s a little bit about what goes on behind the scenes — which really shouldn’t come as a surprise for anyone who is out there fighting for basic human rights, while also making the space to party and enjoy themselves.
“I’m really trying to find balance and honestly my life raft are my friends and my community,” she said. “Like, being able to share, being able to have this plática, and be like ‘bitch, I see you and I know its fucked up, but we got each other.’”
Cumbiatón was made with the purpose of making space to include and invite the many different people in these communities who are otherwise sidelined in broader conversations and in party scenes where they are not as inclusive or thoughtful about their attendees.
“How beautiful is it to be queer and listen to rancheras and to norteñas and cumbia, and to just own it,” said Soto.
To join Cumbiatón at their next party, visit their Instagram page.
The “No Kings” rally brought hundreds of thousands out to protest the polices of President Donald Trump today across the D.C. region and nationwide Saturday.
Large trucks block part of Pennsylvania Avenue on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025.
(WTOP/Kyle Cooper)
WTOP/Kyle Cooper
A protester holds up a sign.
(WTOP/Kyle Cooper)
WTOP/Kyle Cooper
Protesters rally at Lafayette Square during the “No Kings” protest in Washington, D.C., on June 14, 2025, the day of President Trump’s military parade. In response to the military parade celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army but also coinciding with Trump’s 79th birthday, a “No Kings” movement has sprung up promising to stage protests in more than 2,000 places across the country, including a large parade expected in Los Angeles which organizers say will feature a “20-foot-tall balloon of Trump wearing a diaper.”
(AFP via Getty Images/AMID FARAHI)
AFP via Getty Images/AMID FARAHI
Demonstrators rally at Lafayette Square during the “No Kings” protest in Washington, D.C., on June 14, 2025, the day of President Trump’s military parade.
(AFP via Getty Images/AMID FARAHI)
AFP via Getty Images/AMID FARAHI
Demonstrators march as they protest against President Donald Trump’s use of federal law enforcement and National Guard troops in the city during a rally along the 14th street corridor in northwest Washington, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.
(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
Crowds at the “No Kings” protest on Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.
(WTOP/Jimmy Alexander)
WTOP/Jimmy Alexander
Protestors on Pennsylvania Avenue, NW for the “No Kings” event.
(WTOP/Jimmy Alexander)
WTOP/Jimmy Alexander
Jill Caporale and the “Singing 4 Peace & Democracy” group perform at a No Kings protest in Chevy Chase.
(WTOP/Jimmy Alexander)
WTOP/Jimmy Alexander
The “No Kings” rally brought hundreds of thousands out to protest the polices of President Donald Trump today across the D.C. region and nationwide Saturday.
The event, running under a “No Kings” banner, calls for a reclamation of democracy without the need for “a king” like the president, who “thinks his rule is absolute.” It’s part of a nationwide series of events protesting against the current administration.
Participants marched around the D.C. region and are encouraged to wear yellow as a “visible optimistic banner that carries the weight of Democratic struggle,” the organization’s website reads.
In an interview with WTOP on Saturday, Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen said the protests showed “a great American portrait all day, people standing up for the country they love.’
“Millions of people around the country are saying yes to our democracy, and yes to our rights,” Van Hollen said, “but no to Kings, no to a lawless president who has been focused on stripping away people’s rights — whether their rights to due process, whether their rights to free speech, whether their rights to a fair justice system.”
“These protests represent the very best of American democracy, and when Speaker Johnson and the Republicans can’t win the argument, they decide to engage in that kind of language, by labeling these democratic protests as hateful,” he said.
Ezra Levin, a leading organizer of Saturday’s protests, told The Associated Press that the demonstrations are a response to what he called Trump’s “crackdown on First Amendment rights.”
Speakers at the rally included Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, TV scientist Bill Nye and British-American journalist Mehdi Hasan, among other figures.
In a video posted on X, Sanders said his message of the protest is simple: “People fought and died throughout the history of this country to preserve our democracy. And we’re not going to let Trump or anybody else take it away.”
Taking to the streets
In Chevy Chase, Jill Caporale, who organized the “No Kings” rally in the neighborhood with the theme of “Singing 4 Peace & Democracy,” said she and a group of friends who are singers came together to perform for the occasion.
“We felt song always brings us together,” said Caporale. “We are here to show support for the country. We love our country.”
Caporale said their group was concerned that Trump seemed to be indicting enemies while giving friends a break.
“George Santos gets a pardon,” said Caporale. “Jan. 6 people get a pardon.”
On Pennsylvania Avenue, pediatrician Dr. Evonne Bing, who was attending the event, said one issue that was important to her was the Trump administration’s approach to vaccine policies.
She told WTOP that she had much fear about children being unable to grow up healthy.
“I’ve seen measles, I’ve seen mumps, I’ve seen rubella, I’ve seen polio,” said Dr. Bing. “Vaccines are safe for all. You might have a little pain, you might have a little sniffle, but you’ll be alive.”
Republicans respond
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a social media post that members of the National Guard will be on duty at the protests “to ensure the Guard will be ready to respond alongside our substantially increased police presence to help keep Virginians safe.”
“We call it the ‘Hate America rally’ that’ll happen Saturday. Let’s see who shows up for that,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said.
“I bet you see pro-Hamas supporters. I bet you see Antifa types. I bet you see the Marxist in full display, the people who don’t want to stand and defend the foundational truths of this republic, and we do, and that’s what we’re here doing every single day.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Protesting the direction of the country under President Donald Trump, people gathered Saturday in the nation’s capital and communities across the U.S. for “ No Kings ” demonstrations — what the president’s Republican Party is calling “Hate America” rallies.(Video player above: Coverage of the “No Kings” protest in June) With signs such as “Nothing is more patriotic than protesting” or “Resist Fascism,” in many places the events looked more like a street party. There were marching bands, a huge banner with the U.S. Constitution’s “We The People,” preamble that people could sign, and protesters wearing inflatable costumes, particularly frogs, which have emerged as a sign of resistance in Portland, Oregon.This is the third mass mobilization since Trump’s return to the White House and comes against the backdrop of a government shutdown that not only has closed federal programs and services, but is testing the core balance of power as an aggressive executive confronts Congress and the courts in ways that organizers warn are a slide toward American authoritarianism.Trump himself is spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.“They say they’re referring to me as a king. I’m not a king,” Trump said in a Fox News interview airing early Friday, before he departed for a $1 million-per-plate MAGA Inc. fundraiser at his club. Protests are expected nearby Saturday.Nationwide protests plannedDemonstrators packed New York City’s Times Square, Boston Common, Chicago’s Grant Park and hundreds of smaller public spaces. More than 2,600 rallies were planned for Saturday, organizers said.Many protesters were angered by attacks on their motives. In Washington, Brian Reymann said being called a terrorist all week by Republicans was “pathetic.”“This is America. I disagree with their politics, but I don’t believe that they don’t love this country,” Reymann said, carrying a large American flag. “I believe they are misguided. I think they are power hungry.”More than 1,500 people gathered in Birmingham, Alabama, evoking and openly citing the city’s history of protests and the critical role it played in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement two generations ago.“It just feels like we’re living in an America that I don’t recognize,” said Jessica Yother, a mother of four. She and other protesters said they felt camaraderie by gathering in a state where Trump won nearly 65% of the vote last November.“It was so encouraging,” Yother said. “I walked in and thought, ‘Here are my people.’”Organizers hope to build opposition movement“Big rallies like this give confidence to people who have been sitting on the sidelines but are ready to speak up,” Democratic U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy said in an interview with The Associated Press.While protests earlier this year — against Elon Musk’s cuts and Trump’s military parade — drew crowds, organizers say this one is uniting the opposition. Top Democrats such as Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders are joining what organizers view as an antidote to Trump’s actions, from the administration’s clampdown on free speech to its military-style immigration raids.“We’re here because we love America,” Sanders said, addressing the crowd from a stage in Washington. He said the American experiment is “in danger” under Trump but insisted “We the people will rule.”The national march against Trump and Musk this spring had 1,300 registered locations, while the first “No Kings” day in June registered 2,100 locations.Republicans denounce ‘Hate America’ ralliesRepublicans sought to portray Saturday’s protesters as far outside the mainstream and a prime reason for the government shutdown, now in its 18th day.From the White House to Capitol Hill, GOP leaders disparaged the rallygoers as “communists” and “Marxists.” They say Democratic leaders, including Schumer, are beholden to the far-left flank and willing to keep the government shut to appease those liberal forces.“I encourage you to watch — we call it the Hate America rally — that will happen Saturday,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana.“Let’s see who shows up for that,” Johnson said, listing groups including “antifa types,” people who “hate capitalism” and “Marxists in full display.”Many demonstrators, in turn, said they were responding such hyperbole with humor, noting that Trump often leans heavily on theatrics such as claiming U.S. cities he sends troops to are war zones.“So much of what we’ve seen from this administration has been so unserious and silly that we have to respond with the same energy,” said Glen Kalbaugh, a Washington protester who wore a wizard hat and held a sign with a frog on it.Democrats try to regain their footing amid shutdownDemocrats have refused to vote on legislation that would reopen the government as they demand funding for health care. Republicans say they are willing to discuss the issue later, only after the government reopens.The situation is a potential turnaround from just six months ago, when Democrats and their allies were divided and despondent. Schumer in particular was berated by his party for allowing an earlier government funding bill to sail through the Senate without using it to challenge Trump.“What we are seeing from the Democrats is some spine,” said Ezra Levin, a co-founder of Indivisible, a key organizing group. “The worst thing the Democrats could do right now is surrender.”
Protesting the direction of the country under President Donald Trump, people gathered Saturday in the nation’s capital and communities across the U.S. for “ No Kings ” demonstrations — what the president’s Republican Party is calling “Hate America” rallies.
(Video player above: Coverage of the “No Kings” protest in June)
With signs such as “Nothing is more patriotic than protesting” or “Resist Fascism,” in many places the events looked more like a street party. There were marching bands, a huge banner with the U.S. Constitution’s “We The People,” preamble that people could sign, and protesters wearing inflatable costumes, particularly frogs, which have emerged as a sign of resistance in Portland, Oregon.
This is the third mass mobilization since Trump’s return to the White House and comes against the backdrop of a government shutdown that not only has closed federal programs and services, but is testing the core balance of power as an aggressive executive confronts Congress and the courts in ways that organizers warn are a slide toward American authoritarianism.
Trump himself is spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.
“They say they’re referring to me as a king. I’m not a king,” Trump said in a Fox News interview airing early Friday, before he departed for a $1 million-per-plate MAGA Inc. fundraiser at his club. Protests are expected nearby Saturday.
Nationwide protests planned
Demonstrators packed New York City’s Times Square, Boston Common, Chicago’s Grant Park and hundreds of smaller public spaces. More than 2,600 rallies were planned for Saturday, organizers said.
Many protesters were angered by attacks on their motives. In Washington, Brian Reymann said being called a terrorist all week by Republicans was “pathetic.”
“This is America. I disagree with their politics, but I don’t believe that they don’t love this country,” Reymann said, carrying a large American flag. “I believe they are misguided. I think they are power hungry.”
More than 1,500 people gathered in Birmingham, Alabama, evoking and openly citing the city’s history of protests and the critical role it played in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement two generations ago.
“It just feels like we’re living in an America that I don’t recognize,” said Jessica Yother, a mother of four. She and other protesters said they felt camaraderie by gathering in a state where Trump won nearly 65% of the vote last November.
“It was so encouraging,” Yother said. “I walked in and thought, ‘Here are my people.’”
Organizers hope to build opposition movement
“Big rallies like this give confidence to people who have been sitting on the sidelines but are ready to speak up,” Democratic U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy said in an interview with The Associated Press.
While protests earlier this year — against Elon Musk’s cuts and Trump’s military parade — drew crowds, organizers say this one is uniting the opposition. Top Democrats such as Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders are joining what organizers view as an antidote to Trump’s actions, from the administration’s clampdown on free speech to its military-style immigration raids.
“We’re here because we love America,” Sanders said, addressing the crowd from a stage in Washington. He said the American experiment is “in danger” under Trump but insisted “We the people will rule.”
The national march against Trump and Musk this spring had 1,300 registered locations, while the first “No Kings” day in June registered 2,100 locations.
Republicans denounce ‘Hate America’ rallies
Republicans sought to portray Saturday’s protesters as far outside the mainstream and a prime reason for the government shutdown, now in its 18th day.
From the White House to Capitol Hill, GOP leaders disparaged the rallygoers as “communists” and “Marxists.” They say Democratic leaders, including Schumer, are beholden to the far-left flank and willing to keep the government shut to appease those liberal forces.
“I encourage you to watch — we call it the Hate America rally — that will happen Saturday,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana.
“Let’s see who shows up for that,” Johnson said, listing groups including “antifa types,” people who “hate capitalism” and “Marxists in full display.”
Many demonstrators, in turn, said they were responding such hyperbole with humor, noting that Trump often leans heavily on theatrics such as claiming U.S. cities he sends troops to are war zones.
“So much of what we’ve seen from this administration has been so unserious and silly that we have to respond with the same energy,” said Glen Kalbaugh, a Washington protester who wore a wizard hat and held a sign with a frog on it.
Democrats have refused to vote on legislation that would reopen the government as they demand funding for health care. Republicans say they are willing to discuss the issue later, only after the government reopens.
The situation is a potential turnaround from just six months ago, when Democrats and their allies were divided and despondent. Schumer in particular was berated by his party for allowing an earlier government funding bill to sail through the Senate without using it to challenge Trump.
“What we are seeing from the Democrats is some spine,” said Ezra Levin, a co-founder of Indivisible, a key organizing group. “The worst thing the Democrats could do right now is surrender.”
Despite the rain soaking their flags and smearing the writing on their signs, thousands marched through the streets of downtown Fort Worth on Saturday, shouting, “Donald Trump has got to go.”
Entirely peaceful, the Fort Worth No Kings rally and march were part of a national movement against President Trump’s “authoritarianism,” according to the release. The local event was organized by Tarrant County AFL-CIO, Fort Worth Area Indivisible, Indivisible TX-24 and Indivisible TX-12.
Saturday’s event at Burk Burnett Park drew roughly 6,500 people — more than the June No Kings rallies in Arlington and Fort Worth had combined. Some carried American flags or dressed in whimsical costumes, but the majority held signs conveying pro-democracy and anti-Trump messages.
A large crowd gathers in Burk Burnett Park for the No Kings protest in downtown Fort Worth on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. John Rowland Special to the Star-Telegram
U.S. veteran Jeremiah Dye said he came out to the protest dressed as in an inflatable frog suit because democracy is a participation sport and resistance to bad governance can be joyful.
“When I look around, and I see my veteran brothers and sisters sleeping under the bridges, going without food, going without access to mental health care and health care facilities,” Dye said, “when I see people of color being discriminated against, when I see women losing their ability to affect their own health care decisions, when I see little black boys in Chicago being zip tied by 250 pound ICE officers…, somebody’s going to get these frog hands.”
EJ Carrion, 817 podcast host and the emcee for the rally, said his goal is make the people in attendance just 2% bolder so they will speak out at local government meetings and rally their circles to vote.
“The cherry on top is for them to realize this is a local issue,” Carrion said. “It’s about Fort Worth. We are the front line of democracy, and if we could signal that we’ve had enough — you know, to America, we’re the cowboy city. And if the cowboy city decides that they had enough, what does that say for everyone else across the country?”
Behind a Fort Worth Police car, clergy members and people dressed as handmaids led the chanting mass on a 1.5-mile trek around downtown and back to the park.
A large crowd marches through downtown streets during the No Kings protest in Fort Worth on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. John Rowland (Special to the Star-Telegram)
Referencing the parable about God separating the sheep from the goats in Matthew 25, the Rev. William S. Winston, a retired Episcopal priest, said the Bible says people must serve the needy no matter who they are. Winston said because of that, Bible-believing and sacramental Christians have no choice but to be out protesting for the protection of immigrants.
“We need to be so geared by our religion, our faith, our Bible, our sacraments, to go completely reflexively to the least in our communities and voice and empower them to the very best that we can,” he said.
Once the rain waned and the marchers returned to the park, activists and elected officials spoke to the crowd about the need to protect democracy and speak out against authoritarianism and fascism.
Benny Delavega waves an American flag as he speaks at the No Kings protest in Burk Burnett Park in downtown Fort Worth on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. John Rowland Special to the Star-Telegram
Defense attorney and former police officer Julya Billhymer quoted Benjamin Franklin’s words that America is “a republic, if you can keep it.” She said now is the time to embrace the responsibility to keep it.
To inspire the crowd to save America, Billhymer had everyone raise their right hand and repeat the same oath that politicians and public officials take.
“I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic,” Billhymer led the crowd in saying. “That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and I will faithfully fight for democracy.”
Ninety-five-year-old Korean War veteran William Johnson, center, and others march through downtown streets during the No Kings protest in Fort Worth on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. John Rowland Special to the Star-Telegram
Among the speakers were Fort Worth Council member Chris Nettles, Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons and State Rep. Nicole Collier.
“This is what patriotism looks like,” Collier said. “You are here because you care. You are here because you believe in a democracy where freedom of speech is a right, not a risk. You are here because you will stand your ground no matter how wet it is, because you are rooted in our democracy. This country was built on a democracy. We the people. And when they lose sight of that, we got to take our country back.”
Rachel Royster is a news and government reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, specifically focused on Tarrant County. She joined the newsroom after interning at the Austin American-Statesman, the Waco Tribune-Herald and Capital Community News in DC. A Houston native and Baylor grad, Rachel enjoys traveling, reading and being outside. She welcomes any and all news tips to her email.
Protesting the direction of the country under President Donald Trump, people gathered Saturday in the nation’s capital and communities across the U.S. for “ No Kings ” demonstrations — what the president’s Republican Party is calling “Hate America” rallies.They rallied with signs like “Nothing is more patriotic than protesting” or “Resist Fascism,” and in many places it looked more like a street party. There were marching bands, a huge banner with the U.S. Constitution’s “We The People,” preamble that people could sign, and protesters in frog costumes, which have emerged as a sign of resistance in Portland, Oregon.This is the third mass mobilization since Trump’s return to the White House and comes against the backdrop of a government shutdown that not only has closed federal programs and services, but is testing the core balance of power as an aggressive executive confronts Congress and the courts in ways that organizers warn are a slide toward American authoritarianism.Demonstrators packed places like New York City’s Times Square, the historic Boston Commons, Chicago’s Grant Park, Washington, D.C., and hundreds of smaller public spaces.Many protesters were especially angered by attacks on their motives. In Washington, Brian Reymann said being called a terrorist all week by Republicans was “pathetic.”“This is America. I disagree with their politics — but I don’t believe that they don’t love this country. I believe they are misguided. I think they are power hungry,” Reymann said, carrying a large American flag.Trump himself is spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.“They say they’re referring to me as a king. I’m not a king,” Trump said in a Fox News interview airing early Friday, before he departed for a $1 million-per-plate MAGA Inc. fundraiser at his club. Protests are expected nearby Saturday.Organizers hope to build opposition movementMore than 2,600 rallies are planned Saturday in cities large and small, organized by hundreds of coalition partners.“Big rallies like this give confidence to people who have been sitting on the sidelines but are ready to speak up,” Democratic U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy said in an interview with The Associated Press.While protests earlier this year — against Elon Musk’s cuts in the spring and Trump’s June military parade — drew crowds, organizers say this one is uniting the opposition. Top Democrats such as Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders are joining in what organizers view as an antidote to Trump’s actions, from the administration’s clampdown on free speech to its military-style immigration raids.“There is no greater threat to an authoritarian regime than patriotic people-power,” said Ezra Levin, a co-founder of Indivisible, among the key organizers. In April, the national march against Trump and Elon Musk had 1,300 registered locations. In June, for the first “No Kings” day, there were 2,100 registered locations.Before noon, several thousand people had gathered in Times Square, chanting “Trump must go now,” and waving sometimes-profane signs with slogans insulting the president and condemning his immigration crackdown. Some people carried American flags.Retired family doctor Terence McCormally was heading to Arlington National Cemetery to join others walking across the Memorial Bridge that enters Washington directly in front of the Lincoln Memorial. He said the recent deployment of the National Guard made him more wary of police than in the past.“I really don’t like the crooks and conmen and religious zealots who are trying to use the country” for personal gain, McCormally said, “while they are killing and hurting millions of people with bombs.”Republicans denounce ‘Hate America’ ralliesRepublicans have sought to portray Saturday’s protesters as far outside the mainstream and a prime reason for the government shutdown, now in its 18th day.From the White House to Capitol Hill, GOP leaders disparaged the rallygoers as “communists” and “Marxists.” They say Democratic leaders, including Schumer, are beholden to the far-left flank and willing to keep the government shut down to appease those liberal forces.“I encourage you to watch — we call it the Hate America rally — that will happen Saturday,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.“Let’s see who shows up for that,” Johnson said, listing groups including “antifa types,” people who “hate capitalism” and “Marxists in full display.”Many demonstrators responded to such hyperbole with silliness in part because they say Trump leans heavily on theatrics — like claiming cities he sends troops to are war zones — said Glen Kalbaugh, a Washington protester.“So much of what we’ve seen from this administration has been so unserious and silly that we have to respond with the same energy,” said Kalbaugh, who wore a wizard hat and held a sign with a frog on it.Democrats try to regain their footingDemocrats have refused to vote on legislation that would reopen the government as they demand funding for health care. Republicans say they are willing to discuss the issue later, only after the government reopens.But for many Democrats, the government closure is also a way to stand up to Trump, and try to push the presidency back to its place in the U.S. system as a co-equal branch of government. It’s also a way to draw a moral line in the sand, said Murphy, the senator from Connecticut.“Trump does think that he’s a king,” Murphy said at the Washington rally, “and he thinks that he can act more corruptly when the government is shut down. But he cannot.”The situation is a potential turnaround from just six months ago, when Democrats and their allies were divided and despondent. Schumer in particular was berated by his party for allowing an earlier government funding bill to sail through the Senate without using it to challenge Trump.“What we are seeing from the Democrats is some spine,” said march organizer Levin. “The worst thing the Democrats could do right now is surrender.”___Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro, Kevin Freking, and Chris Megerian in Washington, Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina, and Safiya Riddle in Montgomery, Alabama, contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON —
Protesting the direction of the country under President Donald Trump, people gathered Saturday in the nation’s capital and communities across the U.S. for “ No Kings ” demonstrations — what the president’s Republican Party is calling “Hate America” rallies.
They rallied with signs like “Nothing is more patriotic than protesting” or “Resist Fascism,” and in many places it looked more like a street party. There were marching bands, a huge banner with the U.S. Constitution’s “We The People,” preamble that people could sign, and protesters in frog costumes, which have emerged as a sign of resistance in Portland, Oregon.
This is the third mass mobilization since Trump’s return to the White House and comes against the backdrop of a government shutdown that not only has closed federal programs and services, but is testing the core balance of power as an aggressive executive confronts Congress and the courts in ways that organizers warn are a slide toward American authoritarianism.
Demonstrators packed places like New York City’s Times Square, the historic Boston Commons, Chicago’s Grant Park, Washington, D.C., and hundreds of smaller public spaces.
Many protesters were especially angered by attacks on their motives. In Washington, Brian Reymann said being called a terrorist all week by Republicans was “pathetic.”
“This is America. I disagree with their politics — but I don’t believe that they don’t love this country. I believe they are misguided. I think they are power hungry,” Reymann said, carrying a large American flag.
Trump himself is spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.
“They say they’re referring to me as a king. I’m not a king,” Trump said in a Fox News interview airing early Friday, before he departed for a $1 million-per-plate MAGA Inc. fundraiser at his club. Protests are expected nearby Saturday.
Organizers hope to build opposition movement
More than 2,600 rallies are planned Saturday in cities large and small, organized by hundreds of coalition partners.
“Big rallies like this give confidence to people who have been sitting on the sidelines but are ready to speak up,” Democratic U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy said in an interview with The Associated Press.
While protests earlier this year — against Elon Musk’s cuts in the spring and Trump’s June military parade — drew crowds, organizers say this one is uniting the opposition. Top Democrats such as Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders are joining in what organizers view as an antidote to Trump’s actions, from the administration’s clampdown on free speech to its military-style immigration raids.
“There is no greater threat to an authoritarian regime than patriotic people-power,” said Ezra Levin, a co-founder of Indivisible, among the key organizers. In April, the national march against Trump and Elon Musk had 1,300 registered locations. In June, for the first “No Kings” day, there were 2,100 registered locations.
Before noon, several thousand people had gathered in Times Square, chanting “Trump must go now,” and waving sometimes-profane signs with slogans insulting the president and condemning his immigration crackdown. Some people carried American flags.
Retired family doctor Terence McCormally was heading to Arlington National Cemetery to join others walking across the Memorial Bridge that enters Washington directly in front of the Lincoln Memorial. He said the recent deployment of the National Guard made him more wary of police than in the past.
“I really don’t like the crooks and conmen and religious zealots who are trying to use the country” for personal gain, McCormally said, “while they are killing and hurting millions of people with bombs.”
Republicans denounce ‘Hate America’ rallies
Republicans have sought to portray Saturday’s protesters as far outside the mainstream and a prime reason for the government shutdown, now in its 18th day.
From the White House to Capitol Hill, GOP leaders disparaged the rallygoers as “communists” and “Marxists.” They say Democratic leaders, including Schumer, are beholden to the far-left flank and willing to keep the government shut down to appease those liberal forces.
“I encourage you to watch — we call it the Hate America rally — that will happen Saturday,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.
“Let’s see who shows up for that,” Johnson said, listing groups including “antifa types,” people who “hate capitalism” and “Marxists in full display.”
Many demonstrators responded to such hyperbole with silliness in part because they say Trump leans heavily on theatrics — like claiming cities he sends troops to are war zones — said Glen Kalbaugh, a Washington protester.
“So much of what we’ve seen from this administration has been so unserious and silly that we have to respond with the same energy,” said Kalbaugh, who wore a wizard hat and held a sign with a frog on it.
Democrats try to regain their footing
Democrats have refused to vote on legislation that would reopen the government as they demand funding for health care. Republicans say they are willing to discuss the issue later, only after the government reopens.
But for many Democrats, the government closure is also a way to stand up to Trump, and try to push the presidency back to its place in the U.S. system as a co-equal branch of government. It’s also a way to draw a moral line in the sand, said Murphy, the senator from Connecticut.
“Trump does think that he’s a king,” Murphy said at the Washington rally, “and he thinks that he can act more corruptly when the government is shut down. But he cannot.”
The situation is a potential turnaround from just six months ago, when Democrats and their allies were divided and despondent. Schumer in particular was berated by his party for allowing an earlier government funding bill to sail through the Senate without using it to challenge Trump.
“What we are seeing from the Democrats is some spine,” said march organizer Levin. “The worst thing the Democrats could do right now is surrender.”
___
Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro, Kevin Freking, and Chris Megerian in Washington, Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina, and Safiya Riddle in Montgomery, Alabama, contributed to this report.
DENVER — Crowds of up to 20,000 people are expected to gather in front of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Saturday to take part in one of several anti-Trump “No Kings” rallies in Colorado and across the country.
Some RTD light rail lines have been impacted in anticipation of the crowds.
The 50501 Movement, which is orchestrating the protests, says it chose the “No Kings” name to support democracy and speak out against what it calls the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration.
The name 50501 stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement.
Similar rallies are planned in Colorado Springs, Longmont, Arvada, Broomfield, and Northglenn, with over 2,600 events nationwide.
Trump himself is spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.
“They say they’re referring to me as a king. I’m not a king,” Trump said in a Fox News interview airing early Friday, before he departed for a $1 million-per-plate MAGA Inc. fundraiser at his club.
Protests are expected nearby on Saturday.
Political experts say these protests and the possible long-term political impact on President Donald Trump remain uncertain.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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Protesting the direction of the country under President Donald Trump, people will gather Saturday in the nation’s capital and communities across the U.S. for “No Kings” demonstrations — what the president’s Republican Party is calling “Hate America” rallies.This is the third mass mobilization since Trump’s return to the White House and it is expected to be the largest. It comes against the backdrop of a government shutdown that not only has closed federal programs and services, but is testing the core balance of power as an aggressive executive confronts Congress and the courts in ways that organizers warn are a slide toward American authoritarianism.Trump himself is away from Washington at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.“They say they’re referring to me as a king. I’m not a king,” Trump said in a Fox News interview airing early Friday. He later departed for a $1 million-per-plate MAGA Inc. super PAC fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago. Protests are expected nearby Saturday.While the earlier protests this year — against Elon Musk’s cuts in spring, then to counter Trump’s military parade in June — drew crowds, organizers say this one is building a more unified opposition movement. Top Democrats such as Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders are joining in what organizers view as an antidote to Trump’s actions, from the administration’s clampdown on free speech to its military-style immigration raids.“There is no greater threat to an authoritarian regime than patriotic people-power,” said Ezra Levin, a co-founder of Indivisible, among the key organizers.As Republicans and the White House dismiss the protests as a rally of radicals, Levin said their own sign-up numbers are growing. More than 2,600 rallies are planned in cities large and small, organized by hundreds of coalition partners. They said rallies are being planned within a one-hour drive for most Americans.Overseas, a few hundred Americans already gathered in Madrid to chant slogans and hold signs at a protest organized by Democrats Abroad, with similar rallies planned in other major European cities.Republicans have sought to portray participants in Saturday’s rallies as far outside the mainstream of American politics, and a main reason for the prolonged government shutdown, now in its 18th day.From the White House to Capitol Hill, GOP leaders disparaged the rallygoers as “communists” and “Marxists.”They say Democratic leaders, including Schumer, are beholden to the far-left flank and willing to keep the government shut down to appease those liberal forces.“I encourage you to watch — we call it the Hate America rally — that will happen Saturday,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.“Let’s see who shows up for that,” Johnson said, listing groups including “antifa types,” people who “hate capitalism” and “Marxists in full display.”Democrats have refused to vote on legislation that would reopen the government as they demand funding for health care. Republicans say they are willing to discuss the issue later, only after the government reopens.But for many Democrats, the government closure is also a way to stand up to Trump, and try to push the presidency back to its place in the U.S. system as a co-equal branch of government.In a Facebook post, Sanders of Vermont, himself a former presidential contender, said, “It’s a love America rally.”“It’s a rally of millions of people all over this country who believe in our Constitution, who believe in American freedom and,” he said, pointing at the GOP leadership, “are not going to let you and Donald Trump turn this country into an authoritarian society.”The situation is a potential turnaround from just six months ago, when Democrats and their allies were divided and despondent, unsure about how best to respond to Trump’s return to the White House. Schumer in particular was berated by his party for allowing an earlier government funding bill to sail through the Senate without using it to challenge Trump.In April, the national march against Trump and Elon Musk had 1,300 registered locations. In June, for the first “No Kings” day, there were 2,100 registered locations. The march Saturday will have more than 2,600 registered locations, Levin said.“What we are seeing from the Democrats is some spine,” Levin said. “The worst thing the Democrats could do right now is surrender.”House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he wasn’t sure if he would join the rallygoers Saturday, but he took issue with the Republicans’ characterization of the events.“What’s hateful is what happened on January 6th,” he said, referring to the 2021 Capitol attack, as Trump’s supporters stormed the building to protest Joe Biden’s election victory. “What you’ll see this weekend is what patriotism looks like, people showing up to express opposition to the extremism that Donald Trump has been unleashing on the American people.”Riddle reported from Montgomery, Alabama. Associated Press writer Chris Megerian contributed.
WASHINGTON —
Protesting the direction of the country under President Donald Trump, people will gather Saturday in the nation’s capital and communities across the U.S. for “No Kings” demonstrations — what the president’s Republican Party is calling “Hate America” rallies.
This is the third mass mobilization since Trump’s return to the White House and it is expected to be the largest. It comes against the backdrop of a government shutdown that not only has closed federal programs and services, but is testing the core balance of power as an aggressive executive confronts Congress and the courts in ways that organizers warn are a slide toward American authoritarianism.
Trump himself is away from Washington at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.
“They say they’re referring to me as a king. I’m not a king,” Trump said in a Fox News interview airing early Friday. He later departed for a $1 million-per-plate MAGA Inc. super PAC fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago. Protests are expected nearby Saturday.
While the earlier protests this year — against Elon Musk’s cuts in spring, then to counter Trump’s military parade in June — drew crowds, organizers say this one is building a more unified opposition movement. Top Democrats such as Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders are joining in what organizers view as an antidote to Trump’s actions, from the administration’s clampdown on free speech to its military-style immigration raids.
“There is no greater threat to an authoritarian regime than patriotic people-power,” said Ezra Levin, a co-founder of Indivisible, among the key organizers.
As Republicans and the White House dismiss the protests as a rally of radicals, Levin said their own sign-up numbers are growing. More than 2,600 rallies are planned in cities large and small, organized by hundreds of coalition partners. They said rallies are being planned within a one-hour drive for most Americans.
Overseas, a few hundred Americans already gathered in Madrid to chant slogans and hold signs at a protest organized by Democrats Abroad, with similar rallies planned in other major European cities.
Republicans have sought to portray participants in Saturday’s rallies as far outside the mainstream of American politics, and a main reason for the prolonged government shutdown, now in its 18th day.
From the White House to Capitol Hill, GOP leaders disparaged the rallygoers as “communists” and “Marxists.”
They say Democratic leaders, including Schumer, are beholden to the far-left flank and willing to keep the government shut down to appease those liberal forces.
“I encourage you to watch — we call it the Hate America rally — that will happen Saturday,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.
“Let’s see who shows up for that,” Johnson said, listing groups including “antifa types,” people who “hate capitalism” and “Marxists in full display.”
Democrats have refused to vote on legislation that would reopen the government as they demand funding for health care. Republicans say they are willing to discuss the issue later, only after the government reopens.
But for many Democrats, the government closure is also a way to stand up to Trump, and try to push the presidency back to its place in the U.S. system as a co-equal branch of government.
In a Facebook post, Sanders of Vermont, himself a former presidential contender, said, “It’s a love America rally.”
“It’s a rally of millions of people all over this country who believe in our Constitution, who believe in American freedom and,” he said, pointing at the GOP leadership, “are not going to let you and Donald Trump turn this country into an authoritarian society.”
The situation is a potential turnaround from just six months ago, when Democrats and their allies were divided and despondent, unsure about how best to respond to Trump’s return to the White House. Schumer in particular was berated by his party for allowing an earlier government funding bill to sail through the Senate without using it to challenge Trump.
In April, the national march against Trump and Elon Musk had 1,300 registered locations. In June, for the first “No Kings” day, there were 2,100 registered locations. The march Saturday will have more than 2,600 registered locations, Levin said.
“What we are seeing from the Democrats is some spine,” Levin said. “The worst thing the Democrats could do right now is surrender.”
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he wasn’t sure if he would join the rallygoers Saturday, but he took issue with the Republicans’ characterization of the events.
“What’s hateful is what happened on January 6th,” he said, referring to the 2021 Capitol attack, as Trump’s supporters stormed the building to protest Joe Biden’s election victory. “What you’ll see this weekend is what patriotism looks like, people showing up to express opposition to the extremism that Donald Trump has been unleashing on the American people.”
Riddle reported from Montgomery, Alabama. Associated Press writer Chris Megerian contributed.
Building on the “No Kings” protests in June, organizations across the United States, including those in Southern California, are once again rallying and marching Saturday to protest against the Trump administration.
On June 14, more than 50 million people across all 50 states joined in one of the largest single-day protests against “President Trump’s authoritarianism,” according to Studio City Rising, a local event organizer.
The latest “No Kings” rallies and marches will take place in dozens of Los Angeles County locations.
“Our community is peacefully coming together to push back against President Trump’s violent, authoritarian actions,” said Studio City Rising. “We’re standing with our neighbors and residents from all over our city to share a simple resolved message: We don’t do dictators or kings in America. Our diversity is our strength and empathy is our superpower.”
The national event is backed by groups that include the American Civil Liberties Union, American Federation of Teachers, Common Defense, 50501 Movement, Human Rights Campaign, Indivisible, League of Conservation Voters, MoveOn, National Nurses United, Public Citizen and Service Employees International Union.
An interactive map of “No Kings” events across the U.S. can be found online.
Here is an alphabetical list of 30 of the “No Kings” rallies in Los Angeles County, the times and locations, along with notes for attendees.
Alhambra When: 10 a.m. to noon Where: Alhambra Park, 500 N. Palm Ave. Event notes: Attendees will gather at the park on the corner of Alhambra Road and North Palm Avenue. There will be access to restrooms.
Beverly Hills When: 2 to 4 p.m. Where: Along Olympic Boulevard at Roxbury Park, 471 South Roxbury Drive Event notes: Nearby on-street parking is available. Organizers encourage attendees to carpool to avoid any parking problems.
Burbank When: 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Where: Abraham Lincoln Park, 300 N. Buena Vista St. Event notes: Attendees will have access to restrooms. The event will take place mainly on flat ground.
Covina When: 4 to 7 p.m. Where: Heritage Plaza Park, 400 N. Citrus Ave. Event notes: Attendees will have access to bathrooms and the rally will take place mainly on flat ground.
El Segundo When: 10 a.m. to noon Where: Main Street and East Imperial Avenue Event notes: Organizers say this rally is slated to be a family-friendly, dog-friendly and nonviolent community event. Attendees are asked to stay on the grassy areas and off of the roads.
Glendale When: noon to 2 p.m. Where: Public plaza outside the Social Security Office, 225 W. Broadway Event notes: The event will take place mainly on flat ground.
La Habra When: 10 a.m. to noon Where: The corner of South Beach Boulevard and Imperial Highway Event notes: Attendees will have access to bathrooms and dedicated parking spots.
Lakewood When: noon to 2 p.m. Where: Lakewood City Hall, 5050 Clark Ave. Event notes: Attendees are asked to meet in front of Lakewood City Hall at noon for a quick introduction speech along with a reading of the poem, “Bread and Roses” by James Oppenheim. Accommodations such as water and earplugs will be available at the first aid table.
Long Beach When: noon to 3:45 p.m. Where: The corner of East Ocean Boulevard and Junipero Avenue Event notes: Attendees are encouraged to bring signs, water, lawn chairs and walking shoes.
Los Angeles When: noon to 2 p.m. Where: Los Angeles Unified School District Headquarters, 333 S. Beaudry Ave. Event notes:Education Workers including school custodians, teachers, special education assistants, food service workers, principals, school maintenance workers, child care providers and others will rally and march from the headquarters of the Los Angeles Unified School District to join the massive “No Kings” rally in downtown Los Angeles.
Los Angeles, downtown When: 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Where: In the larger park, up the hill from the main crowd where the park intersects North Hill Street Event notes: No Kings Silver Lake suggests protesters join the event dressed as a taco. Anyone with an extra taco costume is encouraged to bring it for other attendees.
Los Angeles, Pico Robertson When: 4 to 5:30 p.m. Where: The corner of La Cienega and West Pico boulevards Event notes: The event will take place mainly on flat ground.
Los Angeles, Historic Filipinotown When: 10 a.m. to noon Where: Unidad Park and Community Garden, 1644 Beverly Blvd. Event notes: The rally will be hosted by the Indivisible – Historic Filipinotown / Echo Park and the Filipino American Lakas Alliance. It will be held mainly on flat ground.
East Los Angeles When: 8:45 a.m. to noon Where: Salazar Park, 3864 Whittier Blvd. Event notes:Organizers encourage attendees to wear face masks as a flu and COVID-19 precaution.
Southeast L.A., Lynwood When: noon to 2:30 p.m. Where: The corner of Atlantic Avenue and Imperial Highway Event notes: The rally will take place mainly on flat ground.
Pasadena When: 1 to 3 p.m. Where: Pasadena City Hall, 100 Garfield Ave. Event notes: The event will include seven speakers including Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) and Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena). Music will be provided by the Nextdoors band and the All Saints drum circle. A long banner-style petition will be available for attendees to sign.
Rancho Palos Verdes When: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Where: 1 Trump National Drive Event notes: The No Kings Harbor of Hope Rally will include parking access for attendees and will take place mainly on flat ground.
San Dimas When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: The corner of West Arrow Highway and West Bonita Avenue Event notes: The rally will take place on flat ground.
San Pedro When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Where: The address will be shared upon submitting an online RSVP. Event notes: Organizers anticipate a large showing of demonstrators as a car show is taking place the same weekend. The rally will take place mainly on flat ground and there will be bathrooms nearby.
Santa Monica When: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Where: Palisades Park on Ocean Avenue Event notes: Event hosts say parking is available at the beach parking lots and attendees can walk over the Montana Avenue or Idaho Avenue bridge to the rally. Attendees are encouraged to spread across Palisades Park from the California Incline to San Vicente Boulevard while staying on the grass. Santa Monica police officers will be in attendance to keep the event peaceful.
Sherman Oaks When: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Where: 15233 Ventura Blvd. Event notes: The rally will take place across from the Sherman Oaks Galleria. Attendees will have access to restrooms and dedicated parking spots.
Sierra Madre When: 10 a.m. to noon Where: 1 Kersting Court Event notes: An Indivisible group, Rooted in Resistance SGV, is sponsoring the event.
Studio City When: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Where: The corner of Laurel Canyon and Ventura boulevards in Studio City Event notes: Attendees should line up on Ventura Boulevard.
Torrance When: 10 a.m. to noon Where: El Prado Park, 2201 W. Carson St. Event notes: The march will begin at El Prado Park, which is directly across from Torrance High School, and end at Torrance City Hall. Participants are asked to keep sidewalks clear, stay on the grass and avoid blocking entrances and driveways. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own signs, flags, water, snacks, sunscreen as well as comfortable hats and shoes. Protest hosts, Indivisible South Bay LA, have provided the chants online so that participants can print them ahead of the event.
Venice Beach When: Noon to 3 p.m. Where: The corner of Abbot Kinney and Venice boulevards Event Notes: Attendees are encouraged to bring water, signs and comfortable shoes.
Westchester/Playa When: 4 to 5 p.m. Where: The corner of South Sepulveda and South La Tijera boulevards Event notes: The rally will take place mainly on flat ground.
Whittier When: 4 to 5:30 p.m. Where: Whittier City Hall, 13230 Penn St. Event notes: The Whittier Indivisible Chapter is hosting the rally and march which will begin at the Whittier City Hall. Attendees are encouraged to wear patriotic clothing and bring handcrafted signs and flags.
Whittier When: 8 to 9 a.m. Where: 605 Freeway overpass on Obregon Street Event notes: Attendees will rally on the 605 Freeway overpass.
Wilmington When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: The corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Avalon Boulevard Event notes: Attendees are encouraged to create their own signs and help clean up when the rally is over.
The Las Vegas Aces will shut down the Las Vegas Strip on Friday, October 17 for their third WNBA championship victory parade and rally in four years. The Aces defeated the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 in Game 4 of the finals at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Friday, October 10, completing a 4-0 sweep.
A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates with Chelsea Gray #12 and Jewell Loyd #24 after winning Game 4 of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Friday, October 10, 2025. (Image: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The festivities will begin at 5 p.m. at Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard. As with previous Aces parades, this one will travel north in the southbound lanes of Las Vegas Boulevard, turning left onto Park Avenue and Connector Road and ending at Toshiba Plaza outside T-Mobile Arena, the team’s home.
The first Las Vegas Aces’ WNBA championship victory parade and rally closes down the Las Vegas Strip on September 20, 2022. (Image: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Here, a two-hour rally will be filled with emotional speeches and live music. (In 2023, rapper 2 Chainz performed.)
To watch the rally, fans are advised by organizers to line up along the west side of Las Vegas Boulevard and Park Avenue.
Toshiba Plaza will open to the public at 3 p.m., with the celebration expected to last until around 7:30 p.m. An official Aces pop-up store will open at Toshiba Plaza at 4 p.m.
Closures
Great news for Las Vegas Aces fans eager to celebrate their favorite WNBA team means bad news for visitors attempting to navigate the Las Vegas Strip for any other reason.
Beginning at 3 p.m. on Friday, driving on the Strip will be impossible. Plan to do a lot more walking, through a lot denser crowds, than normal. Monorails will run but not RTC buses. Rideshare drop-offs are encouraged south of Tropicana Avenue.
Area Affected
Closure Details
Duration
Southbound Las Vegas Boulevard
Full closure from Tropicana Avenue to Park Avenue (near T-Mobile Arena)
Setup starts 4 p.m.; full closure 5–7:30 p.m.; reopens ~7:30–11 p.m. or later
Cross Streets (Flamingo, Harmon, Spring Mountain)
Rolling closures and detours at major intersections like Caesars Palace/Flamingo
Intermittent during parade; some setup from 6 a.m.
Tropicana Ave. to Aria Place
Partial/full southbound closure for staging
From ~4 p.m. until event ends
Park Avenue and Toshiba Plaza Area
Closure for rally and dispersal
Post-parade (~7:30 p.m. onward) until cleanup
For the latest, monitor official sources including the Aces’ website (lvaces.com) and police announcements on X (@LVMPD), as weather or logistics could adjust plans.
A stampede at a rally for a popular Indian actor and politician in the southern state of Tamil Nadu killed at least 36 people and injured 40 others, the state’s health minister said late Saturday.Related video above: US tariffs on Indian imports doubled in August, impacting businesses and consumersMa Subramanian told The Associated Press that the victims were dead by the time they were taken to a hospital and that the injured were stable. The dead included eight children, Subramanian said.The rally, which officials say was attended by tens of thousands of people, was being addressed by Vijay, one of Tamil Nadu’s most successful actors-turned-politicians in the district of Karur.Indian media reports, quoting local officials, said that as Vijay spoke to the surging crowd, a group of his supporters and fans fell while trying to get close to his bus, causing the stampede. Supporters had gathered at the political rally amid intensely hot temperatures and Vijay arrived hours late, officials said.”There was indiscipline” at the rally, Subramanian said, adding that an investigation had been ordered.Quoting officials, the Press Trust of India news agency reported that at least 30 people fainted while Vijay was addressing the rally from atop his campaign vehicle and were rushed in ambulances to area hospitals. He halted his speech mid-way when workers raised alarm after noticing that people were fainting and falling, it said, adding that as they were removed to hospitals, Vijay continued his speech.However, he ended his speech shortly after sensing an abnormal situation in a section of the huge gathering, the news agency said.Hours after the accident, Vijay offered his condolences.”My heart is shattered,” he posted on X. “I am writhing in unbearable, indescribable pain and sorrow that words cannot express.”Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the “unfortunate incident” was “deeply saddening.””My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones. Wishing strength to them in this difficult time. Praying for a swift recovery to all those injured,” he said on social media.In southern Indian states, particularly Tamil Nadu, some film stars have larger-than-life status, rooted in the ancient Tamil culture of hero worship and image worship. Many have become politicians, and some have even been given divine status.In 2024, Vijay retired from acting and launched his own political party. It was unclear whether he plans to run for office in Tamil Nadu state.Stampedes are relatively common in India when large crowds gather. In January, at least 30 people were killed as tens of thousands of Hindus rushed to bathe in a sacred river during the Maha Kumbh festival, the world’s largest religious gathering.
NEW DELHI (AP) —
A stampede at a rally for a popular Indian actor and politician in the southern state of Tamil Nadu killed at least 36 people and injured 40 others, the state’s health minister said late Saturday.
Related video above: US tariffs on Indian imports doubled in August, impacting businesses and consumers
Ma Subramanian told The Associated Press that the victims were dead by the time they were taken to a hospital and that the injured were stable. The dead included eight children, Subramanian said.
The rally, which officials say was attended by tens of thousands of people, was being addressed by Vijay, one of Tamil Nadu’s most successful actors-turned-politicians in the district of Karur.
Indian media reports, quoting local officials, said that as Vijay spoke to the surging crowd, a group of his supporters and fans fell while trying to get close to his bus, causing the stampede. Supporters had gathered at the political rally amid intensely hot temperatures and Vijay arrived hours late, officials said.
“There was indiscipline” at the rally, Subramanian said, adding that an investigation had been ordered.
Quoting officials, the Press Trust of India news agency reported that at least 30 people fainted while Vijay was addressing the rally from atop his campaign vehicle and were rushed in ambulances to area hospitals. He halted his speech mid-way when workers raised alarm after noticing that people were fainting and falling, it said, adding that as they were removed to hospitals, Vijay continued his speech.
However, he ended his speech shortly after sensing an abnormal situation in a section of the huge gathering, the news agency said.
Hours after the accident, Vijay offered his condolences.
“My heart is shattered,” he posted on X. “I am writhing in unbearable, indescribable pain and sorrow that words cannot express.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the “unfortunate incident” was “deeply saddening.”
“My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones. Wishing strength to them in this difficult time. Praying for a swift recovery to all those injured,” he said on social media.
In southern Indian states, particularly Tamil Nadu, some film stars have larger-than-life status, rooted in the ancient Tamil culture of hero worship and image worship. Many have become politicians, and some have even been given divine status.
In 2024, Vijay retired from acting and launched his own political party. It was unclear whether he plans to run for office in Tamil Nadu state.
Stampedes are relatively common in India when large crowds gather. In January, at least 30 people were killed as tens of thousands of Hindus rushed to bathe in a sacred river during the Maha Kumbh festival, the world’s largest religious gathering.
A coalition of over 200 New York City public charter schools marched across the Brooklyn Bridge last week in what school networks are calling a show of support for a “child’s right to learn” and opponents have labeled as forced advocacy.
Eva Moskowitz, founder and CEO of Success Academy — after hosting organizer webinars, sending SOS emails to supporters, family and faculty, and allegedly admonishing employees for failing to lobby elected officials to her — rallied on Sept. 18 with some 15,000 students, parents and staff, then “marched for excellence” from Brooklyn to Printing House Square, just outside New York’s City Hall.
The rally was described by organizers as an opportunity for advocates to “raise their voices in unity” and send a message demanding “excellence as a civil right,” as well as “equal treatment and access to excellent schools.”
Supporters said the rally was an opportunity to demand equal treatment of and access to charter schools. Photo by Jonathan Portee
“This rally is about equity, justice and opportunity,” said Samantha Robin, a parent at Dream Charter School. “Parents deserve the freedom to choose schools that honor their children’s genius, their culture, and their potential.”
With mere weeks before the New York City mayoral election, charter schools, facing the prospect of a new mayor opposed to their expansion in Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, are framing the “March for Excellence” rally as part of a yearslong larger fight for the equal treatment of charter school students.
The rally comes at a delicate moment for the charter sector. Charters, which are publicly funded and privately run, serve 15% of city students but have experienced slowed growth in enrollment since the pandemic, according to research from the New York City Charter School Center.
Mamdani, the only major mayoral candidate running in November, has been critical of charters. He centered his education platform on universal child care and has been vocal about his intention to review charter school funding as mayor.
Thousands of people attended the rally and march.Photo courtesy of March for ExcellenceSuccess Ccademy CEO Eva Moskowitz, who organized the rally and allegedly demanded that Success students and teachers attend. Photo by Jonathan Portee
Supporters in attendance included Rafiq Kalam Id-Din, Chair of the Black, Latinx, and Asian Charter Collaborative; Leslie-Bernard Joseph, CEO of KIPP NYC public schools; and many charter school families and faculty, who were instructed on organizing and staying on message throughout the event.
Rumors circulated online that faculty attendance at the rally was compulsory.
In the r/survivingsuccess group on Reddit, one user’s simple question concerning the veracity of the claim sent members of the small but sprawling community of current and former charter school teachers into a frenzy.
Reporting that details internal emails and other documents about the event suggest a coordinated effort to pressure employees into participating and coerce students into demonstrating what the charters are calling targeted advocacy.
Will Doyle, 21, grew up attending public schools in the Bay Ridge area. Now a first-year teacher with Success Academy in Sheepshead Bay, Doyle explained the reason for the rally.
A number of charter schools canceled classes for the day and brought students to the rally instead. Photo by Jonathan Portee
“We’re here advocating for charter schools, but I do know that with the mayoral elections coming up, some candidates oppose the expansion of charter schools,” Doyle said. “From what I’ve heard, mayoral candidate Mamdani seeks to oppose the expansion of charter schools. I don’t have a source for that, but I have done some personal research. I don’t know if he’s the only one.”
Doyle said he was happy to attend the rally because he works for a charter school and all employees are required to attend these events as part of their job.
An operations associate with Success, who asked not to remain anonymous, echoed that the event was planned due to a general concern about “certain candidates” in the upcoming election. The associate noted that Success Academy is trying to show a presence for the cause of charter schools.
“I think that [charters] definitely would advocate that they need more money and space. But I think the big thing is just accounting for future challenges,” he said.
Rallygoers marched across the Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan after the Cadman Plaza event. Photo by Jonathan Portee
While the repercussions for skipping the rally may not seem swift or severe, staff at the charters have said they worry about the condition of their working environments should they opt not to attend the rally.
“I think that there is pressure. I know that it might not reflect directly on your employment, but it’ll reflect on your experience in the school building if you weren’t going to be here,” the associate said.
CUNY law professor David Bloomfield told Gothamist that under laws governing nonprofits, charters can require staff to participate in demonstrations if they are advocating for the schools, rather than speaking in support or opposition to a political candidate.
Documents obtained by a reporter for Labor New York showed that Zeta Charter elementary and middle schoolers had classroom instruction canceled for the day and instead were scheduled to participate in a “school-on-a-bus” civics lesson, suggesting the event was part of the school’s curriculum for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Some lawmakers are calling for an investigation of the event, which they said was a “misuse” of public funds. Photo by Jonathan Portee
Pop-up tents for rally “marshals” to hand out water, snacks, and protest signs were scattered around Cadman Plaza Park. First-year parents and teachers showed little hesitation in sharing their excitement about the event, while members of the charter system with more than a year under their belt were often skittish about sharing their reasons for attending.
A day after the rally, two lawmakers — state Sens. John Liu and Shelley Mayer, who chair the senate’s education committee — called for an investigation of the event, which they said had been an “egregious misuse of instructional time and state funds.”
The pair said in a letter that the state provides public funding to charter schools “to educate students, not for political activism or for influencing elections.” If violations are uncovered, they said, the state should take back a portion of the funding it had provided to the participating charter schools.
NEW YORK — Donald Trump is finally getting his Madison Square Garden moment.
With just over a week to go before Election Day, the former president will take the stage Sunday at one of the country’s most well-known venues, hosting a hometown rally to deliver his campaign’s closing message against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.
Outside the arena, the sidewalks were overflowing with Trump supporters in red “Make America Great Again” hats. There was a heavy security presence. Streets were blocked off and access to Penn Station was restricted.
In the gathering crowd was Philip D’Agostino, a longtime Trump backer from Queens, the borough where Trump grew up. The 64-year-old said it was appropriate for Trump to be speaking at a place bills itself as “the world’s most famous arena.”
“It just goes to show ya that he has a bigger following of any man that has ever lived,” D’Agostino said.
The rally is one of a series of detours Trump has made from battleground states, including a recent rally in Coachella, California – best known for the famous music festival named after the town – and one in May on the Jersey Shore. This summer he campaigned in the South Bronx.
While some Democrats and TV pundits have questioned Trump’s decision to hold what they dismiss as vanity events, the rally guarantees Trump what he most craves: the spotlight, wall-to-wall coverage and a national audience.
To reach them, Trump has spent hours appearing on popular podcasts. And his campaign has worked to create viral moments like his visit last weekend to a McDonald’s restaurant, where he made fries and served supporters through the drive-thru window. Video of the stop posted by his campaign has been viewed more than 40 million times on TikTok alone.
“He’s not just going to be speaking to the attendees inside Madison Square Garden. There will be people tuning in from battleground states all across the country,” said former U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, a New York Republican and ally of the former president, who said Trump has been talking about holding an event at the venue since the start of his campaign.
Harris has also traveled to non-battleground states for major events intended to drive a national message. She appeared in Houston Friday with music superstar Beyoncé to speak about reproductive rights, and will deliver her own closing argument Tuesday from the Ellipse in Washington, where Trump spoke ahead of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
Trump will be joined at the rally by supporters including Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who has spent tens of millions of dollars to boost his campaign.
Trump often compares himself to the country’s greatest entertainers. The former reality TV star has long talked about wanting to hold a rally at the venue in interviews and private conversations.
“Madison Square Garden is the center of the universe,” said Trump campaign senior adviser Jason Miller, noting the venue’s storied history hosting events including the 1971 “Fight of the Century.”
House control could run through New York’s suburbs Beyond the national spotlight and the appeal of appearing on one of the world’s most famous stages, Republicans in the state say the rally will also help down-ballot candidates.
New York is home to a handful of competitive congressional races that could determine which party controls the House next year.
Zeldin ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2022, but did better than expected, driving turnout in competitive districts that helped House Republicans win a tiny majority. That underscored, he said, the importance of the top of the ticket doing as well as possible. He said the Garden event is sure to be featured on newscasts in areas with high-stakes races like suburban Long Island, where Trump held a packed, raucous rally last month.
Trump will also use the stop as a major fundraising opportunity as he continues to seriously lag Harris in the money race.
A native returns to the city that made him and convicted him New York has not voted for a Republican for president in 40 years. But that hasn’t stopped Trump from continuing to insist he believes he can win.
“We think there’s a chance,” he said on “The Brian Kilmeade Show” earlier this week, pointing to frustrations over an influx of migrants to the city and concerns over crime.
Trump routinely uses his hometown as a foil before audiences in other states, painting a dark vision of the city that bears little resemblance to reality. He’s cast it as crime-ridden and overrun by violent, immigrant gangs who have taken over Fifth and Madison avenues and occupied Times Square.
Trump has a complicated history with the place where he built his business empire and that made him a tabloid and reality TV star. Its residents indicted him last year on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He was found guilty in that case, and also found liable in civil court for business fraud and sexual abuse.
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OurBus helps students travel to the Northern Virginia/Washington D.C. area without personal cars or expensive airline tickets.
NEW YORK, October 23, 2024 (Newswire.com)
– Rally OurBus, the revolutionary Mass Mobility as a Service company, is offering two brand new stop locations on the route between Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, the James Madison University campus in Harrisonburg, and the Washington, D.C. area. The new locations will make travel for students at these universities more convenient than ever.
The express service allows students without access to cars to travel home easily, at a fraction of the cost of airline tickets and approximately as quickly, considering the time needed to travel to and pass through airports. The OurBus route from Blacksburg to Washington is faster than train travel or other, less direct bus routes.
In addition to stopping at Tysons, the bus will make a second stop in Gainesville, VA, at the University Blvd Park & Ride. “Gainesville has been one of our top destinations from Virginia Tech, and we’re seeing positive reaction from students to this new service,” said Rally OurBus co-founder Axel Hellman.
In Blacksburg, the bus stop location has been relocated to the Multimodal Transit Center on Virginia Tech’s campus. This facility, opened by Blacksburg Transit this year, will allow travelers to connect seamlessly between OurBus and the local transit network, making last-mile connections easier than ever. The previous bus stop location at Lane Stadium did not offer any local transit connections.
Rally OurBus said the route is already proving popular with the two universities, which have a combined enrollment of more than 50,000 students. “Trips for Labor Day weekend sold out, and we’re already seeing demand for future weekends,” said Hellman.
Rally OurBus uses top-quality motor coaches with restrooms, comfortable seating and modern amenities like complimentary Wi-Fi. Riders can purchase tickets online, receive mobile boarding passes, and they and their families can track the arrival time of the bus in real time. While this particular route is most popular with university students, anyone is welcome to ride.
The Rally bus rideshare concept creates a unique strategy that disrupts legacy business models. The company does not own buses but instead networks together thousands of small private bus operators via its technology platform, creating a marketplace that outperforms the competition while also creating business for bus operators.
For more information about the new service, visit the Rally Ourbus website here.
About Rally OurBus Rally is a bus rideshare company with a platform that creates on-demand bus trips across many U.S. cities, Canada, and other countries. Riders generate a trip or choose from one of the many crowdsourced trips. Whether for a concert, a sporting event or a festival, Rally unites passionate people, making the journey part of the event-day experience.
OurBus uses AI to create regularly scheduled intercity services. They have 150 stops in the Northeast United States, with stops in Canada, and plan to expand internationally. The company competes with legacy incumbent bus companies on these routes by applying technology and business innovations to regional transportation.
Rally OurBus is disrupting the bus industry, bringing new business to local bus companies, and promoting a greener, safer form of travel. Its Mass Mobility as a Service combines technology and business model innovations in the bus industry. Rally OurBus is disrupting the mode of transportation that moves more people than any other. Its new intercity routes for regional transport and crowdfunding address surge demand travel by converting private car users to shared bus riders.
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