No Kings protest organizers expect millions to gather across the nation on Saturday, Oct. 18 in an event Republican politicians decry as a “a hate America rally.”
The latest round of protests comes amid growing frustration about the ongoing government shutdown and widespread opposition to President Trump’s military crackdown on Democratic-led cities across America.
More than 2,500 events are planned across all 50 states as of Monday, organizers said.
“Together, millions will send a clear and unmistakable message: we are a nation of equals, and our country will not be ruled by fear or force,” their statement said.
Participating groups include the American Civil Liberties Union, American Federation of Teachers, 50501, Human Rights Campaign, Indivisible and MoveOn.
The other side: The recurring movement against the Trump administration has garnered sharp criticism from Republican legislators who say Democrats are protesting as a ploy during the government shutdown.
“The Trump Administration is focused on stopping the scourge of left-wing violence plaguing American communities,” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement. “Left-wing protesters can beclown themselves by lawfully protesting the alternate reality they live in, but violence or breaking the law will not be tolerated.”
Republican leadership, including House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), called the protest “a hate America rally.”
Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) said the National Guard will need to respond to protesters. “Hopefully it will be peaceful — I doubt it,” he said. The White House did not answer whether Trump plans to deploy National Guard troops to any protest sites Saturday.
Friction point: Johnson, in a Fox News appearance, said the protests were being put on by “the pro-Hamas wing and the Antifa people.”
“It’s being told to us that they won’t be able to reopen the government until after that rally because they can’t face their rabid base,” he said after criticizing House Democrats.
Johnson canceled a third week of House votes amid the ongoing shutdown.
“The fact that they’re trying to smear millions and millions of Americans who are fed up with the dictatorial actions of the Trump administration as the reason why they themselves are unable to govern is just another demonstration of their own panic, their own desperation, and the fact that they know that they are on the losing end of this fight,” Leah Greenberg, co-founder of organizing group Indivisible, said.
