Latest news with #TrumpProtest
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Protesters swarm Wilkes-Barre Public Square for 'No Kings' demonstration
Jun. 14—WILKES-BARRE — On President Donald Trump's 79th birthday, the people of the Wyoming Valley gathered on Public Square to voice their displeasure with his policies and demeanor. The demonstration was one of countless "No Kings" protests which took place across the country on Saturday ahead of the Army's 250th anniversary military parade in Washington D.C. The demonstrators in Wilkes-Barre pulled no punches when discussing Trump and his second administration. Many held signs and other anti-Trump props, as well as American flags. Jessica Darraugh laid out a number of the policies she and hundreds of others around the square were protesting. She cited the Trump administration's aggressive immigration policies, threats to due process, and spending cuts to the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as some of the reasons for protest. In addition, she referred to the multiple allegations of sexual misconduct by Trump, who has been found liable for sexual abuse, as setting a poor example for the nation. "Another main reason for me is just kindness," Darraugh, a mother and educator, said of her presence at the demonstration on Saturday. "We have somebody leading our country who is a bully and calls people names, and that's not the kind of person I want my children or my students to look up to and follow." David Daley compared Trump and his administration to the reign of Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany, and lobbed a number of personal attacks at Trump. "Donald Trump is a moron, an idiot, a fool, a failure," Daley said. He called Trump an anti-union person with multiple bankruptcies to his name, and further claimed, on a more personal note, that Trump owes him $4,000 in wages from a project he worked on in Atlantic City. "He doesn't believe in civil rights, so I don't support him whatsoever," Daley stated. "I rue the day he was born and will honor the day he dies." The "No Kings" theme of the protest was a frequent motif referenced by the demonstrators. Janet Desormo was clear in her reasoning for going to Public Square on Saturday. She had history on her mind as she explained what she saw as governmental overreaches by the Trump administration. "I want everyone to know that we don't have kings here in America. We fought 200-plus years ago, and it's not right," Desormo explained, referring to the American Revolutionary War, which was fought against the monarchical British Empire in the 1770s and 1780s. "[Trump] is vile. There's no emperor here." Desormo brought up a number of specific policy positions she finds to be unacceptable, such as the cuts to Medicaid that would almost certainly come from the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which passed the House of Representatives on May 22. "Everybody wants to be equal," said Desormo. "They don't want to have their retirement taken away. They don't want their Medicaid taken away. They don't want anything taken away. They want to be able to live in peace, not chaos and martial law." 'We're not going to put up with the lies' A small contingent of Trump's supporters, led by NEPA Republicans' TJ Fitzgerald, gathered on the corner of Public Square near South Main Street. The message from Fitzgerald and the counter-protesters was clear. "We're not going to put up with the lies," said Fitzgerald. Specifically, he bluntly dismissed the protesters' assertion that Trump is a "king." "Is there a king? Is there a crown? Is there a throne?" Fitzgerald asked. "Is there Congress? Is there a judicial system? Kings don't have that, so obviously it's a lie. Another lie." Fitzgerald said that he was pushed by those in the "No Kings" group, though Wilkes-Barre police officers on the scene could not confirm any physical altercations between the opposing sides. The police closed traffic to Public Square during the height of the protest and patrolled the area closely to prohibit confrontations between the two groups. Nevertheless, the two sides traded verbal barbs through megaphones from across the street. Sticking to the point Mel Nelson and Barbara Bullions were on the "No Kings" side of things, with the latter suggesting that the Trump supporters opposing them should be disregarded. "I think they should just be ignored," Bullions said. "Why respond to them? They're just a dozen guys." Both Nelson and Bullions referred to recent displays of violence directed towards Democratic politicians. Nelson expressed her distaste for the forcible removal of U.S. Senator Alex Padilla from a press conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday, while Bullions pointed out that two state politicians had been shot in Minnesota on Saturday. The main focus of the demonstration, however, remained on Trump. "We decided to come out with our signs, because it is so important to get the people's demeanor in place," Nelson said. "Because it is just very frustrating, the information coming out of Trump's cabinet and the untruths. They're not telling the truth."
Fox News
7 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Thousands converge on Alexandria ‘No Kings' protest against Trump and Army parade; nearby DC is quiet
Thousands converged on downtown Alexandria, Virginia, to protest President Donald Trump and the parade celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, while security kept things under wraps across the river in the District of Columbia ahead of the parade. The loosely constructed "No Kings" movement, notably supported by Walmart heiress Chrissy Walton, planned to hold dozens of protests across the country. And, so far, the protest just out of sight of the White House appeared to be generating a lot of interest. Reports of crowds from 1,000 to 5,000 people, assembled in Market Square in Alexandria, Virginia, to protest the idea that Trump would hold a military parade on what is also his 79th birthday, according to X accounts. Independent Women's Forum official Julie Gunlock shared an accounting of events Saturday, posting a collage on X that featured people waving signs that said "I like my ICE crushed," "King of Farts" and "Happy Obama Appreciation Day." Another X snippet showed a growing crowd in Market Square as the closing bars of the "Star-Spangled Banner" played from a boombox. One protester noted that Alexandria, Virginia, is where Vice President JD Vance's recent private residence was. With US Highway 1 divided into the major north-south streets "Patrick" and "Henry" through downtown and its history as the closest city to George Washington's Mount Vernon estate, references made online described how Alexandria was a fitting place to oppose a supposed king. Accounts described the crowd as largely "elderly" while others contended there were attendees of all ages. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin warned potential troublemakers statewide Friday he had "integrated" the Virginia National Guard with the Virginia State Police to protect life, property and egress on the Commonwealth's roadways. "We cannot allow people to put people's lives in jeopardy by disrupting traffic or anything along those lines," Youngkin told reporters. "And so, if you break the law, you're going to get arrested," he said. "I will protect everybody's constitutional right, but if you break the law, you're going to get arrested." Protests also cropped up Saturday afternoon in Hampton Roads, Virginia, as Trump's parade took shape just across the Potomac River from another counterprotest scheduled in the wealthy liberal enclave of Falls Church, Virginia. The co-organizer of the Norfolk, Virginia, "No Kings" protest said of Trump, "This is not his kingdom. We are not his subjects," in comments to The Virginian-Pilot. "This isn't about politics. This is about honor," another demonstrator told the paper. 'CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In Washington, thousands also converged ahead of the parade, wearing patriotic or pro-Trump gear and MAGA hats. Paradegoers who spoke to Fox News Digital overwhelmingly reported that they did not expect violence in Washington Saturday, citing the tight security. "There's security everywhere," one paradegoer said. "I would say, you know, it's a big event with everything that's been going on. "I haven't seen many protesters, but I've seen a couple of signs." Another attendee in Washington said the event felt "family-oriented" and safe. Security Saturday included the Secret Service, police officers and military members stationed along entry checkpoints and walking among the throngs of paradegoers. Trump's parade kicked off early, just before 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, with law enforcement vetting people attending with metal detectors and pat-downs. Streets surrounding historic spots near the parade route, like the White House and Washington Monument, were shut down and barricaded to bolster safety. Fox News Digital spotted a handful of protesters carrying signs denouncing Trump as a dictator and Black Lives Matter signs and other messages calling for equality, but crowds surrounding the entry points for the parade were primarily comprised of Trump supporters, veterans, families and others who came out for the patriotic parade. Officials from Walmart reportedly said advertisements from Walton are "in no way connected to or endorsed by Walmart."
CBS News
7 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
"No Kings" protesters rally in Miami against Trump administration's policies: "I want democracy to stay"
People gathered in droves in Downtown Miami for a "No Kings" protest on Saturday, coinciding with thousands of others nationwide as President Trump hosts a large military parade to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States Army. The parade coincides with Flag Day and the president's 79th birthday. Despite the sweltering heat, hundreds — likely thousands — of people came out to express their disapproval of the Trump administration. And while protesters were loud and passionate, it did remain peaceful. "No Kings" roars through Downtown Miami The call for "no kings" could be heard throughout the streets of Downtown Miami. "We've been king-free since 1776, and it's important for the world to realize that there are people who will stand up against this tyranny of Trump," said protester Javier Maudet. Hundreds flocked to Bayside, condemning the Trump administration. "I'm just angry," said T.L. Brown, another protester. "I'm pissed off — it's crazy." Protester Deborah Paris told CBS News Miami that President Trump and his administration "have not done one positive thing." "Just negative things," she said. "Destroyed people's lives. It's not been a good time." While protesters expressed disdain about Mr. Trump's policies, the biggest topic of conversation at Miami's "No Kings" rally was immigration. "The cruelty against immigrants, and I understand maybe they are illegally in this country, but they're working — they're hardworking individuals and they don't deserve to be treated like criminals and separated from their families," Maudet said. "It's just horrible." Others likened Mr. Trump to a dictator. "I'm watching America turn into a fascist state," said protester Jodi Ziskin. "This is ridiculous and the fact that it's being accepted — we have to show unity, we have to get people together that actually care about democracy, that care about people, that care about each other." Trump supporters came out in a counter-protest However, there was a group of Trump supporters there as well. "Oh, he's doing great. Freedom," said Trump supporter Maurice Symonette. "He's giving us the right to live." Earlier, CBS News Miami captured video of former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio at the protest, a vocal supporter of the president and was also pardoned by Mr. Trump earlier this year for his role in the January 6 insurrection. Many protesters say the U.S. needs a change When CBS News Miami asked protesters about how they feel about being an American right now, the vast majority of those who gathered downtown on Saturday said our country needs a change. "I wish I could be prouder but I'm not," Paris said. "But, I am proud when I see these many people coming out to at least say how it should be." "I want the America that I was born in and love to be here, to stay," Brown added. "I want democracy to stay." Protests pop up across Miami-Dade Meanwhile, in Miami Beach, dozens of people showed up at Pride Park, where CBS News Miami's partners at the Miami Herald said chants of "immigrants are America" could be heard. The Herald also reported a circle forming, where people used a megaphone to share their reasons as to why they came out.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
No Kings protest: Philly police, organizers plan security ahead of rally
The Brief The No Kings protest starts at noon at Love Park before heading to the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps. Participants are protesting Trump administration policies. Philadelphia police say they will be safeguarding public safety as with all demonstrations. CENTER CITY - Saturday tens of thousands are expected to turn out in Philadelphia, which is holding the so-called flagship No Kings demonstration against Donald Trump administration policies. What we know The No Kings protest will organize at Love Park at noon. They will have banners, speakers and supporters lining up to begin marching around 12:15 and will head to the Philly art museum for the main event. They are protesting policies by the Trump administration. What they're saying "It should be very peaceful. Non-violent," said Vicki Miller. The city is preparing for a big day Saturday when massive crowds are expected in the city for the No Kings protest. "We've given people a lot of peacekeeper training and information so that if there's some kind of nonsense they know what to do and we expect that that's going to be just fine," said Miller who is with the group Indivisible Philadelphia. It is the main organizer for the protest which is being held to take a stance against policies by the Trump administration. "So many people are showing up to say we don't have kings and he's not going to be a king and we are against what he is doing in Washington," said Miller. She says they will have 100 or so volunteer marshals who will be in charge of their safety. "They have had many, many professional training in peacekeeping and everything a marshal does. They will be wearing yellow vests. Bright yellow vests," she said. She expects up to 60,000 people to join them to march to the art museum for the main event. Big picture view Here's part of what Philadelphia Police said in a statement this week ahead of the events taking place: "As with all demonstrations, our priority is to facilitate peaceful protest, prevent violence or disorder, and protect the rights of all residents, businesses, and participants. we train our officers accordingly and deploy resources proportionate to the potential needs of the event." "If people show up and they are deliberately disruptive, we'll probably have to do something about that. Maybe the marshals will calm them down. We will have to see what we do. If people break the law I think they will probably have to answer to the police," said Miller. The protest is expected to end by 3:30. By the numbers Up to 60,000 people are expected to attend the No Kings protest in Philly. 2,000 similar protests will happen around the country. The Source Information for this article was provided by the Philadelphia Police Department and Indivisible Philadelphia.
The Independent
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Watch: Trump reacts to news that actors are boycotting his attendance at Kennedy Center
Donald Trump says he is unbothered by actors boycotting his attendance of Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center Wednesday night (11 June). Several 'Les Mis' cast members are expected to sit out the performance fundraiser after news broke that the president would be in the audience. As Trump walked the red carpet with Melania ahead of the show, a reporter asked him how he felt about the actors' protest. 'I couldn't care less, honestly, I couldn't,' Trump said. 'All I do is run the country well.' The president proceeded to list off some of his perceived accomplishments from his second term.
