Thousands expected at anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ rally in downtown Minneapolis
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Rallies are expected around the country and throughout Minnesota Saturday, with demonstrators voicing opposition to Trump administration policies.
Locally, the largest “No Kings” protest is expected in downtown Minneapolis. Other “No Kings” protests are set to be held in Rochester, Duluth, White Bear Lake and St. Louis Park, among many Minnesota locations.
The Minneapolis rally and march will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. at The Commons, near U.S. Bank Stadium. That’s a change from the last “No Kings” protest June 14, which took place at the State Capitol in St. Paul.
Saturday’s event will be the third “No Kings” protest since President Donald Trump took office.
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The nationwide mass mobilization is a response to the government shutdown and various Trump administration decisions, Indivisible Twin Cities spokesperson Jennifer O’Brien said.
“The cuts to health care access, the cuts to our environmental protections, it's going to affect our beloved Boundary Waters and the watershed district — things that really matter to Minnesotans,” she said.
The protests are also against the Trump administration sending Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to cities and its efforts to deploy National Guard soldiers to some states.
“The list goes on and on, and we are there to push back, push back against that and say that we are there to protect our communities and our civil rights and our democracy.”
Besides Indivisible Twin Cities, the main planning organizers are the Minnesota 50501, Women’s March Minnesota and Minnesota AFL-CIO. More than 50 different organizations — with focuses ranging from labor and environment to immigrant rights and democracy — will also support the event.
Security
O’Brien said that security is a high priority at the events.
The June “No Kings” protest was held hours after the assassination of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark. State officials urged people to stay home, and at least one smaller “No Kings” event was canceled. The suspected shooter wasn’t arrested until the next day.
Indivisible Twin Cities went on with the protests. The Minnesota State Patrol estimated 25,000 to 30,000 people attended the rally at the State Capitol.
O’Brien said speakers and performers were determined to attend.
“They were just so shocked and saddened by what happened that that motivated so many people to come to the Capitol to stand together in solidarity against that violence with us,” she said. “And it was really heartening, and it was a beautiful tribute to the Hortmans to be there together to honor them.”
In the days leading up to Saturday’s event, Republicans have spoken out against the protests. Minnesota Congressman Tom Emmer, for example, called them a “hate America rally.”
O’Brien said it’s expected.
“It seems like every time we host one of these large events, there's the rhetoric is always inflamed beforehand,” she said. “We have a really strong security team that has a lot of martial experience, and we can't go into details on that, but everybody is staying in tune and aware of what's happening within the community.”
Locations
The main Twin Cities protest is planned at The Commons near U.S. Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis.
Other protests include Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis and Highland Park in St. Paul, as well as suburbs like Golden Valley, Robbinsdale, St. Louis Park, Eagan and many others.
In greater Minnesota, protesters are planning to gather in St. Cloud, Grand Marais, Duluth, Brainerd, St. Peter and Rochester.
A map on the “No Kings” website shows all of the planned locations. Dates and times vary.
