The organizer behind Cleveland’s anti-Trump “No Kings” demonstration planned for downtown Saturday is urging participants to remain peaceful.
“I’m more convinced than ever that peaceful protest is needed to stand together against the Trump administration and its policies,” Cindy Demsey said in an interview. “Peaceful is the key word.”
Demsey, a longtime Democratic Party activist, and organizer Sue Dean Dyke, have a permit for the “No Kings” event that begins at 2 p.m. at Willard Park’s Free Stamp sculpture, which is next to City Hall. The event will feature speakers and a march to North Coast Harbor. Demsey said there will be trained peacekeepers present to ensure it remains nonviolent.
Demsey said she expects a large crowd, noting the anti-Trump “Hands Off” day of protest in April drew several thousands to Market Square in Ohio City. “No Kings” rallies are also being promoted for Akron, Chagrin Falls, Wooster and other cities and towns in Northeast Ohio.
Cleveland City Hall told Signal Cleveland that no other permits have been requested for downtown protests on Saturday, although a several separate groups are promoting an anti-Trump gathering at Public Square at noon that day.
The rallies come days after demonstrations against the Trump administration’s immigration policies have included violent clashes with police in Los Angeles and other cities. Trump has deployed members of the Army National Guard and Marines to L.A.
City officials issued a news release Thursday afternoon reminding demonstrators to protest peacefully.
“This message is intended to encourage local participants to demonstrate without disrupting public order,” the statement said. “Our role is to ensure that all participants are able to do so safely and lawfully.”
What does “No Kings” mean?
“No Kings” is a theme promoted by a group called the 50501 Movement, whose members believe Trump and his administration are pushing authoritarian policies and disregarding the U.S. Constitution. (The group’s name is a reference to 50 protests in 50 states as part of one movement.) The group and others are promoting rallies in hundreds of cities across the United States on Saturday as a show of national resistance to Trump’s planned military parade that day in Washington, D.C., which the Pentagon said is costing tens of millions of dollars. June 14 is Flag Day and the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army. It is also Trump’s 79th birthday.
Rallies compete with Juneteenth celebration
The rallies will be sharing downtown with the Cleveland Juneteenth Freedom Fest, an annual celebration commemorating the end of slavery. It takes place on Mall C, located to the west of City Hall and includes food and music. Demsey said she would not have scheduled a rally on the same day if Trump were not holding a military parade and celebrating his birthday on Saturday.
