DAYTON — Thousands gathered at Monument Park Saturday for a peaceful protest of the Trump administration.
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>>PHOTOS: Thousands gather near downtown Dayton for ‘No Kings’ demonstration
As reported on News Center 7 at 11, the group made their way from Monument Park to the Oregon District and back.
Police confirm that one person was arrested during the protest. They are being held in jail on preliminary charges.
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“I believe it’s close to 3000 people here, from what I’ve seen,” Susan Carter, who attended the protest, said.
Theresa Gasper, who helped organize the “No Kings” protest, says this is about expressing resentment with the nationwide ICE raids and the lack of due process granted to detainees.
“This is our way of letting him know, no kings, no one is above the law,” Gasper said. “People are tired of it. We’re not going to put up with it anymore.”
Gasper says safety was a top priority for organizers.
“If somebody does something, everybody sit down, be quiet, pull your sign down and just point to the character and let the police find them,” Gasper said.
Protests happened all over the country Saturday, standing in solidarity with the people of Los Angeles. The protests in LA have been heated, and Trump sent the National Guard and Marines in for security measures.
Ed Davis says he has attended multiple protests now. He said people should be able to speak their minds freely.
“It has to be peaceful and in opposition to all the hate and chasing immigrants down, the violence used to house them, unfairly round them up. This is a definite contrast to all that,” Davis said.
Carter agrees with Davis, and said here in the Miami Valley, everyone is welcome, whether you agree with them or not.
“I saw a guy with a MAGA hat here and I went up to him and thanked him for being here. This is what democracy looks like,” Carter said.
Organizers say they are looking at national protests before moving forward with more plans.
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Why is it called ‘No Kings’?
The “No Kings” theme was orchestrated by the 50501 Movement to support democracy and against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration. The name 50501 stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement.
Protests earlier this year have denounced Trump and billionaire adviser Elon Musk. Protesters have called for Trump to be “dethroned” as they compare his actions to those of a king and not a democratically elected president.
Why are they protesting on Saturday?
The No Kings Day of Defiance has been organized to reject authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics, and the militarization of the country’s democracy, according to a statement by organizers.
Organizers intend for the protests to counter the Army’s 250th anniversary celebration, which Trump has ratcheted up to include a military parade, which is estimated to cost $25 million to $45 million, and which the Army expects to attract as many as 200,000 people.
The event will feature hundreds of military vehicles and aircraft and thousands of soldiers. It also happens to be Trump’s 79th birthday and Flag Day.
“The flag doesn’t belong to President Trump. It belongs to us,” the “No Kings” website says. “On June 14th, we’re showing up everywhere he isn’t — to say no thrones, no crowns, no kings.”
What is planned at the ‘No Kings’ protests?
Protests in nearly 2,000 locations are scheduled around the country, from city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, organizers said.
Demonstrations are expected to include speeches and marches, organizers said in a call Wednesday. The group says a core principle behind all “No Kings” events is a commitment to nonviolent action, and participants are expected to seek to de-escalate any confrontation.
No weapons of any kind should be taken to “No Kings” events, according to the website.
How many people are expected to participate?
The No Kings Day of Defiance is expected to be the largest single-day mobilization since Trump returned to office, organizers said. Organizers said they are preparing for millions of people to take to the streets across all 50 states and commonwealths.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.
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