Millions of Americans took to the streets Saturday for the third national day of “No Kings” demonstrations since June, organizing in opposition to the Trump administration’s law enforcement tactics, handling of the cost of living and overall policies. As part of the demonstrations, thousands of Charlottesville residents and University students descended on Seminole Trail at 1 p.m. for the first of two planned protests in the city.
Charlottesville’s protests were among 26 demonstrations that took place in the Commonwealth Saturday and more than 3,300 that took place worldwide, with demonstrations occurring in all 50 states and drawing at least eight million participants total. The other protest in the Charlottesville area occurred at Forest Lakes, a planned community in Hollymead, from 2-4 p.m.
According to the “No Kings” website, Saturday’s national mobilization efforts came in response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s warrantless arrests and use of masks, Trump’s recent spending cuts to Medicaid and other programs, his “driving up the cost of living” while cutting taxes for the top one percent of income earners and his urging of state legislatures to engage in mid-decade redistricting to pass Republican-favored congressional maps. According to CNN, demonstrators Saturday were also protesting the conflict with Iran. Other nationwide “No Kings” demonstrations previously took place June 14 and Oct. 18.
The protest near Seminole Trail was organized by Indivisible Charlottesville — a local chapter of Indivisible — which seeks to “stop the rise of authoritarianism” in the U.S. According to Cville Right Now, organizers estimated at least 10,000 attendees were present — up from 7,000 in June. Protestors carried signs that read “No Kings, No War,” “Abolish ICE” and “10-1” — in reference to the proposed 10-1 Democrat-favored congressional maps which Virginians can vote for April 21. Some attendees waved American flags, and flanking either side of Seminole Trail for roughly 900 yards from Greenbier Drive to an intersection at Hydraulic Road, they waved to passersby in their vehicles, took part in anti-Trump chants and listened to music.
Various organizations also set up booths encouraging voters to support candidates and initiatives. Congressional campaigns encouraged attendees to sign petitions, which are required for non-party nominees to obtain ballot access. Supporters of congressional candidate Tom Perriello, one Democrat running in the current Fifth Congressional District, were collecting signatures.
University students were among the protesters, including first-year College students Jessie Cai and Jane Jalali. Cai said she previously attended the “No Kings” protest in Charlottesville in June and said she believes participating in protests is a way of being involved in the community.
“It was very inspiring to see the amount of people organizing and standing up against everything that’s going on in the country,” Cai said. “For me, this is one way to be civically engaged and resist [the Trump administration] in any way I can.”
Jalali shared Cai’s sentiments, agreeing that she found Saturday’s protest motivating because it compelled her to action.
“I think [the protest is] inspiring. I feel like right now … [is] kind of a very hard time to be growing up,” Jalali said. “It feels good to do something.”
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