Millions Expected at Rallies
Activists and advocacy groups are set to stage a second wave of “No Kings” protests across the U.S. on Saturday including Houston, Texas, criticizing what they describe as President Donald Trump’s abuse of power, including his immigration crackdown and deployment of troops in American cities. Organizers say more than 2,600 events are planned nationwide, with millions expected to participate in cities such as New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Los Angeles.
The protests are organized by a coalition including the ACLU and Indivisible. “They have been organized by regular people, by volunteers,” said Deirdre Schifeling of the ACLU.
High-Profile Support and Heavy Monitoring
Political groups have invested heavily in promoting the rallies, and celebrities like Jane Fonda, Kerry Washington, John Legend, and John Leguizamo are expected to attend. Law enforcement agencies are closely monitoring online activity and coordinating with organizers to prepare for potential counter-protests.
Republican Pushback
Republican leaders have branded the protests as “Hate America” rallies and linked them to the ongoing government shutdown. “Let’s see who shows up for that. I bet you see pro-Hamas supporters. I bet you see Antifa types,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said, offering no evidence. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced a surge of law enforcement and National Guard troops in Austin to prevent “chaos,” prompting criticism from Democrats who accused him of suppressing peaceful demonstrations.
Organizers Respond
Protest leaders have dismissed Republican accusations, arguing the shutdown is the responsibility of those in power. “There is nothing more American than saying we don’t have kings and exercising our right to peaceful protest,” said Leah Greenberg of Indivisible. Organizers expect GOP criticism to boost turnout rather than deter it.
“This is the largest peaceful protest in modern American history coming together to push back against authoritarian overreach,” said Ezra Levin, also of Indivisible.
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