What’s at stake?
Thousands of Fresnans took to the sidewalks along Shields and Blackstone Avenues to take part in Saturday’s “No Kings” protest.
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MANCHESTER CENTER – More than 1,500 peaceful protesters packed the streets early Saturday as Fresno joined the millions expected to march in “No Kings” protests across the nation, decrying the policy agenda of President Donald Trump — who, along with many of his supporters, characterized the protests as the “Hate America” rallies.
The thick clusters of protesters knotted along busy Blackstone intersections included Kate MacBean and Alexander Edin, who said they joined the rally in response to what they see as a rise in fascism under Trump — but also had specific fears and concerns.
“My parents are retired and I’m just expecting their premiums to just go way up,” MacBean said in a brief interview with Fresnoland.
Edin cited the administration’s anti-immigrant crackdown, which was also a major point of contention for Fresno protesters in June during the first “No Kings” rally. While anti-immigration enforcement in Fresno has largely avoided the national spotlight, ICE arrests are up nearly 60% in the area over last year, The Fresno Bee reported this week, and more than 500 have already been deported.
Masked, unmarked and anonymous-looking federal agents — a growing source of criticism of the Trump administration — have also been taking people off the streets of Fresno for months.
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“I don’t think there’s a singular thing that’s driving people out here,” said Mike Dalena, a spokesperson for Central Valley Indivisible’s “No Kings” rally around Manchester Center on Saturday morning. “I think it’s a cacophony of disaster that’s occurring around us.”
Hundreds packed the overflowing sidewalks around East Fedora and North Blackstone, a chorus of anti-Trump chants greeted with an endless stream of honking car horns. Many drivers signaled support for the peaceful rally, while others clearly honked in counter-protest, backing the president, who won Fresno County last year, collecting nearly 51% of the local vote. Trump was the first GOP candidate to carry the county since George W. Bush in 2004.
Similar rallies also took place early Saturday in Clovis, The Bee reported, with protesters in the predominantly conservative community also refuting the administration’s vague and largely unsupported claims of anti-American sentiment amongst the crowds.
The large, colorful protest around Manchester Center included a replica of the Statue of Liberty. Designed by Central Valley Indivisible and the “Puppet and Mask” society, the group described their tribute to Ms. Liberty as a 10-foot tall, “gazillion” pound tribute of chicken-wire-and-paper-mache, PVC pipe, plywood and “love.”
The puppet society was described in a news release as “a loose knit group of folks who just want to have fun on the way to saving democracy.”
Kathy Fuller, a member of Central Valley Indivisible and the “Puppet and Mask” society, said Lady Liberty was chosen to reflect that, under Trump’s anti-immigration policies, the United States is no longer a country that welcomes immigrants.
“America’s no longer the land of liberty under Trump,” said Fuller in an interview. “It’s becoming a more repressive, fascist society.”
How others are covering the ‘No Kings’ protests in Fresno
(Outside news sites may be subject paywalls or other restrictions)
‘We are hardworking people.’ The Fresno Bee
More than 2,000 rallies expected nationally FOX26
Millions expected to rally around the nation GV Wire
‘No Kings” tied to ‘radical groups’? KMJ
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