Protesters will gather across the country in a renewed wave of “No Kings Day” demonstrations, including in Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties.
Building on the momentum of the first rallies in June, the upcoming No Kings Day on Saturday, Oct. 18 strives to bring millions of people together “for a peaceful demonstration to stand together in the belief that America belongs to its people, not to kings,” organizers said in an Oct. 11 news release.
The day of action “is the next chapter” in the movement to mobilize against what organizers call President Donald Trump’s “authoritarian power grabs.”
Here’s when and where No Kings events are scheduled in Fresno County:
What is No Kings Day?
No Kings Day is a nationwide mobilization meant to unite millions “from every walk of life” in a “nonviolent protest against Trump’s authoritarian actions and power grabs,” the group said in an emailed news release.
“‘NO KINGS’ is more than just a slogan; it is the foundation our nation was built upon,” the website says. “Because this country does not belong to kings, dictators, or tyrants. It belongs to We the People — the people who care, who show up, and the ones who fight for dignity, a life we can afford, and real opportunities. No Thrones. No Crowns. No Kings.”
Back in June, Trump said, “I don’t feel like a king. I have to go through hell to get stuff approved,” according to CBS News.
Why are people protesting President Trump?
People will gather on Oct. 18 to protest what organizers called attacks on American freedoms since Trump took office, organizers say, including immigration crackdowns and the administration deploying federal troops to Los Angeles, Chicago and other U.S. cities.
“His administration is sending masked agents into our streets, terrorizing our communities,” organizers said in a statement online. “They are targeting immigrant families, profiling, arresting and detaining people without warrants.”
Organizers said more than 2,500 protests and rallies are planned across all 50 states, putting it on track to surpass the demonstrations in June that drew more than five million people nationwide.
“Together, millions will send a clear and unmistakable message: we are a nation of equals, and our country will not be ruled by fear or force,” organizers said.
When and where is the No Kings event planned in Fresno area?
The No Kings demonstration in Fresno is from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 at/near the Manchester Center shopping mall.
The No Kings demonstration in June drew crowds of people from across the city to the sidewalks of River Park and temporarily shut down a Fresno Area Express bus stop, The Fresno Bee previously reported.
Longtime residents, immigrant families and first-time protesters showed up to the protest. Some were seen stepping off the No. 38 bus line to join the crowd carrying handmade signs and flags representing Mexico and the U.S.
Many of them shared emotional testimonies.
Rallies will also be held nearby in Clovis, Hanford and Three Rivers.
The protest in Clovis is from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 18 on the east side of Clovis Ave along the Clovis Old Town trail, the website says.
The protest in Hanford is from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Bridge and 12th Street and Highway 198.
The protest in Three Rivers is from 10 a.m. to noon in front of the Village Market Complex at 40869 Sierra Drive.
What are my rights as a protester in California?
The California Constitution and the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution both protect your right to free or “expressive” speech, Chessie Thacher, a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, previously told The Sacramento Bee.
“That means that you have the right to say what you want to say, but with exceptions,” Thatcher told the outlet.
Those exceptions are “true threats, defamation, harassment and obscenities.”
You also have the right to take photos or videos of anything you see in a public space.
What do I do if my rights were violated?
If you feel any of these rights were violated during a protest, you can:
Write down everything you can remember, including officers’ badge numbers and the agencies they work for.
Get contact information from witnesses.
Then you can file a written complaint with an agency’s internal affairs division or the civilian complaint board, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.