Rochester, N.Y. (WHAM) — Thousands took to the streets across Western New York as part of the nationwide “No Kings” movement, to protest against the Trump administration.
Among a crowd of an estimated 5,000, Jalen Wims and his friends Maeve O’Brien, and Natalia Orozco, protested in Rochester’s Genesee Gateway Park on Saturday.
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“We can take a second out of our busy lives to show up for a cause or something that we deem is important,” said Wims. “We can make a change and we can do that in a positive way.”
No Kings organizers honed in on the deployments of the National Guard in American cities, cuts to programs including Medicaid, and increased immigration enforcement.
“I’m here today because I want to be heard.” said Natalia Orozco, who came to Rochester from Columbia to pursue her education. “There’s some issues in this country that affect me and my future.”
The protests came as the United States neared a third week of a Republican-led shutdown of the Federal government.
In Fairport, demonstrator Nathan Leedom of Penfield weighed in on House Speaker Mike Johnson’s comments Thursday, which characterized the No Kings movement as “Hate America rallies.”
“The Speaker of the House said that if you’re out here you hate America,” said Leedom. “But look at all these American flags. Look at all these people who love this country — and they hate what they see.”
18-year-olds Hayden Damer and Chase Kennedy shared their desire to participate — looking forward to voting for the first time.
“We’re the future of America and the country,” said Damer. “So I think a lot more of us should be out here and participating or else people are going to run it without our own knowing.”
“I believe that we should not be taking people from their homes, even if they are undocumented,” Damer added, sharing his grievances about the Trump administration’s heightened immigration enforcement. “There are better and safer ways to do this. Making it so that people can’t live here is just a problem.”
In Brighton, Roxanne shared her concerns after recent cuts to Medicaid.
“I do have health issues and I require expensive ultrasounds and treatments and I’m concerned,” Roxanne said. “I feel like I’ll just be left out to die because I won’t be able to afford my health insurance.”
Large crowds were seen in Newark, where organizers reported an estimated crowd of 675.
Dr. Arnold Matlin of Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace organized rallies in Livingston County.
“These are the places where we need to come out in the small towns typically conservative as you say but still full of activists as you can see,” said Matlin in Livonia.
Republican leaders have criticized the movement.
House Speaker Mike Johnson wrote on X: “Now we know Saturday’s events are actually funded by Soros, and sponsored by the Communist Party USA, among other far Left and communist groups. How could there any more appropriate nickname than the “Hate America Rally?”
According to ABC News, President Trump “shot down the notion that he is a ‘King,’ saying: “They’re referring to me as a king. I’m not a king.”
“The irony isn’t lost on us,” wrote Monroe GOP Chair Peter Elder. “If we truly lived under a king, this protest wouldn’t be allowed. The very ability to speak out is a testament to the freedom we all share — and we fully support that right, for everyone.”
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