Newswatch 16’s Valeria Quiñones spoke with protestors and counter-protestors at each event.
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — Hundreds of people gathered on the Public Square in Wilkes-Barre Saturday for the second “No Kings” protest since President Trump took office for his second term back in January. Protesters held signs denouncing his administration’s policies, and others came in costume.
“We’re all here for the same reason. We want freedom. We want democracy. We want people to live their best lives,” says Mark Peterson from Lake Harmony.
“I’m worried about our country. I’m worried about our democracy. I’m worried about my kid’s future,” says Gail Houser from Wyoming County.
Action together NEPA director, Jessica Brittain, says this protest is just one of many happening around the region. She says this gathering is important as protestors push for an end to the government shutdown. “One of those ways is to make sure the people have access to affordable care, another one of those ways is making sure that billions and billions of funding isn’t funding a secret police force that’s stealing people off the streets and terrorizing communities.”
Counter-protestor, Larry LoShiavo, parked his truck with flags reading “All Hail King Trump” alongside Public Square. “It’s ridiculous because the stuff that they’re claiming, if it were even true, we would all be in shackles right now. Who’s in shackles?”
Another counter-protester seen here being patted down by Wilkes-Barre City Police. Protestors say he allegedly flashed a handgun at them.
“He started screaming, ‘Do something! Do something!” A group of us came, but none of us stepped off the corner here. We all stepped on the sidewalk, and as he was saying ‘Do something!” he started to reach for his sidearm, and before he could get it fully pulled out, traffic started to move,” says Prince Meyers from Wilkes-Barre.
The man was promptly put in the back of a police cruiser as protestors cheered. There’s no word on what, if any, charges he might be facing.
Thousands of ‘No Kings’ protests like this are set up around the country, with another one in Scranton.
“There are a lot of people who need a voice right now, and it’s really important that I use my privilege to be out here and help with that because there are people who can’t be out here safely at all,” says Ashley Henricksen from Moosic.
“I believe in free speech. I believe in the freedom that a woman has over her body. I’m here for my daughters, my grandchildren. I’m here to everybody that can’t be here today,” says Christine Brundage from Waymart.