Thousands are expected to march Saturday afternoon along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway as part of the third “No Kings” demonstration, a nationwide day of protest against President Donald Trump.
The rally comes amid an ongoing war in Iran and worries over the White House’s decision to deploy U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to airports impacted by the partial government shutdown.
Indivisible Philadelphia, the Center City rally’s host, said participants will gather at City Hall at noon and begin walking about 30 minutes later. Speakers will address the crowd and musicians will perform during a rally that is scheduled to start at 1:15 p.m. at 22nd Street and the Parkway.
National organizers said five million people across the country participated in the first No Kings event in June and that seven million turned out for the second day, in October.
No Kings representatives anticipate that the March 28 demonstrations “will be one of the largest single-day nonviolent nationwide protests in U.S. history.” More than 3,100 rallies are planned, according to organizers.
Bruce Springsteen, Joan Baez, Jane Fonda, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and others are set to appear at the flagship event in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Other protests in Philadelphia
In addition to the main rally, smaller No Kings demonstrations will be held at six locations in Philadelphia, according to a map posted on the group’s website.
In Northeast Philadelphia, protests are set to occur from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Northwood Park; 1 to 3 p.m. at Verree and Susquehanna roads in Fox Chase; and from noon to 2 p.m. at Bustleton Fields (9800 Roosevelt Blvd.).
Rallies are scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. at W. Sedgwick Street and Germantown Avenue in Mount Airy and between 4 and 5 p.m. down the road, at Germantown Avenue and Cresheim Valley Drive in Chestnut Hill.
Organizers in Roxborough are hoping for a big turnout at an event from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the corner of Ridge Avenue and Cathedral Road.
Outside city limits, demonstrations are being planned in Camden, Bensalem, Elkins Park, Ardmore, Media, Norristown, West Chester and a host of other communities in the surrounding counties.
Road closures and detours
Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration warned drivers to expect road closures starting at 5 a.m. Saturday and running through 7 p.m. along the Parkway and in the area of Love Park and City Hall. Residents are advised to obey all temporary ‘no parking’ signs.
SEPTA bus routes 2, 4, 7, 16, 27, 31, 32, 33, 38, 43, 44, 48, 49, 124, and 125 will be subject to detours between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., officials said.
Rally attendees are encouraged to take the Market Frankford (L), Broad Street (B) and Regional Rail lines to get to and from the demonstration.