D.C. onlookers line streets for Trump army parade; ‘No Kings’ protests unfold nationwide
American flags massive and small crammed the gang of protesters on the “No Kings” march in Philadelphia, the place demonstrators mentioned they have been preventing to guard their nation and democracy.
“We’re taking our flag again. We really feel like Republicans have principally tried to take over the American flag and form of use it as a weapon towards different folks within the nation,” mentioned Stacie Phillips, 59, as she and her husband marched and held a big American flag between them.
“We needed to come back out as a result of we’re persistently seeing Donald Trump and his administration illegally attempt to use their energy in very corrupt and legal methods,” she mentioned. “We’re uninterested in seeing that, and the most effective factor we will do is get up for what we consider in.”
Phillips mentioned the large protest stood in distinction to the massive army parade Trump will maintain later Saturday.
“I feel it very sends a really highly effective message, particularly in the present day, that we counteract that with one thing that exhibits that we’re resisting,” she mentioned. On the similar time, members of the gang chanted, “No extra fascists, no extra Trump!”
Francis Cota, 35, who waved a big American flag above his head as he marched, mentioned he and different protesters have been “preventing for democracy” and to guard a rustic that they love.
Cota mentioned the problems most essential to him have been “human rights and the setting in an enormous means” in addition to democracy and diplomacy.
He mentioned that whereas America has its issues, its democratic values are one thing, “I feel folks, particularly folks my age, usually take a whole lot of these issues without any consideration.”
“Like, I really feel extra like we’re those right here, like, attempting to, like, protect our establishments,” he mentioned.