RI Protesters Join ‘No Kings’ Rallies Opposing Trump June 14

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Islanders joined nation-wide ‘No Kings’ protesters Saturday opposing President Donald Trump’s coup’s  $100 million parade, his administration’s billionaire-first agenda and the militarization of American democracy.

“The “No Kings” mobilization is a direct response to Donald Trump’s self-aggrandizing $100 million military parade and birthday celebration, an event funded by taxpayers while millions are told there’s no money for Social Security, SNAP, Medicaid, or public schools,”  according to the movement’s announcement on the protests.

People in more than 1,500 cities across all 50 states were expected to take to the streets Saturday. The sole exception was in Minnesota, where No Kings rallies were cancelled as law enforcement conducted a manhunt and a shelter-in-place order, responding to the  shooting of Democratic former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, killing them in their Brooklyn Park home. Sen. John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, were shot by the same man, who  reportedly posed  as a police officer during the shooting, according to an Associated Press report.

The national protests were the third since April protesting the Trump Coup seizing Congressional powers, defying court orders, starting a costly trade war, employing aggressive immigration policing tactics and violating due process.  On April 5, Rhode Islanders also showed up for rallies in multiple communities for the Hands Off protests, and Rhod Island protesters joined nation-wide rallies against Trump again on April 19.

Saturday’s No Kings rallies were held in Providence, as well as protests in Westerly, Wakefield, North Kingstown and Middletown. The protests also coincided with an annual historic protest of authoritarian rule, Gaspee Days, celebrating the burning of the HMS Gaspee, termed America’s first blow for freedom at the dawn of the American Revolution.

Two days ago, federal agents forced US Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Noem’s press conference at a federal building as he tried asking her about aggressive tactics used by ICE agents during immigration arrests. A day later Friday, Trump announced a pause on immigration raids of farms, hotels and restaurants, according to a Reuters report.

The State House rally drew thousands of people despite drizzly, overcast weather. The event is led by a coalition of 192 advocacy groups including the League of Women Voters, American Civl Liberties Union (ACLU), The Service Employees International Union (SEIU), National Education Association (NEA) and MOVEON.

In Middletown, at 2 Mile Corner, about 2,000 people from across Aquidneck Island and the East Bay gathered at Two Mile Corner in Middletown for a peaceful Flag Day visibility rally as part of the global “No Kings / Yes Democracy” day of action. The local demonstration was organized by Indivisible Island, Islanders for Democracy, and
the Newport Democratic City Committee (Newport Dems).

Participants lined the highly trafficked intersection with handmade signs, American and Ukrainian flags, and messages in defense of the Constitution, the rule of law, and free and fair government. With honks of support from passing drivers and waves from pedestrians, according to a statement from the local organizers.

“Even without a formal program, our presence here matters,” said Laura Walker of Indivisible Island and a Portsmouth resident. “We showed up visibly and vocally to say that we here in the East Bay and Aquidneck Island reject authoritarianism—and we stand for democracy.”

‘This isn’t about politics—it’s about protecting the system that protects all of us.” said Tony Pyanoe, a veteran from Newport and member of the Newport Dems Direct Action Committee.