WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 (UPI) — Advocacy groups are preparing for Saturday’s “No Kings” rallies throughout the United States to call for government accountability and public vigilance under the current administration. Republican leaders, though, are characterizing the planned mass protests as unpatriotic and disruptive, despite organizers’ emphasis on peaceful protest. Talking points have advised them to call it the “Hate America Rally.” In the days leading up to the nationwide protest, organizers from groups like the American Civil Liberties Union, Public Citizen and the Federal Workers Union Network say they’ve been finalizing logistics and outreach for what is expected to be one of the largest single-day demonstrations in U. S. history. Katherine Garcia, the press officer at Public Citizen, said the week leading up to the No Kings demonstration has been extremely busy, as Public Citizen is one of No Kings partners. “We’re extremely proud of all of the work that all of the organizers have put into motion to make this day possible,” Garcia said. “No Kings will be a peaceful protest, so one of our top priorities is making sure that organizers on the ground are fully prepped to tackle any issues — even any glimpses of violence from outsiders. “We have been really working to make sure that the people on the ground know that working families in America are aware of the power that they have, and so we’re very excited to say that we have over 2, 500 events” planned, She said she expected Saturday’s demonstrations to be larger collectively than the first No Kings demonstration June 14 that drew an estimated 5 million participants at more than 2, 100 sites across the country. “I think that is due to just the tumultuous moment that government workers, working families, people — undocumented people specifically — are all feeling in this moment,” Garcia said. “It’s taken months of preparation to get to this moment, but I think people are fed up and they’re ready to see actual results.” Garcia said she hopes Saturday will remind Americans the power civic engagement, especially when carried out together. “I think people forget that one person is not able to move this administration, but if we all collectively come together, it’s pretty phenomenal.” After Saturday, she said, partners of No Kings, like Public Citizen, will continue to work with Americans and encourage them to call their representatives and to attend local and state meetings so that the momentum isn’t lost. The American Civil Liberties Union, one of the movement’s founding partners, has been central to pre-protest preparations nationwide. Ellen Flenniken, the ACLU campaigns deputy director, said her organization is among the core coordinators for the 2, 500 planned events. The ACLU has focused heavily on preparation for organizers called “No Kings: Protest Safety, Know Your Rights & De-Escalation Training.” One of the live, online sessions last week drew about 15, 000 attendees, Flenniken said. The training sessions are led in English, Spanish and American Sign Language over Zoom for free to offer accessible “tools and resources they need to organize joyful, peaceful, community oriented events on Saturday,” she said. The ACLU said its affiliates are participating and helping on the ground for the rally, “from Boston to Honolulu.” She said group’s motivation stems from what members view as constitutional violations by the Trump administration. “One of the things that we are seeing from President Trump and his allies is a real crackdown on our First Amendment rights and an effort to intimidate people from opposing them or from protesting,” Flenniken said. She added: “We will not accept President Trump’s abuses of power.” Among those also helping out is Paul Osadebe, a union steward with the American Federation of Government Employees Local 476 and an organizer with the Federal Unionist Network. He said he’s been involved in the movement for years, working to strengthen federal workers’ rights and build solidarity across agencies. Osadebe will be speaking at the Friday “No Kings” event at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, focusing on defending democracy, civil service protections and free speech. “We’ve seen an atmosphere of fear that they’ve attempted to create all across the government and just in society in general. People feel that if they speak out and tell the truth, that they’ll be targeted and retaliated against. But my message is that there’s way more of us who see this as wrong,” Obsadebe said. He said the No Kings events are meant to encourage pushing back against intimidation and to encourage federal workers and the public to speak collectively rather than remain silent. “I hope it makes them realize that they do not have consent for the things that they are doing.” Obsadebe said. “For the federal workers who have been recently laid off, like over the last couple of days and in the coming days and weeks, I want them to understand that you don’t have to just accept it and take it lying down.” Osadebe was one of the four employees at the Department of Housing and Urban Development who filed a formal whistleblower complaints through Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. He was fired for his whistleblowing Sept. 29. On Friday, the No Kings movement is hosting an event at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington from 3 to 7 p. m., and Obsadebe will be one of the speakers. “If you care about democracy, if you care about ordinary working people, if you care about freedom of speech, if you care about having a functional government that isn’t just a weapon — then No Kings will welcome you,” he said. The main rally in Washington will be Saturday from noon to 2 p. m. at the National Mall. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., downplayed the significance of the protest in a Fox News appearance.
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/10/16/protest-nokings/9701760478583/
