The local factions of Saturday’s “No Kings” movement used the Baltimore Running Festival to make a political statement. They mixed in with the crowds who were cheering runners and are upset with President Trump’s actions and policy decisions.No Kings protestors seemed to be everywhere on Saturday, at a pride parade in Annapolis and at several events across Baltimore County. They are denouncing what they fear is rising authoritarianism at the white house.The rallies started as early as 7:30 a.m. Saturday at the Baltimore Running Festival. Hundreds of people used the festival as a backdrop as part of a nationwide protest of current white house policies, including immigration enforcement, National Guard deployment to U.S. cities, and funding cuts. WBAL-TV 11 News spoke with Jacki Gilbert, a protester at one of the many events on Saturday, “We don’t want fascism here in the United States. We love our country, and I want to make sure there is health care. I want to protect the immigrants in my neighborhood. They are my friends. They are my neighbors. We need to stand together,” Gilbert said.Many of the protestors wore costumes, and some were equally creative with signs. Protestor Beth Braun created a crossword puzzle that grew larger with each new policy change coming from the white house.”I’ve just added to it, so it represents all the things that I want the government to stay out of,” Braun said. “This is part of the city where a lot of us are aligned in the way we think about the government. People have been very supportive. Everyone wants to read the sign.The protests have come under fire from Republicans and are being called “Hate America” rallies. U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen shared his thoughts from one of the rallies on Saturday.”I’ve seen thousands and thousands of Marylanders say yes to democracy and no to bowing down to a king. In America, we don’t bow down to kings; we fought an American Revolution to fight off the shackles of King George III. We are not going back,” Sen. Van Hollen said. The senator planned stops at five No Kings rallies throughout Maryland, and the one in Towson was well attended and locally all have been peaceful.
The local factions of Saturday’s “No Kings” movement used the Baltimore Running Festival to make a political statement.
They mixed in with the crowds who were cheering runners and are upset with President Trump’s actions and policy decisions.
No Kings protestors seemed to be everywhere on Saturday, at a pride parade in Annapolis and at several events across Baltimore County. They are denouncing what they fear is rising authoritarianism at the white house.
The rallies started as early as 7:30 a.m. Saturday at the Baltimore Running Festival. Hundreds of people used the festival as a backdrop as part of a nationwide protest of current white house policies, including immigration enforcement, National Guard deployment to U.S. cities, and funding cuts. WBAL-TV 11 News spoke with Jacki Gilbert, a protester at one of the many events on Saturday,
“We don’t want fascism here in the United States. We love our country, and I want to make sure there is health care. I want to protect the immigrants in my neighborhood. They are my friends. They are my neighbors. We need to stand together,” Gilbert said.
Many of the protestors wore costumes, and some were equally creative with signs. Protestor Beth Braun created a crossword puzzle that grew larger with each new policy change coming from the white house.
“I’ve just added to it, so it represents all the things that I want the government to stay out of,” Braun said. “This is part of the city where a lot of us are aligned in the way we think about the government. People have been very supportive. Everyone wants to read the sign.
The protests have come under fire from Republicans and are being called “Hate America” rallies. U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen shared his thoughts from one of the rallies on Saturday.
“I’ve seen thousands and thousands of Marylanders say yes to democracy and no to bowing down to a king. In America, we don’t bow down to kings; we fought an American Revolution to fight off the shackles of King George III. We are not going back,” Sen. Van Hollen said.
The senator planned stops at five No Kings rallies throughout Maryland, and the one in Towson was well attended and locally all have been peaceful.