Thousands to rally in Hampton Roads as part of ‘No Kings' protests
Thousands of Hampton Roads residents are expected to join a national movement this weekend in protesting against the Trump administration.
More than 2,000 cities across the country will host 'No Kings' demonstrations Saturday to protest what organizers say is the militarization of democracy and authoritarian overreach. Coinciding with Flag Day, the anniversary of the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official U.S. flag, and the Army's 250th anniversary, organizers say the protest is in response to President Donald Trump's military parade, cuts to Veterans Affairs resources and other cuts to social services and federal departments.
The parade, slated for Saturday in Washington, will be a large-scale military celebration with thousands of soldiers, rows of tanks, parachute jumps and flyovers. That day also marks Trump's birthday.
In Hampton Roads, demonstrations are planned in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg and Yorktown.
Residents gathered Wednesday at the Hampton Public Library to make signs ahead of weekend events.
'We need to be sure to use the American flag because it represents us,' said Diann Smith, an organizer with Indivisible Peninsula, who plans to be in Yorktown. 'It's not just the MAGA crowd. It's American flag, and we are Americans. Democracy is American, and we need to reclaim it.'
Another sign maker, Steve Byrd, is a Vietnam War veteran who said he started protesting this year for the first time. Byrd was in Richmond for a Hands Off rally and said he really enjoyed it. He's going out this weekend to protest because he believes the military is being used inappropriately by the Trump administration.
'I started protesting because voting wasn't really enough,' Byrd said. 'I'm glad I'm doing it now, because to me, things have gotten really, really bad.'
Army's 250th birthday commemoration held in Yorktown ahead of Fort Eustis event Friday
The event planned outside the Williamsburg-James City County Courthouse could be the region's largest. The Williamsburg-James City County Indivisible group is prepared to host more than 1,000 people Saturday, and organizer Heather Meaney-Allen said it's possible upwards of 2,500 could attend. She said the Williamsburg event, which starts at 5 p.m., will be a protest and a celebration with several speakers, including members of the Virginia House of Delegates and military veterans.
'I've been surprised at the amount of older people that have never (protested) before, that are handicapped, and want to know how they can get involved,' she said. 'We have elderly people who are so concerned about the state of our country that they're getting out there for the first time, even in the shape they're in, to say, 'No, we're not doing this. No kings, authoritative government (or) fascist regime.' '
She said her team has organized more than 500 demonstrations since forming in 2017. Hands Off, a protest in April pushing back against Trump and Elon Musk's cuts to federal programs, with roughly 1,500 attendees has been their largest event yet. WJCC Indivisible leaders have been communicating with police ahead of Saturday's event.
As of Thursday, more than 400 people had signed up for South Hampton Roads Indivisible's event in Chesapeake. Clay Lory, one of the leaders for the group, said members have completed training for de-escalation and crowd safety. There will also be marshals at the events to help out, who will wear fluorescent vests, to keep the demonstration running smoothly.
Protesters plan to gather at 10 a.m. with signs at the intersection of Battlefield Boulevard and Volvo Parkway. Demonstrators are encouraged to bring water, umbrellas and chairs, if needed. This weekend's forecast has about a 50% chance of rain, and temperatures could reach the upper 80s.
Norfolk's event will start with a rally at 11 a.m. in Jeff Robertson Park, in West Ghent and march along Hampton Boulevard to Smartmouth Brewing Co. Sharon McQueen, one of the organizers with COVA Coalition, said the rally will feature several speakers who will discuss threats to marginalized groups, such as people of color, veterans and the LGBTQ community.
Between 600 to 750 people are expected, and McQueen said the more, the merrier. With each demonstration starting at a different time, she said she hopes community members can visit multiple protests.
'Protests, like grapes, grow best in bunches,' she said.
Though the 'No Kings' protests were planned before anti-immigration raid demonstrations began in Los Angeles and other cities, national organizers said the military escalation from the Trump administration is further proof of the administration's overreach. In California, Trump ordered 700 Marines based out of Twentynine Palms and an additional 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles.
Editorial: Trump parade, nationwide 'No Kings' protests mirror national division
Organizers for No Kings demonstrations emphasized that this weekend's events will be peaceful.
'Now, this military escalation only confirms what we've known: this government wants to rule by force, not serve the people,' a statement from national organizers said. 'From major cities to small towns, we'll rise together and say: we reject political violence. We reject fear as governance. We reject the myth that only some deserve freedom.'
Staff writer Devlin Epding contributed to this report.
Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com
Chesapeake: Intersection of Battlefield Boulevard and Volvo Parkway, 100 Volvo Pkwy, 10 a.m. to noon
Norfolk: Demonstration begins at Jeff Robertson Park, 1542 Armistead Bridge Rd, 11 a.m.
Virginia Beach: Intersection of Virginia Beach Boulevard and Independence Boulevard, 4592 Virginia Beach Blvd, 2-4 p.m.
Williamsburg: Williamsburg-James City County Courthouse, 5201 Monticello Ave, 5 p.m.
Yorktown: Yorktown Victory Monument, 803 Main St, noon to 1:30 p.m.
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