Latest news with #IndivisibleBaltimore
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maryland ‘No Kings' events take anti-authoritarian message to parks, city halls, highway overpasses
A "no kings" banner from an April parade in Lexington, Massachusetts, to mark 250th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord. Anti-Trump rallies, under the "no king" banner are scheduled across the country Saturday, with dozens set for Maryland. (Photo by) For Ellie Rosenstock, the 'No Kings' protest she is helping organize in Baltimore's Patterson Park is as much about activists showing their support for each other as it is about showing their opposition to President Donald Trump and his policies. 'We want people to know that they are not alone, that they are represented, and even if we're not all the same, we're a broad coalition, and we're going to be there for each other,' said Rosenstock, who was motivated to found Indivisible Baltimore last fall after Vice President Kamala Harris' loss to Trump. On Saturday, Rosenstock's chapter of Indivisible — a national organization dedicated to opposing Trump and his policies — will be hosting one of an estimated 2,000 No Kings events that have been organized in communities across the U.S. More than 40 are planned across Maryland, from Friendsville to Elkton to Salisbury. The protests come in response to rising numbers of warrantless immigration raids, Trump administration cuts to federal funding and jobs, reductions to health care spending and more, many of which Trump has tried to enact by executive order, circumventing Congress and the courts. In a statement Thursday, 'No Kings' organizers said the protests aim to 'reject authoritarian overreach.' Rosenstock said the Baltimore event will be nonviolent and consist of speeches from local politicians, comedians, performances from singers and a peaceful march. It will be a 'lovely, beautiful, beautiful day,' she said. Organizers say thousands of Maryland residents are expected to gather across the state Saturday at dozens of these protests. Sites include Annapolis, Columbia, Bethesda, Silver Spring and Frederick, and the events will range from large protests to small gatherings to wave signs at highway overpasses. Tanks, choppers descend on D.C. in prep for Army anniversary parade, Trump birthday The date of the 'nationwide day of defiance' was chosen to coincide with Trump's planned military parade in Washington, D.C. to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army's founding. Saturday also happens to be Trump's 79th birthday. There will be no protest in Washington, D.C., organizers said, because they want to draw attention away from the city and the controversial parade. What is considered the flagship No Kings event is scheduled for Philadelphia. Ruben Amaya, president of the Young Democrats of Maryland, said Trump's military parade this Saturday is no way to honor democratic values. 'There's better ways for us to show you know how great our country is than through a display of military force,' he said. The planned demonstrations come just days after Trump deployed 700 Marines and mobilized more than 4,000 California National Guard troops to crack down on protests in downtown Los Angeles against an increase of ICE raids throughout the city. The Maryland Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative state lawmakers, issued a statement Friday urging state and local leaders to take measures to ensure that the protests on Saturday do not 'devolve into the same kind of chaos,' as in Los Angeles. 'What began as protests around ICE actions in Los Angeles has spiraled into riots, assaults, and destruction,' Del. Kathy Szeliga (R-Baltimore County), the caucus's vice chair, said in the statement. 'We support the right to protest peacefully, but no Marylander should have to fear for their family's safety or their livelihood because of mob violence.' In a statement on Wednesday, the Maryland State Police said it is in 'constant contact' with other law enforcement partners regarding potential demonstrations this weekend, and will work to 'address any public safety concerns while respecting the public's First Amendment rights.' No Kings organizers say they are dedicated to nonviolence. Weapons of any kind are banned from the events, and it says attendees are expected to 'seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events.' Several organizers said that since the beginning of the second Trump administration, they've seen an uptick in grassroots activism. Rosenstock said that since founding Indivisible Baltimore with just five people in January, the organization has grown to more than 2,000. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Tom Glancy, a co-organizer for the Baltimore County-based Allies for Democracy, said that 'doing nothing is not an option.' 'We can't cede the field to Trump and his allies, because they'll just push things as far as they can,' Glancy said. 'We need to step up, and one of the ways we do this is with these marches.' Glancy, a retired attorney, said that over time, he thinks the movement's message of anti-authoritarianism will prevail. Amaya said in-person demonstrations, like 'No Kings' protests, are often when people realize the power of community. Voices are stronger when they're united, he added. 'The people have the power,' he said. 'Not just one man who has a big ego.' The Annapolis 'No Kings' protest, according to Chesapeake Indivisible facilitator Eric Burg, had more than 250 people signed up as of Thursday, but attendance is usually two to five times greater than how many people are registered. The protest, which Burg said will be held at the Annapolis Mall so attendees can be safe and spread out, is not going to be civil disobedience in 'any way, shape or form. This is just us expressing our First Amendment rights.' 'The most important thing we can do is not relinquish our humanity, not relinquish our compassion, not comply in advance,' he said. Burg said many people may be unable or unwilling to go out and protest, but the goal is to make it part of the national conversation. 'Protest has been a part of America before it was a country,' he said. 'We're keeping it peaceful, and we want to make sure that it's accessible, and, most importantly, force people to have that conversation.'
CBS News
a day ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Maryland activists expect thousands for peaceful 'No Kings Day' protests Saturday against Trump policies
Protests are scheduled across Maryland Saturday from Annapolis to Bel Air, as part of the nationwide "No Kings" movement to challenge the policies of President Trump. You can find more information on all events here. Baltimore demonstration One of the largest events will be in Patterson Park from 3 pm to 7 pm. "Let's just show up as Baltimoreans and show strength together," said Ellie Rosenstock, who organized it. She told WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren it will be contained within the park and is a way for everyday citizens to gather in solidarity against the Trump Administration. "I really do believe that a lot of us are feeling the same, no matter who we voted for—even if you voted for Donald Trump. I don't personally believe that anyone thought 'Hey, we're going to have military in the streets,' and I don't think anyone thought, 'Hey, we might not have due process of law.' So, I don't think anybody was voting for that," Rosenstock said. Her organization, 'Indivisible Baltimore', started before Trump's inauguration and quickly grew. "Our first meeting, there were five people. The next meeting, there were 25 people. And the next meeting, there were 225 people. Now, we have over 2,000 people who are a part of this," she said. She stressed the event is peaceful and family-friendly. It is set to include Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen, Council Member Odette Ramos, and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen. "Even if you're not a person who is political and you've not gone to a protest before, that's not what this is. We're completely peaceful, regular people just coming out," Rosenstock said. She told Hellgren the event would take place near the observatory and the basin, and at some point, people would march around the park. Military Parade in Washington, D.C. President Trump authorized the multi-million-dollar parade in the nation's capital to celebrate his 79th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the Army. "I don't think the president doing a parade in the middle of Washington, D.C. to coincide with his birthday is the best use of time, energy or resources, but I do think it's important for people to go out and remember what an important contribution the United States Army has made to our nation," Governor Wes Moore, a Democrat, told WJZ Friday. Earlier this week, the government brought in military vehicles by the thousands to Jessup. They will parade through the streets of Washington. "If there's money for a parade, then there's money for Medicaid, so it really kind of says it all right there," Rosenstock remarked. Harford County protest A protest in Bel Air is scheduled from noon to 2 pm Saturday on Churchville Road across from the office of Congressman Andy Harris. "I think we're going to have an amazing turnout, especially in this red area of Harford County. I think it doesn't matter about party at this point. We are talking about the values of our country and how they are being violated over and over and over again," said DeLane Lewis of Together We Will Harford County. "This is a peaceful protest. That is what is happening here—a peaceful exercise of our First Amendment rights, and there will be no violence." Harris is the only Republican in Maryland's Congressional delegation. "For us, our goal is to get the message to Congress—particularly to our Congressman Andy Harris, who has done nothing and has allowed this rampant abuse of executive power with no restraint," Lewis said. WJZ reached out to Harris' office for comment, but he has yet to respond. Maryland Governor Moore's full statement Late Friday, Governor Moore issued the following statement to WJZ about the demonstrations: "Over the weekend, thousands of Marylanders will gather to exercise their guaranteed and hard-fought-for First Amendment freedoms. I swore an oath to protect these sacred rights both when I joined the United States Army and when I was sworn in as the 63rd Governor of Maryland. The ability to freely speak out and assemble is a cornerstone of American democracy—and one of our greatest heirlooms as a state and nation. Multiple departments and agencies of Maryland state government have been carefully monitoring upcoming rallies throughout the week. Safety is our highest priority, and our administration has been in close coordination with both community leaders and law enforcement in service of keeping our people and neighborhoods safe. We are a state that will protect the rights of the people and also uphold the law."
