CIRCLEVILLE, OH – A national movement known as “No Kings” is gaining momentum across the country, calling for large-scale protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and what organizers describe as federal overreach and authoritarianism. Demonstrations have already erupted in California, and activists are now mobilizing supporters in Ohio communities including Chillicothe, Lancaster, Washington Court House, and Grove City for coordinated action on June 14.
The protests are part of what organizers are calling a “Day of Defiance”, aimed at protecting illegal immigrants from what they say are unjust detentions and deportations, and to push back against the increasing use of military force in response to civil protests.
The movement released a fiery statement Sunday, condemning President Donald Trump’s recent decision to activate the National Guard and authorize potential use of federal military personnel to control protests. The No Kings coalition characterized the move as an attempt to silence dissent and stoke fear.
“President Trump wants you to believe the people protesting are destroying their communities. That’s false,” said the coalition’s statement. “Instead of listening, the Administration is escalating tensions with military force.”
That statement comes shortly after the Los Angles times reports, “An ugly night of vandalism, burglaries and clashes in downtown Los Angeles left city officials struggling to get the upper hand after three days of scattered unrest over immigration raids.”
Organizers say the protests planned for June 14 will be nonviolent, community-driven, and focused on demanding dignity and safety for immigrants, accountability from law enforcement, and resistance against what they describe as authoritarian tactics by the federal government.
Over 1,800 rallies are planned across the U.S., with demonstrations expected in both major cities and small towns. Activists involved with No Kings stress that all events are peaceful, and that local organizers have been trained in de-escalation tactics to ensure safety.
“We don’t do kings in this country,” the group stated. “We reject fear as governance. We reject the myth that only some deserve freedom.”
The protests arrive amid growing national debate over immigration enforcement and civil liberties, and appear poised to become one of the summer’s most visible protest movements.
For information on local rally times and locations, or to view a full list of partner organizations, visit NoKings.org.
