PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — More than 9 million people are expected to take part in Saturday’s “No Kings” protests across the nation.
More than 3,100 rallies are planned in all 50 states against President Donald Trump's policies, which organizers call "horrific" and "sadistic." The event is expected to be bigger than the demonstrations that took place in June and October last year.
Center City, Chestnut Hill, Media and Quakertown are among the scheduled sites in our area.
The Center City march, organized by the activist coalition Indivisible, is scheduled to start around noon, according to city officials. Protesters are expected to gather in LOVE Park around 11 a.m. The march will head northbound on 16th Street to the Parkway and westbound on the Parkway to the rally spot on 22nd Street. It’s expected to run through about 3:30 p.m. Congressman Brendan Boyle and the head of the Philadelphia Teachers Union, Arthur Steinberg, are expected to speak.
"It really matters to us because our rights are disappearing by the minute, and we feel like it’s really important to fight for not only ourselves, but for future generations," said Joan from Quakertown.
Road closures:
- 2000-2200 Benjamin Franklin Parkway (all lanes) between 20th Street and Binswanger Triangle until 5 p.m.
- 1400-1500 John F. Kennedy Boulevard until 1:30 p.m.
- N. Broad Street between John F. Kennedy Boulevard and Arch Street until 1:30 p.m.
- Juniper Street between Market Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard until 1:30 p.m.
- 15th Street between Cherry and Market streets until 2 p.m.
- 16th Street between Cherry and Market streets until 2 p.m.
- 1400-1500 Arch Street until 2 p.m.
- Benjamin Franklin Parkway (all lanes) between 16th Street and 20th Street until 2 p.m.
- 1800-2200 Benjamin Franklin Parkway between 18th Street and Binswanger Triangle until 5 p.m.
SEPTA bus routes 2, 4, 7, 16, 27, 31, 32, 33, 38, 43, 44, 48, 49, 124, and 125 will be detoured from their normal routes until about 4 p.m. Check the SEPTA app or website for the latest updates.
The White House has called the events "leftist funding networks," while President Trump previously responded by insisting attendees were "not representative" of the American people.
