PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Millions took to the streets Saturday as “No Kings” rallies rang out across the country in protest of the Trump Administration. Here in Philly, thousands marched from Center City all the way to the Ben Franklin Parkway, near the Art Museum.
More than 3,100 rallies were planned in all 50 states against President Donald Trump's policies, which organizers called "horrific" and "sadistic."
The rally was organized nationwide by the 50501 organization, and locally by Indivisible Philadelphia. Organizers said the nationwide protest is one of the largest in the country’s history.
In Philly, demonstrators gathered in LOVE Park around 11 a.m. and started marching around 12:30 p.m. Creative signs were seen for miles, including Michael Coard’s, founder of Avenging the Ancestors Coalition. He said the rally is a part of a revolution.
“We have to stand up and rise up against this fascist system, and again, I don't use the term fascism loosely,” Coard said. “We have a fascist government that's trying to stop the next election. So, it's important that people rise.”
Conner Barkon/KYW Newsradio
Coard also spoke to the crowd about his fight against the Trump administration to return a slavery exhibit to Independence Mall.
“One of the things I didn't have time to say in Philly is a quote from the great Gil Scott-Heron. He said, ‘Just because you can't do everything, doesn't mean you shouldn't do anything.’ So, when I see people signing petitions and posting on social media and coming to rallies, that's part of the revolution.”
Omeed Firouzi was with his daughter and wife, and said it’s important to exercise his First Amendment rights.
“If we don't exercise those rights, they're going to go away because we have to safeguard democracy. So I think it's really important that we be here for our country, for our future,” he said.
Erin Agnew said the rally and march gave her hope.
“And when you are fighting such big things, it's easy to forget that all of the little, hard, mundane things still really matter. It still matters to organize a union in your workplace if that's needed, because all of those things are still here for us and we are still here for each other.”
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.
Closed roads and detours made travel conditions a bit difficult for drivers, but things opened up again around 5 p.m.
