Wilkes-Barre authorities are ramping up security for a "No Kings" protest scheduled for Saturday on Public Square, part of a coordinated "National Day of Nonviolent Action" that will see similar demonstrations across Northeastern Pennsylvania. Progressing community organization Action Together NEPA announced it is partnering with several other groups to host the third in a series of nationwide protests aimed at the Trump administration, set to begin in Wilkes-Barre at 3 p.m. Police Chief Michael Boyle confirmed that additional officers will be deployed to monitor the demonstration to ensure public safety.
The heightened measures are in direct response to a volatile incident at the previous "No Kings" protest on October 18, where Scranton resident Michael Paul Kolarik was arrested after driving around the square brandishing a pistol and menacing the crowd. Chief Boyle noted that while previous rallies were generally peaceful, the incident emphasized the need for increased personnel. Chief Boyle’s advice for attendees was, "Behave and be kind." Beyond Wilkes-Barre, rallies are also scheduled in multiple neighboring counties, including:
- Lackawanna County: Scranton, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Courthouse Square
- Carbon County: Jim Thorpe, 1-2 p.m. at a private address
- Monroe County: Stroudsburg, 1-2:30 p.m. at Dansbury Park
- Wayne County: Honesdale, 1-3 p.m. at Fred Miller Pavilion
- Pike County: Milford, 1-3 p.m. at Pike County Courthouse
- Susquehanna County: Montrose, 1-3 p.m. at The Green on Lake Avenue
- Schuylkill County: Pottsville, 11 a.m. to noon at East Market and North Centre streets
