On Saturday June 14th individuals mobilized in retaliation towards President Donald Trump beginning at Love Park near City Hall and ending at The Philadelphia Museum of Art.
By: Chelsea Lubbe
“I hope we brought some sanity back to the insanity we have been seeing.” said Arndrea Waters King, President of Drum Major institute and Wife to Martin Luther King III, after she addressed the public on the main stage of the “No Kings” protest in Philadelphia.
On June 14th , otherwise recognized as Flag Day in the United States and President Donald Trump’s birthday, individuals across the country took to the streets to peacefully demonstrate their frustrations and upsets they have with the Trump administration.
In Philadelphia, the march managed to create a crowd estimated at 80,000 people. Participants could be seen prepared with rain gear, plastic covering their picket signs readily prepared to carry out their demonstrations.
Individuals like Patti Farley and Maggie Thomas traveled from New Jersey to participate in Philadelphia’s version of “No Kings” because of the climate Philadelphia fosters.
“This is such a beautiful protest. It is nice to see all the different people who are here, disabled people, ethnically diverse, people of different sexualities. In comparison to other protests we’ve attend I think this one is especially impressive.” said Farley
Signage referencing media like quotes from The Handmaid’s Tale “Nolite te bastardes carborundorum” and creative works like the novel “It Can’t Happen Here” by Sinclair Lewis, both highlighting the ironic parallels regarding fascism and the repression of women. Both that protesters feel is taking place with Trump in office.
Chants relating to the established comradery of iconic sports teams like the Eagles were preformed, along with powerful statements such as “Who’s streets?” along with its echoed response “our streets” and “Show them what democracy looks like.”
Locals, organizers, and leaders of supporting organizations made sure to highlight the fact that Philadelphia is known for being the birthplace of the constitution and democracy overall.
Indivisible Philadelphia is a group of organizers who are working to resist the Trump administration’s agenda.
No Kings Day in Philadelphia had an estimated 80,000 people. The protest began at LOVE park and ended at the iconic Rocky Steps with speeches from activists and lawmakers like Anu Joshi, national director of The American Civil Liberties Union, Organization Repairers of the Breach, and lawmakers from outside the city are only a few of the several inspirational speakers.
The president of Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, Arthur Steinberg believes that Labor is the first and last line of defense when it comes to taking control of the future.
“We want to empower ordinary citizens, start galvanizing and mobilizing. We do not have any kings and this is democracy, that should live on forever.
Steinberg spoke to the work the federation has been working against, issues of cutting SNAP and medical care of workers, in combination with a history of underfunding.
Ruwa Roman, Georgia state representative for house district 97 traveled down to Philadelphia for the first time to address the city.
“There is a lot of cynicism around politics, but my hope is that there is interest in getting more educated. I hope after today individuals are curious about learning the levers and buttons that they still have access to, and [have more] power with.”
This organized act of protest was a demonstration of individuals understanding their first amendment rights to organize. No Kings could be defined by all its participants as a resistance to mainstream power.
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