A national call to protest against recent actions by the current United States government is poised to bring thousands of Tompkins County residents to Ithaca’s Washington Park this weekend. Ithacans will peacefully protest at the park on June 14th, from 1-3 p.m., under the national “No Kings” day of action, organized amid growing concerns of authoritarianism and corruption among the Trump Administration since President Donald Trump’s inauguration this January. The event is part of a larger movement spearheaded by Indivisible, a non-profit group that states it is dedicated to resisting authoritarianism and promoting democracy. Tompkins County’s Indivisible branch is organizing the event in Ithaca after providing an opportunity for community members to learn more about the movement and get involved at the yearly Ithaca Festival, which ended on June 1. The group organized a “Hands Off” rally in April, protesting links between Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, including the highly criticized Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The “No Kings” event aims to mobilize citizens against the erosion of democratic norms, emphasizing that the American flag and the principles it represents belong to the people, not to any single leader, the organization claims.
“A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action,” the group states on the event webpage. “We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values.” Though Tompkins County often brings a particular passion to political protests, the event is taking place throughout June 14 across the country and in several other New York municipalities including Cortland, Horseheads, Ovid and Owego. For more information, visit nokings.org.
This article originally appeared on Ithaca Journal: Tompkins County activists will join national rally on June 14: What to know
Reporting by Jacob Mack, Ithaca Journal / Ithaca Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
