SPRINGFIELD – A “No Kings” protest is set to take place in Springfield this week. The last one drew an estimated crowd of over 1,000 people to the capitol.
“The president thinks his rule is absolute,” reads a webpage on mobilize.us that contains details about the Springfield protest. “But in America, we don’t have kings, and we won’t back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty.”
Protests like this are being organized across the country.
Here’s what to know about the one in Springfield.
Where and when is the protest?
In Springfield, the protest will take place at the Lincoln statue at the capitol from noon to 2 p.m. on Oct. 18.
Why are people protesting?
Organizers refer to the event as a rally that is about “uniting people across this country to fight against dictatorship together.”
“’NO KINGS’ is more than just a slogan—it’s the foundation our nation was built upon. Born in the streets, carried by millions in chants and on posters, it echoes from city blocks to rural town squares, uniting people across this country to fight dictatorship together,” the site reads.
A core principle behind all of the events is a commitment to nonviolent action, organizers said.
“We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events,” the site reads.
Who organizes “No Kings”?
Undivided & Focused – 50501 Refined, is organizing the event, according to a form obtained by The State Journal-Register.
Indivisible is one organization that advertises the protests. It describes itself as a grassroots movement made up of “thousands of local Indivisible groups with a mission to elect progressive leaders, rebuild our democracy, and defeat the Trump agenda.”
There is also a No Kings website.
Have there been “No Kings” protests in Springfield before?
At least one other No Kings protest has happened before, taking place across the U.S., including in Springfield on June 14 that drew an estimated crowd of over 1,000 people.
The No Kings protest in Springfield on June 14 was put on by Illinois Undivided and Focused, a chapter of the 50501 movement in Illinois.
(This story has been updated to include new information.)
Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register. He can be reached at tackerman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: ‘No Kings’ protest scheduled in Springfield. Here’s what to know
Reporting by Tom Ackerman, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
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