SOUTH BEND — By noon on Oct, 18, about 1,000-2,000 people had already gathered in Jon Hunt Plaza in downtown for Saturday’s “No Kings 2” protest, according to an estimate given by event organizers as they prepared for the noon start time.
Organized by the Michiana Alliance for Democracy, a member of the national Indivisible network, the protest is one of an estimated 2,500 scheduled for all 50 states, as well as Washington, D.C.; the American territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; Mexico; and several European countries.
As of about noon, no group of counter protesters was evident to reporters at the scene. A truck with a large Trump flag did drive past the protest shortly before 1 p.m.
According to USA Today, national organizers predict the Oct. 18 “national day of action and mass mobilization” could break records for attendance “for most attended demonstrations in a single day against a specific idea or entity — in this case, (President Donald) Trump and federal government actions.”
In addition to serving as a response to the Trump administration, USA Today has reported that organizers said the “No Kings 2” demonstrations “are meant as a celebration of free speech, the right to assemble and the First Amendment broadly.”
USA Today reported that the Crowd Counting Consortium at Harvard University and the University of Connecticut said “somewhere between 2 and 4.8 million people” attended the first “No Kings” demonstrations June 14, while the organizers for those protests put the number at 5 million. In South Bend, the Michiana Alliance for Democracy estimated between 4,000 and 5,000 people attended the June 14 “No Kings” protest, also at Hunt Plaza in front of the Morris Performing Arts Center, 211 N. Michigan St.
In addition to Indivisible, USA Today reported, other groups involved in organizing the “No Kings 2” events include the ACLU, American Federation of Teachers, Common Defense, 50501, Human Rights Campaign, League of Conservation Voters, MoveOn, National Nurses United, Public Citizen, SEIU and United We Dream.
The South Bend demonstration will begin with a program lasting 30-45 minutes of speakers, a choir and what organizers with the Michiana Alliance for Democracy characterize as “calls to action.” That will be followed by attendees lining Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to display their protest signs to passing motorists.
The South Bend “No Kings 2” has announced time frame of noon to 1:30 p.m., but it could go longer, depending upon how long protesters line Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. In June, the protest lasted for about an hour past its scheduled end time.
Free parking is available weekends on downtown streets and in the city’s three parking garages: the Leighton Garage at 109 W. Jefferson Blvd., the Main and Colfax Garage at 126 N. Main St. and the Wayne Street Garage at 121 E. Wayne St.
But The Tribune’s newsgathering partner, WNDU-TV, predicts “scattered thunderstorms will move in this afternoon and evening,” which could disrupt either or both the “No Kings 2” protest and the football game Saturday night between the University of Notre Dame and the University of Southern California at Notre Dame Stadium.
Where are other area ‘No Kings 2’ events?
According to the Indy Star, “No Kings 2” events are planned in more than 30 cities and towns in Indiana.
In addition to the South Bend demonstration, seven other cities and towns in the area plan “No Kings 2” protests.
The map on Indivisible’s “No Kings” website lists the following locations:
● Elkhart: 10 a.m. to noon at Elkhart Civic Plaza, 350 S. Main St.
● LaPorte: noon to 2 p.m. CT at the LaPorte County Courthouse, 813 Lincolnway
● Plymouth: 10 a.m. to noon at River Park Square, 112 Water St.
● Warsaw: 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the corner of Center and Detroit streets
● Warsaw: 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Warsaw Community Public Library, 310 E. Main St.
● Niles: 3 to 4 p.m. at the corner of Second and Main streets
● Cassopolis: 1 to 2 p.m. at Cass County Government Offices, 120 N. Broadway
● St. Joseph: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Park and Main streets
For more information, visit nokings.org and madindivisible.org.
Email Tribune staff writer Andrew S. Hughes at ahughes@gannett.com.
This developing story will be updated.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Thousands gather in downtown South Bend as ‘No Kings 2’ protest gets underway
Reporting by Andrew S. Hughes and Rayleigh Deaton, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
