On Saturday, thousands of people across the nation gathered to protest as part of the “No Kings” rallies.
The movement opposes President Donald Trump’s authority, U.S. involvement with Iran, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation policies and more, according to the initiative’s website. In partnership with organizations such as 50501, more than 3,300 No Kings protests took place nationwide Saturday.
In Athens, the Athens Community Center and surrounding sidewalks were filled with protesters by 1 p.m.
Jackie Wolf, an Athens resident, said she participated in the protest because of her family.
“I don't want my daughter and granddaughter to have to fight for things that I already fought for and won in the early 1970s, having to do with women’s rights, reproductive rights, civil rights, gay rights, anti-war,” Wolf said.
Protestors held signs facing the street reading phrases such as “war is not the answer," “turn the files into trials” and “democracy (check) yes racism (check) no”.
Event organizer Ron Luce opened the protest and led a “no kings” chant echoed by the crowd.
“(Representatives) start to become more aware of the other people they’re supposed to be serving when they see hundreds of thousands, millions of people come together on one day to say ‘we don’t want a king,’” Luce said.
Safety team members affiliated with 50501 and No Kings, wearing yellow vests, moved through the crowd as attendance grew. 50501 urges nonviolent protesting at its events to promote respectful conflict resolution.
Brenda Jean Searcy, a member of the safety team, said she has followed the movement since attending a protest in Columbus on Presidents’ Day 2025. Searcy and other members of the team are trained to de-escalate potential conflicts that may arise.
Julie White, a professor of political science at Ohio University and a member of the United Academics of Ohio University faculty union, spoke next. She said she does not want the U.S. to return to conditions prior to the Trump administration, but she wants to “fight for something better than getting back to normal.”
“We also need to remember that Congress has long put forth the very policies, economically, that have kept Appalachia poor, that have kept the child poverty rate in this area around 20%,” White said.
White added that food insecurity remains a major issue in the Southeast Ohio region.
“The food insecurity rate in this part of Ohio is astronomically high. 23% of college students around this country live with food insecurity,” White said. “That was true before Donald Trump.”
Jamie Miller, programs and organizing manager at United Campus Ministry, staffed a table promoting UCM’s free meal program and encouraged volunteers to address food insecurity in Athens. She said community members can combat feelings of helplessness by getting involved locally.
Henry Turner, a junior studying history and creative writing, spoke on behalf of Students for Justice in Palestine.
“ICE has detained our neighbors and executed protesters,” Turner said. “This is the same ICE that is training with Israeli occupying forces in Israel and in the U.S. and so-called cop cities.”
Gus Davis, a sophomore studying Spanish and a member of SJP and Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions of Israel, said U.S. support for Israel has contributed to rising domestic tensions. Davis described the conflict as economically motivated and said many Jewish people oppose the violence.
Roger Gathier, a sophomore studying psychology, also represented SJP at an information table. Gathier said OU and Athens County are connected to support for the Israeli government and pointed to a student referendum that would make university investments public and end the renewal of Israel bonds.
“We want to spread awareness around the interconnectedness of our struggles domestically and the genocide facing Palestinians,” Gathier said.
Turner emphasized solidarity among movements.
“It is important that all of our different movements are interconnected, that environmental movements are working with anti-imperial movements, are working with movements that are for food justice and housing justice because we are all connected in this fight,” Turner said. “It is one fight, and it's not just 50 states. It's the entire world.”
