Hundreds gather in downtown Wilmington for ‘No Kings’ protest
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Hundreds, possibly thousands, of people filled downtown Wilmington Saturday afternoon as part of the nationwide “No Kings” protest movement.
The event ran from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with participants marching from three different launch sites before converging downtown for a rally at Innes Park. Marchers gathered at 1898 Memorial Park on North 3rd Street, Castle Street between 4th and 5th streets, and the Alton Lennon Federal Building on Princess Street.
The event was part of a coordinated series of protests held across the country in response to what organizers describe as abuse of power by President Donald Trump and his administration, including immigration crackdowns and the use of troops in American cities.
Protesters marched through downtown streets before converging at the park, chanting and carrying signs declaring “No Kings.” Organizers say the slogan is meant to highlight that America was founded without monarchs and to push back against what they call authoritarian tendencies in government.
Event leaders stressed that the “No Kings” movement is rooted in nonviolence and urged participants to act lawfully and avoid confrontation. Protesters were encouraged to wear yellow as a sign of peace. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, were prohibited.
The rally and marches were hosted by a coalition of community organizations, including Indivisible Actions Southeast North Carolina, Indivisible Wilmington, ILM Action Network, Immigrant Allies Forum, Brunswick Indivisible Stepping Forward for Action, Indivisible Defenders of Democracy, Brunswick Voices 4 Democracy, Women Organizing for Wilmington, SENC Central Labor Council, SENC Women Forward, the New Hanover County Chapter of the National Black Leadership Caucus, NHCDP, and the North Carolina State AFL-CIO
Similar rallies took place in more than 2,600 locations nationwide, including Shallotte and Surf City, with organizers predicting millions of participants.
