«No Kings» protests against President Donald Trump and his administration are planned for this weekend in thousands of locations nationwide, including nearly 20 in Oklahoma.
Although the event shares its name with the protests held last June, organizers say this round will feel very different.
The last «No Kings» protest was held on June 14 to coincide with Trump’s birthday and a military parade for the Army’s 250th birthday. More than 2,100 protests were held that weekend, organizers said, with more than 5 million people participating.Now, the Trump administration has been taking a harder line against protests in recent weeks, attempting to deploy the National Guard to Democrat-controlled cities to protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials and fight against what the president has called, without evidence, record levels of crime and violent political unrest.
According to the «No Kings» website, 2,500 events are scheduled across the nation, and anchor events are planned outside the Capitol in Washington, DC, and in Boston, New York, Atlanta, Kansas City, San Francisco, Chicago, New Orleans and Bozeman, Montana.
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The name «No Kings» comes from the organizers’ belief that Trump is acting like a monarch rather than the leader of a democracy.
Organizers told USA Today that they expect Oct. 18 will be the largest single day of protest in modern American history.
What are Oklahoma laws on protests?
Protesting is protected in the United States by the First Amendment, provided streets and government buildings are not blocked and protestors don’t obstruct normal operations.
According to the ACLU of Oklahoma, police may not break up a gathering unless there is a «clear and present danger of riot, disorder, interference with traffic, or other immediate threat to public safety.»
In recent years, Oklahoma passed a law that protects drivers who unintentionally harm protestors with their vehicles while fleeing from a riot. Oklahoma HB 1674, which took effect in November 2021, was proposed after a truck drove through a crowd of protestors in Tulsa that year and injured three people. Charges were not filed, given the driver’s fear for the safety of those in the vehicle.
The «No Kings» website tells participants not to bring any weapons, to always act in accordance with local laws, and to de-escalate any potential confrontation with law enforcement or anti-protesters.According to the No Kings website, Oklahoma events are currently planned in several locations around the state. Locations and times are subject to change:
Ada: North Mississippi Avenue & Lonnie Abbott Boulevard, 9 — 11 a.m. CDT
Ardmore: Central Park, 14 E St SW, 10 a.m. to noon CDT
Bartlesville: This event’s address is private. Sign up for more details. 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. CDT
Chandler: Lincoln County Clerk, 811 Manvel Ave #5, 9-11 a.m. CDT
Durant: 121 S 12th Ave, 10 a.m. to noon CDT
Enid: Champlin Park, U.S. 412 and U.S. 81, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CDT
Guthrie: Mineral Wells Park, 819 S Division St, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. CDT
Idabel: This event’s address is private. Sign up for more details. 9 a.m. to noon CDT
Lawton: RSVP for location, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT
McAlester: 3 S Main St, Main and Choctaw Parking Lot, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT
Miami: This event’s address is private. Sign up for more details, 1-3 p.m. CDT
Muskogee: Chicago Street & West Shawnee Bypass, 1-3 p.m. CDT
Norman: 201 W Daws St, 1:30 – 3 p.m. CDT
Oklahoma City: City Hall Park, 200 N Walker Ave, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. CT
Pauls Valley: Garvin County Courthouse flagpole, 201 W Grant Ave. 9-11 a.m. CDT
Ponca City: North 14th Street and Lake Road, 2:30 — 5:30 p.m. CDT
Stillwater: Payne County Courthouse Lawn (6th & Main), 606 South Main, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tahlequah: This event’s address is private. Sign up for more details. 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Tulsa: Dream Keepers, 1875 S Boulder Park Dr, noon to 2 p.m. CDT
Contributing: Sarah D. Wire, USA Today; C.A. Bridges, Florida Connect