Tens of thousands of marchers came to ‘No Kings’ protest, from near and far, with litany of concerns

Tens of thousands of people filled the Ben Franklin Parkway Saturday in a “day of defiance” against President Donald Trump and many of his policies, from immigration and women’s rights to legal due process and foreign spending.

While most attendees to the “No Kings” protest were local, some came very far – like Susan Brown. She drove over 30 hours from Ogilvie, Minn., to attend the protest in Philadelphia.

She drove so far because she thought the protest, considered the “flagship” of more than 1,000 sister events nationwide — and estimated by Philadelphia police to have around 80,000 participants, according to NBC10 — was important to bring awareness to the harm of the president’s actions. 

“He claims he said that we all hate America, that all of us who are here hate America,” she said. “We love America. He’s the one who hates it. He’s trying to destroy it.” 

Browse BP freelancer Hanbit Kwon’s photos from the march here.

Deeply concerned, Brown said one of her biggest issues is the attacks on women’s rights.

“I’m very concerned we’re turning into a ‘Handmaid’s Tale,’ trying to control women’s bodies,” she said, referring to the dystopian classic novel by Margaret Atwood. 

Stephanie Tohill and her husband, both of New Jersey, shared the same concern – which was why she arrived at the protest dressed in the red cloak and white bonnet of a handmaid, with the word “FREEDOM” painted across her cheeks. 

“I am dressed as a handmaid today because I feel like that’s where we’re headed. Women are losing all of their rights. There’s so many reasons it’s endless,” she said. “Having teenage daughters and wanting them to have their rights and their freedoms, having a toddler son and wanting him to know that women deserve to be respected … We’re supposed to be American, we’re supposed to be free and there’s so many people that don’t feel free anymore.”

“I see it happening. I see those freedoms getting taken away,” Tohill concluded. “And if we’re not out here doing something about it, no matter how scared we are, who’s gonna fight for us if we’re not going to fight for ourselves?”

‘I don’t know how this happened’

Ken Lowenstein attended the protest from Newton, N.J. He said that, as a father, he worries for the future of his daughters with the current administration. 

“Women’s rights are being destroyed, and that’s scary, as someone who has daughters and has friends,” he said. “It boggles my mind that any woman supports him.”

He explained that although he does not consider himself political, he feels the need to speak up against this administration and for a dramatic change in direction. 

“I don’t know how this happened,” he said, “and I don’t know why people remain silent.” 

Christie Osborne attended the protest with her younger daughter and husband. She said she feels attending the protest is a way to set a good example for her daughter. 

“I think it’s important for our kids to know that they have the right to speak up for their own health, their education and the ability to protect everybody in this country, including immigrants.”

There were also concerns regarding Trump’s actions to cut federal funding to things like public health, scientific research, the arts and diversity, said Joellen Nicholson, of Phoenixville. 

“They’re making these cuts that are cutting really important programs,” she said. “Yes, there’s always inefficiency. But we pay taxes to support people who are in need, whether it be Medicaid, SNAP, or infrastructure, and we need to pay our fair share of taxes.” 

Nicholson emphasized it is also important for legislators to take a stand and speak out against Trump in order for real change to happen. 

A lot of issues

Grace Conway, of Fishtown, said there are “a lot” of issues that drew her to the protest. 

“Immigration is obviously a huge turning point right now,” she said. “We have Gaza, like the atrocities happening over there. We have just taxes, we have education, we have healthcare, we have anything that impacts everyone. Yeah, it’s a lot.”

Trump’s recent actions to deport immigrants have drawn a lot of fear from surrounding communities. Conway said there is a lot of misinformation that comes with these issues, and that speaking up about these things is important. 

“There’s a lot of reasons to stay at home, I guess, from a fear perspective,” she said, “and it’s all about just getting out there and not letting that weigh you down and showing what’s really going on.”

Reverend Jorge Antonely Martinez, of St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church, agreed. 

“I’m here to represent my community, my congregation. I have a Spanish congregation and an Anglo congregation, too, in English, but I’m here to defend the rights of the immigrants, most of them who already have permits to work, Social Security,” he said. “But when they receive an appointment with the judge, they deny their case and they give them to ICE, you know, it is like a trick.” 

Fighting for immigrants’ rights is linked to “fighting, too, for the democracy of the United States,” he noted. “Because we are supposed to respect the law, and the actual government doesn’t respect the law right now.”

Jaimie Karnick, of Glenside, said she is not happy with how Trump is using military resources, referencing the president’s decision to deploy California National Guard and U.S. Marine units in Los Angeles to confront protesters angered by the administration’s immigration policies. Those orders are currently being contested in court. 

“[The administration] is using military forces in the way they’re not designed,” she said. “I have a father who fought in Vietnam, and I have various beliefs about what the military stands for and standing for the Constitution versus a person. So I feel very strongly about being here today.” 

Brown, the visitor from Minnesota, said she thought the military deployments were unnecessary and will only create further division.  

“In L.A., I think that most of the violence is probably done by Trump supporters because they want to create this chaos, a civil war, really,” she said. 

Brown said she is also against Trump’s economic decisions, including tariffs. 

“The tariffs are just a stupid idea,” she said. “He still thinks he can convince people that other countries pay for those. And they don’t.” 

While many protestors said they were happy with the turnout, they also shared they remain concerned for the future. 

“I’m not a very political person, but there’s right and there’s wrong, and there’s too much wrong going on right now, and it’s scary,” Lowenstein said. 

The march was the product of many organizations and is a response to President Trump’s decision to hold a military parade on Flag Day, which also happens to be his 79th birthday. The march here is one of as many as 2,000 nationwide, though there will be none in D.C.

“When we announced the No Kings Day for this Saturday, June 14th, we said from the get-go, this is going to happen everywhere but downtown D.C.,” Ezra Levin, a co-executive director of Indivisible, told WHYY News’ Carmen Russell Sluchansky. “He can have downtown D.C. for his little parade.”

The protest began with chants and lots of conversations before participants walked from LOVE Park to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. At the art museum, speakers and a band greeted those marching.  Speakers included U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Bishop William J. Barber of the Poor People’s Campaign, the co-executive directors of Indivisible, Martin Luther King Jr. III and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten.

It was a busy Saturday, with a coinciding celebration of the U.S. military’s 250th anniversary with family-friendly events on Independence Mall as well as a full roster of events.