Crowds flood in for ‘No Kings’ protest in Colorado Springs
Celeste Springer
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story included a live stream. The live stream has now ended, but we are continuing to update the video at the top of this article with the latest content.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Crowds began to flood into downtown Colorado Springs near city hall on Saturday afternoon for what’s been dubbed a “No Kings” protest.
The rally joins nationwide protests “rejecting authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics, and the militarization of our democracy,” according to organizers.
President Trump told reporters earlier this week, “I don’t feel like a king, I have to go through hell to get stuff approved.”
“No Kings” also happens to fall on the same day as the large-scale military parade being held in Washington D.C in honor of the Army’s 250th anniversary, which also coincides with President Trump’s birthday.
CSPD says they’re prepared with personnel to monitor both this rally and events taking place for the first day of the Pride Festival in downtown Colorado Springs.
As of 12:45 p.m., CSPD said no arrests needed to be made at the protest thus far, noting “peaceful (and) lawful behavior.”
By the end of the protest, CSPD said that the protest was entirely peaceful, and a couple of verbal warnings were given to protestors to stay out of the street, but gave officers “no problem.”
Those protesting in Colorado Springs expressed concern over the Trump Administration’s actions and constitutional freedoms.
“We’re changing from a constitutional republic to a tyrannical despotism,” Pete Lee, a protestor and attorney, said. “So that’s why I’m here today. We need to send a message loud and clear … that this is not what the American people stand for.”
Lee went on to say that President Trump was violating laws through his numerous executive orders.
“At the root of it, it’s a violation of the rule of law and separation of powers … all of his executive orders, the vast majority of them, are violating laws that Congress passed. And he doesn’t have the power to alter those laws,” Lee said.
Jennifer Dolesh said that after everything that been happening in the country, it was important for her to be at the No Kings protest.
“Well normally I’m not one of those people who comes out to a protest like this. It’s just that it’s absolutely ridiculous we are turning the troops on our own internal citizen,” said Dolesh.