Photo courtesy of Canek Aguirre
Crowds gather Saturday, Oct. 18 at Market Square in Old Town Alexandria for the No Kings Rally.
Alexandrians turned out en masse Saturday, Oct. 18 for the No Kings rally at Market Square in the heart of Old Town Alexandria.
“From cuts to SNAP and Medicaid to ICE raids and attacks on free speech—our families deserve better," Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins, who spoke at the rally, noted on social media: "We’re tired of fear, division, and neglect. It’s time to stand up, speak out, and say loud and clear: enough is enough.”
Photo courtesy of Rep. Don Beyer
Rep. Don Beyer (D-8th) of Alexandria holds up a sign Oct. 18.
The Alexandria rally was one of about 2,700 rallies held across the United States that attracted 7 million people, about 2 million more than similar protests in June, according to organizers. The protests took place during a government shutdown that began Oct. 1 that impacts about 189,000 federal workers in Virginia, as well as federal contractors and some state employees that depend on federal funding.
"Donald Trump poses a clear threat to our democracy, and today people in our community and across the country came together to stand up to authoritarianism and corruption," Rep. Don Beyer (D-8th) noted. "Americans and Alexandrians say No Kings!"
Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, an Alexandria resident, traveled to a rally in the Shenandoah Valley. He noted that "like many Americans I’ve been deeply concerned about actions of the Trump administration. It
Photo courtesy of Rep. Don Beyer
No Kings rally signs Saturday, Oct. 18 in Old Town Alexandria
seems like every day there is another law is broken or norm gotten rid of. So today, I’m on my way to the Shenandoah Valley to join one of the No Kings Protests. In my view these demonstrations are not just for Democrats or Republicans or Independents. But for any American who feels like the politics we’re experiencing right now just aren’t normal. These are frightening times in America. If you feel as I do, willing to stand up and speak outWe all have a first amendment right to peacefully protest that."
Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-11th), representing most of Fairfax County, said "The seeds of the American Revolution were sown right here in Fairfax, where our founders said no to a king. Today, thousands of Fairfax families stood with millions of Americans nationwide to keep that spirit alive: No Kings. No crowns. No authoritarianism."
