Ten No Kings rallies are scheduled Saturday, October 18th in cities statewide as part of a national movement with over 2,600 events, bearing the message that “America does not believe in kings or dictators.” Jamestown’s rally is planned for 10 a.m. on Mill Hill. The No Kings movement arose earlier this year in response to President Trump’s use of executive powers, and perceived threats to democratic institutions. Fargo drew about 3,000 people for a No Kings rally in June, but organizers say they expect larger crowds this Saturday due to frustration over federal government actions like federal workforce cuts and increased use of the military and ICE.
Though North Dakotan leadership does not seem to be pushing this messaging, TIME has noted that rhetoric from some republican leaders has painted the planned marches as “anti-American rallies,” with House speaker Mike Johnson calling the demonstrations against the Trump Administration a “Hate America rally,” and Minnesota congressman and Majority Whip Tom Emmer accused Democrats of “promoting the terrorist wing of their party.” Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary, called expected participants “the farthest left, the hardest core, the most unhinged in the Democratic Party,” with some leaders calling for the National Guard to be there. However, the June 14th rallies were largely peaceful, though on a national level, some spats were reported between police and protestors. North Dakota events remained peaceful, with only some antagonistic behavior from dissenters.
In response to rhetoric that protestors on the No Kings platform are violent and hateful, organizers and groups across the country like the American Civil Liberties Union, MoveOn, and Indivisible are taking extra care to promote community safety and de-escalation techniques, according to TIME. In a press conference Thursday, organizers claimed Republicans were trying to discourage people from attending, with the messaging that attendees were depraved extremists. Diedre Schlifeling, the ACLU’s chief political and advocacy officer, said that protesting is possibly “the most patriotic and American thing you can do,” emphasizing the lawfulness of organized protests. The North Dakota Monitor reports that Fargo organizers are focused on having a peaceful protest, and that marches around the state are simply aiming to express worry about the future of the country.
North Dakota No Kings rallies:
- Bismarck, noon to 2 p.m., at the North Dakota Capitol
- Bottineau, 2-3:30 p.m., at the Walmart walking path
- Devils Lake, 10-11:30 a.m., at Lake Region Heritage Center
- Dickinson, noon to 2 p.m. MDT, at Prairie Hills Mall
- Fargo, 1-3 p.m., Fargo City Hall
- Grand Forks, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Town Square Grand Forks
- Jamestown, 10 a.m., Mill Hill
- Minot, 2-4 p.m., Town and Country Center sidewalk
- Valley City, noon to 12:30 p.m., Main Street and Central Avenue
- Williston, noon to 2 p.m., Harmon Park
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