RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Around Wake and Durham counties, groups are gathering in protest of the Trump administration. Thousands were expected to rally in the Triangle in total.
This is all part of a national day of action where organizers are spending Saturday holding a ‘No Kings’ protest. “We’ve watched as they’ve cracked down on free speech, detained people for their political positions, threatened to deport American citizens, and defied the courts,” said organizers behind ‘No Kings.’
The nationwide protests are taking place on the same day as President Donald Trump plans to have his military parade in Washington D.C. — as well as his 79th birthday.
“Instead of allowing this military parade to be the center of gravity, we will make action everywhere else the story of America that day,” organizers said, “people coming together in communities across the country to reject strongman politics and corruption.”
Things kicked off in Morrisville, who began their protests around 9 a.m. Protesting in Cary started around 10 a.m.
In Cary, people gathered along Kildaire Farm Road near S.E. Maynard Road for protests, with many holding signs. Some people even poked their signs out of their cars and honked in solidarity with those on the side of the road.
CBS 17 was on the scene around 11:30 a.m. Saturday, where hundreds lined up along Capital Boulevard with signs, costumes and noisemakers to amplify their message demanding that Trump and his administration “got to go.”
A video sent in to CBS 17 by someone at the Raleigh protest shows protesters bearing signs and flags demanding equality are crossing a busy intersection near Capital Boulevard.
Hundreds along Capital Boulevard at the ‘No Kings’ protest in Raleigh (Glyniss Wiggins)Hundreds along Capital Boulevard at the ‘No Kings’ protest in Raleigh (Andrew Evans/CBS 17) People in Durham on Saturday for the ‘No Kings’ protests. The protest in Cary on Saturday near the intersection of Kildaire Farm Road at SE Maynard Road. People in Durham on Saturday for the ‘No Kings’ protests. Hundreds along Capital Boulevard at the ‘No Kings’ protest in Raleigh (Glyniss Wiggins) People in Durham on Saturday for the ‘No Kings’ protests.
As more people traversed to north Raleigh for the protest, so did traffic. NCDOT reported heavy congestion on U.S. Highway 1/Capital Boulevard near I-540 in both directions due to the ‘No Kings’ protest between 11:41 a.m. and 3:41 p.m., asking that drivers avoid the area.
No protesters blocked traffic and no arrests were made as of 12:30 p.m. Saturday, according to the Raleigh Police Department. Officers estimated between 200 and 1,000 people were gathered along Capital Boulevard.
In Durham, crowds swelled once people began marching from the CCB Plaza on Chapel Hill Street down Rigsbee Street. Someone from the protest in Durham shared with CBS 17 that by 12:30 p.m. a sea of protesters were marching the Rigsbee hill.
There is a rally taking place downtown as part of the national day of action, hosted by the North Carolina and Wake County Democratic Party. That will take place around 4 p.m. at the Capitol Building on Edenton Street in Raleigh.
More information about No Kings can be found here.
Source: Fox 8 News Channel
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