Those who attended the Saturday No Kings protest rally in downtown Grand Rapids appeared conflicted on the exact message or call to action behind their movement.
Demonstrations attended by a few hundred people began with “singing resistance” in Calder Plaza, where a large stage and sound system was built. The crowd later processed to Rosa Parks Circle, where several activist groups addressed the crowd and led chants.
Among those in the crowd was City Commissioner AliciaMarie Belchak, who told The Grand Rapids Herald she was participating in her capacity as a citizen and not as an elected official. When asked by The Herald what specifically was being protested, the commissioner explained she understood the “No Kings” proceedings to be a critique of President Donald Trump.
“With the erosion that the current administration is doing, the corruption, the tyranny, it’s a slippery slope of the erosion of our rights across the board,” she said. “We are all one, and we should be voicing that together because pretty soon it will come for us and our rights.”
Several protesters appeared to align with this sentiment as they joined in chants calling to “dump Trump” and that the president “has got to go.” Others, however, told The Herald differing reasons for coming out to the protest.
Audrey Vanuna said she came out to the event to show her disapproval of immigration enforcement, saying, “I do not like the way the country is being run right now and how immigrants are being treated.”
Another attendee, who identified himself as Raulio, said he was simply “tired of everything” and wanted to “change the country.”
Messaging from those addressing the crowd was equally conflicted. While many chant leaders called for “justice” and “resistance,” their speeches touched a wide array of topics, including racial equality, Christian nationalism, and even the Epstein files.
Many signs hoisted by event attendees also expressed frustration with everyone from Congress to Elon Musk.
The event was part of a nationwide “No Kings” protest, which is backed by a conglomerate of left-leaning charities and activist groups. Organizing Saturday’s event locally was Indivisible Greater Grand Rapids, a group linked to billionaire Democratic donor George Soros.
Write to jackson@grherald.com