‘No Kings' protest in Columbus highlights national concerns
'I'm not proud right now to call myself an American,' protestor Marina Aveni said. 'It's almost embarrassing when we see people that are from other countries, and they're saying like, gosh, what's going on over there. We don't feel like we have our rights anymore.'
A crowd of around 4,000 gathered to voice their concerns over Trump Administration policies.
'I don't recognize this country,' protestor, Brittani Caddel, said. 'I don't want to cry. As a woman, I don't feel protected by my country. As a woman of color, I don't feel safe in my country.'
Organizers said with all the chaos happening at the federal level, they're staying laser-focused on where they know they can have the most impact: right here at home.
1970s fish and chips chain to make central ohio return
'Our whole goal is, you know, no kings,' 50501 lead organizer, Madison Tracy, said. 'We have no kings in America. We've done that once. We've got rid of a king almost 200 years ago. And, you know, we're not doing that again.'
Protestors spoke out against what they call fascism, dictatorship, and oligarchy being displayed right now. The peaceful movement has been taking place across the entire state.
'What's really magical is that a lot of these towns are in red rural counties,' Tracy said. 'So, it's showing something. It's sending a message that this current administration is not, you know, living up to the ideals of what most people want.'
The 'No Kings' protest follows several days of nationwide protests against federal immigration raids, including in Los Angeles.
'I never thought in my lifetime that I would see this,' protestor, Lindsay Ronneberg, said. 'It's like World War II. People need to get a history lesson because it's all happening again. I have immigrant friends. I have relatives with green cards. We're scared for everyone.'
'I couldn't imagine what this city would be like without the immigrant population,' Caddel said. 'They keep this city moving literally from transportation to restaurants.'
The president said he's trying to preserve law and order while going after criminals.
'Donald Trump wants to see violence. Donald Trump wants to see antagonists,' Tracy said. 'That's part of the reason why he sent in the National Guard to L.A. He wants to antagonize protesters. He wants protesters to react.'
'People come here for opportunity,' Caddel said. 'That's what we're taught. America was built on the land of the free and the home of the brave, and people are terrified in their own homes right now that their door might get kicked in. That's not Ohio. That's not America.'
Columbus protestors rallied Friday, so they didn't interfere with the Pride march Saturday. Nationwide protests are planned for Saturday during the Trump-backed military parade in Washington, which coincides with the president's 79th birthday.
'2026 coming, 2028's coming,' protestor Richard Lee said. 'Thank god this is his last time, and maybe we'll get someone in there to listen to the people. Why are you taking away money? The parade that he's going to have Saturday is taking supposedly forty-two million dollars away, could be going to welfare, Medicaid, or my brother's veterans. You know, that's not right.'
Protest organizers said protestors from Cincinnati and Cleveland will be coming to Columbus for a 50501 protest on July 4 from 12 to 4 p.m. at the Ohio Statehouse.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Brazil scrambles as U.S. tariff deadline looms, talks stall
By Luciana Magalhaes, Lisandra Paraguassu, Bernardo Caram and Ana Mano SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Brazil is scrambling to avert punishing 50% U.S. tariffs in a week's time, but high level talks are stalled and U.S. companies are reluctant to confront U.S. President Donald Trump over the issue, officials and industry leaders say. Trump linked the tariffs, which he has said would come into effect on Aug. 1, to Brazil's treatment of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is on trial over charges of plotting a coup to stop President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office. Lula has called the threatened duty "unacceptable blackmail." No new diplomatic talks have occurred since last month, and a Brazilian counter-proposal sent in May went unanswered, two diplomats with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Brazilian Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin told reporters on Thursday that he reiterated the country's willingness to negotiate in a Saturday discussion with U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick. The lack of communication has left Brazil with dwindling options as the deadline approaches. "If he wanted to talk, he would pick up the phone and call me," Lula said of Trump at an event on Thursday. The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Negotiations are complicated by U.S. concerns over the prosecution of Bolsonaro, a Trump ally, one diplomat said, calling it a major roadblock. Trump announced the proposed 50% tariffs on Brazil on July 9 despite a U.S. trade surplus with the country - lining it up for one of the world's very highest such levies, close to China's 55% rate. In a series of 18 meetings, Alckmin has urged representatives from U.S. firms including General Motors, John Deere and Alphabet Inc to press Washington on the issue. However, the companies are reluctant to confront Trump for fear of retaliation, according to a government official and Ricardo Alban, president of Brazil's main industry lobby, CNI. "Things are very tense," Alban told reporters on Thursday. Also on Thursday, a group of Democratic senators condemned the tariffs on Brazil as a "clear abuse of power" in a letter to Trump. The tariffs could have a severe economic impact. The CNI estimates over 100,000 Brazilian jobs could be lost, potentially trimming 0.2% from the country's gross domestic product. The country's powerful agribusiness lobby, CNA, projects the value of its U.S. exports could fall by half. Alban said the potential blow to exporters could be worse than the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that business leaders are asking the government for aid, suggesting new credit lines. In response, some companies are already adjusting their trade strategies. Motor maker WEG is considering a plan to use its plants in Mexico and India to supply the U.S., its chief financial officer told analysts. Meat exporter Naturafrig Alimentos has begun redirecting shipments to other countries, according to commercial director Fabrizzio Capuci. Other companies are turning to the courts. Orange juice producer Johanna Foods, for example, has sued the Trump administration over the proposed tariffs. Companies in sectors ranging from steel to chemicals are also facing export contract cancellations, according to one advisor who asked not to be named. Abiquim, an association that represents chemical companies in Brazil, confirmed cancellations due to the threat of tariffs, without naming the companies affected. A lobby group representing steel companies declined to comment.
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Gastonia resident and RNC Chair Michael Whatley expected to launch bid for Tillis' seat
Michael Whatley, a Gastonia resident and the chair of the Republican National Party, is expected to seek the seat held by U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, who announced he would not seek re-election voting against advancing President Donald Trump's " big, beautiful bill," Republicans' massive domestic policy legislation. Whatley, one of the driving forces in the GOP today, would likely face former Gov. Roy Cooper in the race. The Democrat, whose final term as governor was bookended by the COVID-19 pandemic and Tropical Storm Helene, is expected to soon launch a campaign, according to reporting from Axios. Whatley began his climb in the GOP more than 2 decades ago. He served as chair of the Gaston County Republican Party from 1999-2001. In 2019 he was to picked to lead the North Carolina Republican Party, and in 2024 he became chair of the Republican National Committee. He has served as a senior official in the George W. Bush administration, and as chief of staff for former Sen. Elizabeth Dole. Politico reported this week that Whatley has the backing of Trump, whose daughter-in-law Lara Trump had also been rumored to be considering a bid. In a July 24 social media post, Lara Trump confirmed she would not be seeking the Senate seat. 'I am deeply grateful for the encouragement and support I have received from the people of my home state whom I love so much,' she wrote. Whatley did not respond to a July 24 request for comment from the Asheville Citizen Times. A White House spokesperson also did not respond to a request for comment on the president's reported endorsement. On the Democratic side, Axios first reported Cooper's intentions July 23. When reached by the Citizen Times, Morgan Jackson, a longtime political adviser to Cooper, declined to confirm Axios' reporting, but said the former governor 'would be making his intentions known in the coming days.' Cooper, who served two terms as North Carolina's governor, is a likely frontrunner to win his party's primary. Former Congressman Wiley Nickel is also vying for the seat, currently held by Tillis, who annnounced in June that he would not seek a third term in office. A matchup between Cooper and Whatley will likely be a high-stakes, expensive election that could determine whether Republicans can maintain control of the Senate. The race could prove to be 'as close to a toss-up as exists in American politics,' Chris Cooper, a professor of political science and public affairs at Western Carolina University, told the Citizen Times on July 24. Cooper, who is not related to the former governor, said both are 'heavyweight candidates with access to deep pockets and networks.' But neither Roy Cooper, nor Whatley, have outsized personalities that have often dominated politics in recent years. 'I think people who are expecting a barn-burner campaign driven by candidate narratives may be surprised,' Cooper said. Sarah Honosky contributed reporting. Jacob Biba is the Helene recovery reporter at the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Email him at jbiba@ This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Gastonia resident and RNC chair Michael Whatley may campaign for Tillis' seat
Fox News
16 minutes ago
- Fox News
Trump sends message to Obama: He ‘owes me BIG'
President Donald Trump discusses a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity amid his accusations against former President Barack Obama for pushing a faulty Trump-Russia collusion narrative.
