Latest news with #KickOutTheClowns
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Several hundred protest in Oak Ridge Saturday on "No Kings" Day of Action
A mostly jovial group of several hundred people demonstrated in the heart of Oak Ridge on Saturday, with all but about 20 of them protesting against President Donald Trump - who celebrated his 79th birthday that same day - and his policies. On one side of the Oak Ridge Turnpike were the demonstrators organized by the Anderson County Democratic Party. Party Chairman Chase Lindsey had said the Democratic parties in Roane and Morgan counties had been invited, as well as Third Act Tennessee, the Norris Area Indivisible group and the Indivisible RAM (Roane, Anderson and Morgan counties). Their demonstrators were on the side of the turnpike near the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce and Oak Ridge High School. It was labeled the "Kick Out the Clowns" demonstration. On the other side were demonstrators organized by Lena Elizer for the "No Kings" Day of Action. They were centered on the side of the turnpike near the Oak Ridge Public Library and the Recreation Center and parking lot. Elizer said she was not connected to the group Indivisible, which had partnered with dozens of advocacy groups for the "No Kings" Day of Action demonstrations across the nation. A small group of about 20 demonstrators were located on the same side as the "No Kings" protesters, but in front of the library parking lot. One demonstrator said they were there to celebrate Flag Day and to support their country. Many pro-Trump signs were stuck in the ground in front of the sidewalk where the stood. Anderson County Republican Party Chairman Zach Farrar told The Oak Ridger on Friday that he knew some people were going to demonstrate to mark Flag Day. However, he said the local Republican Party did not plan a counterprotest, as rumored, to those protesting the president and his policies. No matter which side they stood on - literally or figuratively - there were many American flags being waved and almost all involved were friendly and seemed to be having a good time. The drivers of cars and trunks driving through were honking their horns in support, with only a few displaying or shouting obscene objections. On the "No Kings" side, occasional cheers of "Hey, hey; ho, ho; Donald Trump has got to go" could be heard. Tennessee Highway Patrol aided the Oak Ridge police with traffic and demonstrator control. A city spokesperson said the Oak Ridge Police Department was aware of the protests ahead of time and extra Oak Ridge officers were working Saturday. The demonstrations were supposed to end at 2 p.m., but apparently went over that deadline. The city of Oak Ridge posted to its social media pages around 3 p.m. Saturday that the protests were over. The Oak Ridger's News Editor Donna Smith covers Oak Ridge area news. Email her at dsmith@ and follow her on Twitter@ridgernewsed. Support The Oak Ridger by subscribing. Offers available at This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Several hundred protest in Oak Ridge Saturday on "No Kings" Day of Action
Times
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Times
Drawing like a kid isn't child's play — but does it deserve an exhibition?
ST. CLOUD ( WJON News ) -- The rallies planned for St. Cloud today have been postponed. Both the 'No Kings' Rally and the 'Kick out the Clowns' protest have been delayed out of an abundance of caution and respect for the shooting death of Representative Melissa Hortman and the shooting of Senator John Hoffman . READ MORE: Update: More Details Revealed In Hortman/Hoffman Shootings All the 'Kick Out the Clowns' protests in the entire state have been postponed. Executive Director of Women's March Rachel O'Leary Carmona says, 'In light of the devastating attack that claimed the life of Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, we are canceling all remaining 'Kick Out the Clowns' events in Minnesota as law enforcement continues the search for the suspect.' READ MORE: UPDATED: Minnesota Protests Planned to Counter Trump Military Parade on Flag Day St. Cloud Police Chief Jeff Oxton says all the postponements are out of an abundance of caution and effort to promote public safety to keep all citizens safe. No makeup dates have been announced at this time. READ MORE FROM AUTHOR PAUL HABSTRITT:
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Anti-Trump Clown Protests Planned Across America
Protesters planning demonstrations during Donald Trump's birthday military parade have been urged to wear clown outfits and other festive attire as they mock the 'spectacle' in Washington on Saturday. After a week of clashes in Los Angeles, activists have also ramped up safety workshops, de-escalation tactics and first-aid training to avoid violent confrontations with authorities. Despite the president's threat that anyone raining on his parade would be met with 'heavy force', about 1800 demonstrations are expected to take place in cities and towns across the US in a national day of defiance. Among them are a series of nation wide protests called 'Kick out the Clowns', which will occur alongside the 'No Kings' demonstrations this weekend. 'It really occurred to us how much of a spectacle this is - not just the parade but also the administration,' said Women's March managing director Tamika Middleton, whose group is part of a coalition running the event. 'He's a reality show president, and a very unserious leader, so we're really recognizing how much of a circus the government has become.' The protests were sparked after Trump announced plans to host a military parade in Washington to mark the 250th anniversary of the US Army, coinciding with his 79th birthday. As tanks and soldiers line the streets of Washington, D.C. for the Saturday parade, thousands of people across the U.S. will provide a split screen of protests reminiscent of the 'Hands Off' rallies that took place earlier this year against Trump and his then DOGE chief, Elon Musk. Planning material shows that the 'Kick Out The Clowns' rallies will feature grassroots street circuses, and activists will wear clown costumes as they use humor to 'reflect the absurdity of the MAGA regime.' Safety workshops have also been offered over the past week by organizers from both protest campaigns in the hope that demonstrations will remain peaceful. Trump has strongly defended his military parade, saying it was a way to celebrate America's victories in war and remind people 'how great our country is.' Asked on Thursday if he viewed himself as a king, he replied: 'I don't feel like a king. I have to go through hell to get stuff approved.' The parade is expected to cost up to $45 million according to conservative estimates. It will feature twenty-eight 61-tonne Abrams battle tanks, a flock of artillery launchers, a fleet of 56 armoured Stryker and Bradley fighting vehicles, as well as Black Hawk, Apache, and Chinook helicopters. Thousands of troops will march in formation through the streets of D.C, and flyovers will roar through the skies. 'It's gonna be something very, very special,' Trump said. The parade has been likened to those that take place in authoritarian countries such as Russia and North Korea. It also comes as tensions flare over Trump's weekend decision to deploy federal troops to Los Angeles to deal with riots that occurred in response to ICE immigration raids. While Trump blamed Democrats for what unfolded, anger erupted on Thursday after Alex Padilla, a Democratic California senator and vocal critic of Trump's immigration policies, was forcibly removed and handcuffed while trying to ask questions at a press conference for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. 'We're in an existential crisis with respect to our democracy and our Constitution right now, in the face of a wannabe dictator in the White House,' said John Bonifaz, a constitutional lawyer and president of Free Speech for People, who is taking part in the 'No Kings' protest. 'That's why it's important that we all show up to these events to demonstrate that we will continue to stand up for our democracy and our constitution at this critical moment in history.' Earlier this week, Trump had also warned that anyone disrupting his parade on Saturday would be met with 'very heavy force'. American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten accused the president of trying to be 'intentionally provocative.' As such, protests would be taking place across the country, rather than centering on downtown DC to avoid playing into Trump's hands, she said. 'You'll hopefully have peaceful, non-violent protests to show that the rest of the country wants a president, not somebody who acts like a king,' she said.
