“No Kings” protests Draw Thousands in Arizona,Nationwide Demonstrations Condemn Trump Administration
Tucson,AZ – Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across Tucson and southern Arizona on Saturday as part of a nationwide wave of “No Kings” protests targeting the policies and actions of President Donald Trump. Over 2,500 demonstrations were anticipated across the country, fueled by widespread opposition to the current administration.
In Tucson, the protests began shortly after 8:00 a.m. with hundreds marching into El Presidio Plaza, adjacent to City Hall. Thousands more lined Speedway Boulevard, demonstrating a broad base of support for the movement. Similar protests unfolded in communities throughout the region, including Oro Valley, Marana, Vail, Sahuarita, and Green Valley.
Organizers of the “No Kings” movement framed the demonstrations as a reclaiming of America “by the people,” a direct response to what they describe as power grabs, corruption, and overreach by the Trump administration.
The protests resonated deeply with individuals on a personal level. Adam Velasco, a local high school history teacher, expressed fears for his job security due to perceived attacks on the Department of education. “I’m really worried about the future,” Velasco stated.
Concerns extended to workplace safety as well.Shahar Ben-Yeoshua, an electrician, voiced anxieties over potential rollbacks to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. “If we loose OSHA, we lose the standards that protect us. Its a perilous situation when our rights and protections are stripped away,” he explained.
Protesters carried signs and waved flags advocating for a diverse range of issues, from immigrant rights and federal worker support to the immediate seating of Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva. Grijalva’s delayed seating by House Speaker Mike Johnson, despite winning her election weeks prior, left over 900,000 Arizonans without portrayal in Congress and became a focal point of the demonstration.
A common thread uniting the protesters was a sense of disillusionment and concern for the future of the country. Mabel Sproule, an immigrant from Mexico, shared her feelings of fear and frustration with the President’s rhetoric and policies towards Mexican-Americans. “I love this country, I’ve worked and raised my family here, but I’ve never seen it like this,” she said.
The protests drew criticism from some GOP leaders, including Speaker Johnson, who labeled the events a “Hate America Rally.” however, protesters vehemently rejected this characterization
