No Kings protest draws crowd

PERKINS TWP. — About 1,000 people in Sandusky joined tens of thousands of others who turned out Saturday across all 50 states to protest President Donald Trump during what organizers called the No Kings demonstrations. Critics contend Trump is on a path to authoritarianism by sending military units into states to quell protests — even though the military wasn't needed and wasn't requested — and by arresting people and deporting them without due process or proof of wrongdoing. A map published by CNN shows Ohio was among the states with the most protest sites. There were more than 55 demonstrations in the state, according to the map, with 10 in the northernmost Ohio counties alone. The crowd for the demonstration in Philadelphia could have exceeded 100,000 participants, according to news reports. In Cleveland, the crowd estimate was "at least 5,000," according to Idea Stream Public Media. In Sandusky, the crowd started gathering at 1 p.m. and grew steadily through the afternoon. By mid-afternoon, more than 1,000 people lined Milan Road (U.S. 250) in front of the Sandusky Mall, holding signs and calling out anti-Trump chants. "Imagine being scared of diversity but not dictatorship," was the message on one woman's sign. "Stop pretending that your racism is patriotism," declared another sign held overhead by another demonstrator. A Huron woman who attended the demonstration with her son said the No Kings theme is what brought her to the demonstration. "I don't want to live under a dictatorship," she said. One young woman, Bella from Port Clinton, said she attended Saturday's protest because it's important to her to fight to protect her rights. "We need to do better. We're a democracy, and we need to fight for our democracy," Bella said. Kate Rivet, an organizer of Saturday's demonstration, said the No Kings protest was a huge success. "This was our biggest demonstration this year," Rivet said, attributing the turnout to genuine fears in the community. Rivet is part of Firelands Indivisible, a local chapter of a nationwide anti-Trump political group. "Our efforts are a big part of it, but I think what's bringing people out is what is happening in our country right now," Rivet said. "The fears people have are about the actions our government is taking and its turn toward fascism." Saturday's demonstration was the third one this year in front of the Sandusky Mall. There was also a protest at the Erie County Courthouse in April and another one outside Kalahari Resorts & Conventions earlier this year, coinciding with a visit by Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.