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In a powerful show of unity, thousands gathered in Downtown Salt Lake City to participate in one of 18 “No Kings” protests held across Utah on Saturday. The demonstration was part of a broader global movement, with over 3,200 similar events planned worldwide.
Upon arrival, the scene was vibrant and charged with energy as approximately 8,000 participants, according to the Utah Highway Patrol, marched toward the Utah State Capitol. This substantial turnout was just one part of the global wave of activism taking place that day.
Standing on the Capitol steps, Jeanetta Williams, President of the Salt Lake Branch of the NAACP, addressed the crowd with a powerful message. “We are here today to make a profound and unmistakable statement,” she declared. “We have no kings, we answer to no throne, this is a democracy.”
Williams emphasized the ongoing struggle that the NAACP has championed for generations, urging the U.S. to fulfill its promise of protecting citizens’ rights. “Let me be very clear,” she continued, “nobody gave us these rights; we fought for them. And we are not about to let them take those away from us.”
“Let me be very clear, nobody gave us these rights; we fought for them,” Williams said. “And we are not about to let them take those away from us.”
“Let us be loud and undeniable,” Williams added. “No ICE,” no SAVE Act, and no kings.”
Williams was just one of the civil rights activists who spoke out, raising their voices to the ears of United States leaders at the Salt Lake City rally.
Saturday’s set of demonstrations, dubbed “No Kings 3.0,” included 18 rallies across Utah and over 3,200 worldwide, all with speakers advocating for checks and balances. Several speakers emphasized their rejection of what they say is “authoritarian leadership” and the idea that no one should hold unchecked power, especially the president.
The Salt Lake City rally began at 2 p.m. in Washington Square Park, where Utah Highway Patrol says an estimated 8,000 people gathered on the block.
They then chanted in harmony and marched several blocks to the Capitol, where they rallied. Hundreds of flags could be seen rising above the protesters’ heads as they walked the over 1.3-mile trek.
ABC4 spoke with several protesters as they settled in on the Capitol steps, all with similar goals.
Aubrey, one of the protesters, told ABC4 that she attended the rally in support of people who may not feel brave enough to stand up for what they believe in. “We don’t stand for wrongdoing here in our state, and we hope our leaders hear our voices.”
Protesters were ecstatic about the number of people who showed up to support their cause: rallying against President Donald Trump’s administration.
“It’s time that we all woke up, joined together, and stop focusing on party politics and get our country back,” exclaimed Rochelle Bradfield, another protestor. “That’s why I am here, and I’m so grateful for this opportunity.”
Trent Romijn told ABC4 that he believes “it’s a callout to the democrats to remember that it’s the people who will vote you out if you do not come up with something that reflects our ideas and our future for America.”