PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Several “No Kings” protests are expected to take place across the Hampton Roads region Saturday.
The Oct. 18 event follows a nationwide series of No Kings protests that took place during the summer in which thousands of locals across Hampton Roads participated.
According to a release, protesters nationwide are expected to rally in opposition to what they feel is authoritarianism in the White House.
“Like the first No Kings events in June, the rallies in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake are organized as peaceful protests to Trump’s consolidation of power,” COVA Coalition co-founder Carrie Short said. “Trump is overstepping his authority to cut public funding, fire people and charge tariffs — violating the Constitution and stripping Congress of its power. We the people want to remind Trump that America has no kings.”
Ahead of the planned protests, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced the authorization of National Guard members to be placed in “state active duty” status. His full statement can be read below:
“With planned protests across the country this weekend, including in Virginia, I want to be clear that Virginians have a fundamental right to free speech and peaceful assembly, but that right does not include the destruction of property, looting, vandalism, disruption of traffic, or violence of any kind—for which there will be zero tolerance. We are coordinating closely with local, state, and federal law enforcement and I have authorized members of the National Guard to be placed in ‘state active duty’ status to ensure the Guard will be ready to respond alongside our substantially increased police presence to help keep Virginians safe.”
The release went on to say that organizers of the No Kings protest this Saturday have reported 18 million people registered to participate in an event nationwide.
A list of No Kings protests in the Hampton Roads region can be found below:
- NO KINGS Chesapeake — Saturday, Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to noon at 100 Volvo Parkway
- NO KINGS in Coastal Virginia — Saturday, Oct. 18 from noon to 2:30 p.m. at Town Center Fountain Plaza, located at 197 Central Park Avenue, Virginia Beach
- NO KINGS Newport News — Saturday, Oct. 18 from 2-4 p.m. at Tech Center side of intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Oyster Point Road
- NO KINGS 2, Williamsburg — Saturday, Oct. 18 from noon to 2 p.m. at Williamsburg James City County Courthouse
- NO KINGS Mathews — Saturday Oct. 18 from 5-6 p.m. at Liberty Square
- NO KINGS Eastern Shore of Virginia — Saturday, Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 12168 Lankford Highway
The Fountain in Virginia Beach Town Center will be the site of just one of many No Kings Rallies set to take place.
“We’ve been planning this now for pretty close to two months,” said organizer Pete Woodhead. “it’s just going to be a fun, peaceful, joyful, celebratory, and yet protesting event. Because we’re not happy with the way things are going right now.”
Woodhead says he and other organizers for the Virginia Beach rally are expecting a larger turnout compared to June’s rally and that, when it comes to preparations, the two things on everyone’s minds are peace and safety.
“We’ve been trying to bring in people to work as what we call marshals — they’re safety people,” said Woodhead. “The safety marshals will help keep people off of the streets, on the sidewalks, guide them from place to place, help them cross the street with the traffic lights and things like that. We also have first aid responders. We have a med tent that we’re going to set up. We’re pretty much prepared for any contingency.”
For more information on a protest near you or to register, click here.
Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.
