Nationwide "No Kings" protests took place Saturday as demonstrators returned to the streets to show their disapproval of the Trump administration and its policies.
More than two dozen "No Kings" protests were scheduled across Northeast and North Central Ohio Saturday, according to the No Kings coalition website.
Roughly 700 protesters lined both sides of Ridgewood Drive in Parma Saturday morning.
The majority of voters in the suburban city opted for Trump in the last three presidential elections. But protester and Parma resident Holly Fondale said she thinks people are becoming fed up with Trump in the city.
“I talked to a lot of Republicans, Independents, Democrats, moderate Democrats, far left Democrats. There's a difference this time," she said. "This is affecting a lot of people. A lot of people are going to lose their health insurance. They're not going to be able to afford it. The cost of living is ridiculous. A lot of people are agreeing on more and more things, and this is different.”
She and several other protesters wore colorful inflatable animal suits; hers was a chicken she called “Taco.”
Speakers at the Parma protest included Gulf War veteran and Twinsburg resident Tim Hauser, who raised concerns about cuts to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs affecting health care for veterans, and organizer Kameron Damaska, who called for a general strike.
“I know we all are feeling that pain, and we need to think about, how can this movement pressure in new ways?” Damaska said. “And imagine thousands, millions of people walking out of work in order to protest the Trump administration. That's going to get your bosses' attention.”
Barb Kaplan, with Crooked River Action, which is part of the progressive Indivisible activist group that organized the "No Kings" protests, estimated more than 4,000 people were at the rally in Cuyahoga Falls Saturday.
“The sidewalks are dense (with people), you can barely get through them,” she said. “It’s a very happy and positive event, no issues at all, just people who really want a country that works for them and not just a few billionaires.”
Michael Boles, a 74-year-old veteran from Stow, said the "No Kings" event in Cuyahoga Falls was the first time he’s gone to a protest.
“I served during the Vietnam War period and I didn’t believe in the Vietnam War, but I did what I had to do,” he said. “And I don’t want … a dictator in this country, and that’s the way it’s going.”
In Strongsville, a protest organizer estimated about 3,500 people lined the sidewalk on Pearl Road, while hundreds had already lined SOM Center Road in Solon by noon. Organizers later said in a statement about 4,000 people attended the Solon event in total.
Thousands also marched through Downtown Cleveland, where Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb was among the elected officials and event organizers who spoke to the crowd.
More than 300 people gathered outside the Tuscarawas County Courthouse in New Philadelphia, according to estimates from two police officers on scene. Kimberly Schlarb said Saturday's crowd was the largest "No Kings" protest she's seen.
"Stripping human beings of their basic rights. Truth and lies. It's enough. We don't need this. This is not democracy," Schlarb said. "Women are not safe in this country anymore. You get taken away from this country based on a job you hold, or the way that you look, or an ethnicity that you are."
Suzie Harmon, of Navarre, said she was at the New Philadelphia event to protest the Trump administration as a whole, but noted its recent crackdown on immigration.
"We're here to support the rights of all Americans, and we feel that immigration is a vital part of our country," Harmon said. "And we don't like any of Trump's agenda, and we feel he has no plans for the future and no plans to make America great."
Lisa Altobelli, of Elyria, stood with the early growing count of more than 300 lining Lorain Road at North Ridgeville's "No Kings" gathering. Altobelli held a handmade sign with a heart drawn around the word "America" above the word "King," which was slashed out.
“Nobody in Congress is standing up to Trump, so I’m out here showing my fend for democracy and looking for change,” Altobelli said.
Cathy Fox, a member of Lorain County Democratic Women, said everyone had a different reason for being there.
“Some wanted to just be around people that make them comfortable, among people that can tell them where they can be at a meeting,” Fox said. “Some people wanted to bring their children out to give them an idea about democracy.”
Colleen Harrison-Jorgensen, a resident of Carlisle Township, noted the federal government's decision to rescind funding for public media. She held a sign reading “Say Something, Do Something, Make Some Noise.” Beside her was a small wagon with giant "PBS" letters across the side. Stuffed Big Bird, Elmo and Cookie Monster toys sat in the wagon with a sign that read, “Laid Off by Trump."
“I don’t like what’s happening, especially with PBS,” Harrison-Jorgensen said. “I know a lot of people rely on that and I’m a big fan of PBS.”
As with the June "No Kings" protest in Hudson, people lined Darrow Road through the heart of downtown, many holding signs, chanting, “Show me what democracy looks like. This is what democracy looks like” and “Dump Trump.”
At one point, one group began singing “This Land is Your Land.” They carried a wide variety of signs, ranging from professionally produced to homemade, all playing on the "No Kings" theme of the rally.
Mary Jo Alexander, from Hudson, attended the previous "No Kings" rally in June. She held a hand-painted sign featuring a yellow crown with a red slash across it.
"I think as long as I can have a voice, my own screeching, hollering, trying to not use curse words, I’m going to make my voice heard," she said. "Sometimes it’s a small group, sometimes it’s a very large group, but the numbers will add up. I certainly hope it adds up to a message to our congresspeople so they can see that we’re not rolling over.”
Eric Davis, also from Hudson, brought a bubble machine that produced a steady stream of bubbles.
“Because you can’t have a violent protest with bubbles,” he explained, adding, "It feels more serious this time. I mean, it was real back in June, but it seems much more critical now, because there’s even more horrible things going on that I’m here to protest against from this administration.”
James Bischoff was holding a handmade cardboard sign on a stick which read, “Best sign we could afford in this economy.” He said he it was important to “show up and make sure that those who are less fortunate don’t feel alone."
He was at the first No Kings protest in June and said he struggles with the fact that little seems to have changed.
“The hope is that we continue to show up and we continue to do the right things, and eventually we’ll see that pay off. So, the fight is early, but we’re here," he said.
Saturday marked the second round of organized "No Kings" protests after droves of demonstrators protested Trump's military parade held in celebration of the Army's 250th anniversary in June, which coincided with Trump's birthday. The "No Kings" movement accuses Trump of behaving more like a monarch than an elected president.
Saturday's protests took place as Immigrations and Custom Enforcement arrests and the deployment of National Guard troops continue nationwide. Many signs and protesters expressed outrage at ramped up ICE raids, and anger about cuts to federal funding. Organizers started "No Kings" protests in dissent of what they say are abuses of power committed by the Trump administration.
