Protest movement’s ‘No Kings’ rally will ‘rebuke authoritarianism’ this Saturday in Downtown Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh will soon join the growing list of cities with large-scale protests against the Trump administration.

The 50501 protest movement will hold a so-called “No Kings” rally and march from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the City-County Building in Downtown to rebuke what it deems “rising authoritarianism.” 

“People of all political stripes who oppose the erosion of democratic norms and the rise of authoritarianism are welcome,” rally organizers said in a news release. “The event centers community power and grassroots leadership as a bulwark against unchecked authority.”

The rally will feature speakers, community art, tables with information from local organizations, and music from the Pittsburgh Labor Choir and local activist and singer-songwriter Mike Stout. One of those speakers will be Natalie Duleba, striking Pittsburgh Post-Gazette designer and editor and TNG/CWA Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh Local 38061 secretary.

Event organizers encourage those planning on attending to bring cause-based flags, banners and signs.

The route of the march will be announced before the rally, according to the organizers.

A demonstration at Freedom Corner in the Hill District starts at 2 p.m., organized by Indivisible Pittsburgh and the Black Empowerment Project or B-Pep Pittsburgh, followed by a march to the City-County Building. Other protests will be taking place Saturday in other parts of the region, including Cranberry, Mt. Lebanon, Greensburg, Beaver and Washington, Pennsylvania. See www.nokings.org for a map with protest locations and more details. A Vigil for Academic Freedom and Scientific Excellence will be held outside Mellon Institute in Oakland at 6 p.m.

Protests against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown and other policies have spread in cities throughout the country in recent days, including in Los Angeles, where President Donald Trump has sent the National Guard and U.S. Marines to quell demonstrations. 

Saturday will also be the day of the Trump-ordered military parade in Washington that will cost taxpayers up to $45 million, according to the Associated Press. “ ‘No Kings’ is a call to reject the idea that power should belong to any one person, party or ruling class,” the news release said. “As threats to democracy mount across the country, this event brings together a nonpartisan coalition of people who believe in shared power, civic participation and freedom from authoritarian rule — no matter where they fall on the political spectrum.”