EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Hundreds of El Pasoans gathered Saturday afternoon, Oct. 18 to protest against the Trump Adminisration as part of a nationwide series of gatherings that grassroots organizers are calling “No Kings.”
Photos by Edith Montero/KTSM
El Pasoans gathered along Airway and Edgemere boulevards, holding signs that read “No Kings Since 1776,” “No kings, no fascists, not tyrants and no hate” and “Kings fall! People rise.”
The protest appeared to be peaceful and drivers were honking to show their support, according to the KTSM camera crew on the scene.
Law enforcement was also out patrolling the area, making their presence felt.
This is the second “No Kings” protest that has been held across the country since June.
National media organizations are estimating that 2,500 No Kings protests are being held Saturday across the nation.
This time, the protests come as the federal government has been shut down as Republicans and Democrats have been locked in a dispute over funding the government since Oct. 1.
Organizers say that President Donald Trump is leading an increasingly militarized and authoritarian regime with sweeping ICE raids and troop deployments in Democrat-led states.
Republicans, meanwhile, have criticized the protests as out of touch and some GOP members have called them “anti-American.”
A similar protest was scheduled for Las Cruces.
Rosa Anchondo, who attended the El Paso protest on Saturday, said she was there to stand up for “our freedom, for our Constitution, which will be dissolved if we allow the Trump Administration to continue in office.”
“I am standing up for all the people, for my daughter, for my grandchildren, for all of America,” she said. “Stand up, America. Wake up, America. Your freedom is being stripped away slowly.”
Hannah Stiverson, associate director for democracy protection at Human Rights First, said: “Millions across the country will take to the streets for ‘No Kings Day’ to stand up for freedom, accountability and the rule of law.”
“This is our moment to show that no one, not even those in power, are above the law,” she wrote in an email.
The Republican Party of New Mexico questioned whether the protesters were supporting Marxists, communism or even Hamas.
Here is a part of the statement the GOP of New Mexico sent out about the protests:
“Across New Mexico, protests are being organized under the banner of ‘No Kings,’ but many New Mexicans are left wondering, what exactly does this movement stand for. Are they uniting Marxists? Supporting communism, Antifa, or even Hamas? Are they calling for anarchy?
“Whatever the message behind these protests may be, it stands in stark contrast to what President Donald J. Trump has been doing for this country, putting America and Americans first. For the first time in modern history, we have a president who prioritizes the people over the political elite, families over government control, and the future of our children over the agendas of Washington insiders.”
Michael Aboud, the chairman of the El Paso County Republican Party sent KTSM the following statement:
“First, President Trump thanks them for making sure that he stays in office and that no kings tries to take his place.
“The truth is the Democrats planned the government shutdown and the protests are intentionally coordinated with the shutdown to attack the president.”
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