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- Thousands expected at Salt Lake City's "No Kings" protest against Trump administration.
- Organizers emphasize safety with no weapons and collaboration with Utah law enforcement.
- Event aims to be a peaceful protest, highlighting nonviolent opposition to political violence.
SALT LAKE CITY — Thousands of protesters are anticipated at the "No Kings" rally in Salt Lake City this weekend.
And that's just one of 12 planned events in the state of Utah. More than 2,500 such events are scheduled for Oct. 18 nationally, as people protest the Trump administration.
Salt Lake Indivisible is leading the event at the state Capitol, in partnership with Green Wave, Our Revolution and national DemCast. The organization's leader, Sarah Buck, clarified to KUTV that there is no collaboration with Salt Lake Indivisible's safety protocol and 5050, the group that led the protest in June, where innocent bystander Arthur Folasa "Afa" Ah Loo, 39, was fatally wounded by a security "peacemaker" at the event.
Buck also told the outlet that no safety volunteers would have weapons at the Salt Lake City event and that they were working in collaboration with Utah law enforcement.
"Our 'No Kings' day is the people coming together in power and in peace to say to our leaders, no to kings, no to dictators, no to cruelty and no to corruption," Buck said in a press release. "This will be a historical day, as we are expecting it to be the largest peaceful protest in history."
The rallies come during a tense time for politics in the United States and just weeks after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. But organizers insist Saturday's events will be peaceful.
Sen. Nate Blouin, D-Salt Lake City, told the Deseret News that this movement will be the example of how to protest in America.
"In the wake of far too much recent political violence, the "No Kings" rallies across the country give Americans the opportunity to participate in nonviolent opposition to a regime that has adopted brutality and spite as central to their theory of governance. We will show our force in sheer numbers, not by picking up weapons and pitting our neighbors against one another," he said.
On Wednesday, the organizers announced that the protest will stay at the Capitol without any marching in the interest of ensuring public safety.
"Saturday's protest is all about standing up against tyranny emanating from the White House and taking root right here in Utah, where the supermajority GOP Legislature continues to subvert the will of voters," Blouin continued. "Trump's policies are raising prices and selling out ordinary Americans, and peaceful demonstration is at the core of our country's history of telling leaders who overstep their bounds that we demand accountability."
Who is funding 'No Kings'?
The "No Kings" website boasts 250 partners, including ACLU, American Federation of Teachers, Planned Parenthood, 50501 and League of Women Voters.
The first such protests were held on June 14.
Last week, Home of the Brave, a nonprofit with the mission of pushing against President Donald Trump and a partner with "No Kings," launched a $1 million national ad campaign in support of Saturday's rallies.
"There can be no doubt about it today: Donald Trump is acting like he's our king," George Conway, Home of the Brave advisory board member, said in the press release. "But that's not America. We have no king. Americans should peacefully turn out across the country on October 18 and let their voices be heard."
Other partners have sparked criticism online.
Utah Sen. Mike Lee posted on social media, pointing out that the "No Kings" movement meant to call out fascism is sponsored by Communist Party USA.
Blouin responded to the post, arguing that Lee's support of Trump means he supports communist actions.
Jennica Pounds, better known by her online name DataRepublican, posted a thread on X delving into the organizers behind the national protests and who they're funded by.
"This week, the movement that started with a Google Doc ... Indivisible ... is back in the streets," Pounds said. "Founded by former congressional staffers Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin and funded by George Soros' Open Society network, Indivisible has grown from a viral guide into one of the most powerful grassroots networks in the U.S. Now, they're leading 'No Kings,' a nationwide push to remind America that democracy means no one is above the law."
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Emma Pitts
