Birmingham turned out in force as part of the nationwide “No Kings Day” protests on Saturday. Organized by Birmingham Indivisible, crowds filled Railroad Park before marching around the city in protest of Trump Administration policies.
Former Democratic U.S. Sen. Doug Jones was one of several speakers before a sprawling crowd against a backdrop of American flags.
“We pledged a duty not just to the Constitution,” Jones said. “We pledged to each other that we would defend all the rights laid out almost 250 years ago.”
ACLU of Alabama Executive Director JaTaune Bosby Gilchrist encouraged the crowd to continue protesting under their First Amendment rights.
“We stand as proof of the power of the people who built this movement, who understand what it takes to build a movement right here in Birmingham, Alabama,” Gilchrist said.
Many in the audience wore inflatable animal costumes from axolotls to unicorns. Lindsay Dunahee was part of a group of axolotls who were inspired by protesters in Portland, Oregon, who dressed up as giant frogs.
“We really like the idea of the absurdity being the protest,” Dunahee said. “The narrative is that the (political) left is violent. The left is reactionary. We’re trying very loudly to be like, ‘how scary is this, though?’”
Rev. J.R. Finney of the United Church of Christ said he was there protesting on behalf of his faith and Christian principles. He was particularly concerned about cuts to Medicaid under the Republican-backed One Big Beautiful Bill that passed Congress this summer.
“We are cutting millions of people off from health care,” Finney said. “It’s a disgrace. And it’s been done by MAGA congressmen who claim to be Christians. Nothing could be farther from the Christian virtues of Jesus. Our country is in trouble.”
Most of the protesters carried either full-sized or miniature flags and handmade signs, decrying President Donald Trump and opposing fascism. One protester, Katherine Harrington, wore the flag around her shoulders and her former Navy fatigues underneath.
“‘No Kings’ means that we have a president that works for the people by the people, not making us work for him,” Harrington said.
After hearing the speeches, protesters marched around a dozen downtown city blocks, banging drums and chanting.
“No Trump! No KKK! No fascist USA!” protesters shouted. The crowd sometimes shouted call and response chants to each other. “Tell me what democracy looks like! This is what democracy looks like!”
Marchers at the front of the parade eventually met back up with the last of the group as they set off from Railroad Park.
