cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/31700751
Rachel Leingang in Minneapolis, Andrew Gumbel in Los Angeles and Melissa Hellmann in Philadelphia
Sat 14 Jun 2025 18.45 EDT“No Kings organizers estimated the day’s events have so far drawn millions of people, with some hundreds still under way in all 50 states and to some cities abroad. These included over 200,000 in New York and over 100,000 in Philadelphia, plus some small towns with sizable crowds for their populations, including the town of Pentwater, Michigan, which saw 400 people join the protest in their 800-person town, the No Kings coalition said.”
I attended the rally in Madison today. It was a large and enthusiastic crowd, estimated at over 15,000. There was a lot of anger, but it was all directed toward positive ends. The protest was peaceful and non-destructive.
I have to give credit to the State Troopers who provided security for the event. They got right everything the police in LA have gotten wrong. Our police were pleasant, helpful, and low-key.
There was a good lineup of speakers. One of was a reporter and author named John Nichols who has written several books with Bernie Sanders. He arranged for Bernie to speak to the rally by phone.
I left feeling more positive than I have for quite a while. It’s easy to feel helpless, and the authoritarians are doing their best to promote that feeling. Being part of a huge crowd with a common goal makes fixing this mess seem possible.