Alexandrians turned out en masse Saturday, Oct. 18 for the No Kings rally at Market Square in the heart of Old Town Alexandria.
“From cuts to SNAP and Medicaid to ICE raids and attacks on free speech—our families deserve better,” Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins, who spoke at the rally, noted on social media: “We’re tired of fear, division, and neglect. It’s time to stand up, speak out, and say loud and clear: enough is enough.”
The Alexandria rally was one of about 2,700 rallies held across the United States that attracted 7 million people, about 2 million more than similar protests in June, according to organizers. The protests took place during a government shutdown that began Oct. 1 that impacts about 189,000 federal workers in Virginia, as well as federal contractors and some state employees that depend on federal funding.
“Donald Trump poses a clear threat to our democracy, and today people in our community and across the country came together to stand up to authoritarianism and corruption,” Rep. Don Beyer (D-8th) noted. “Americans and Alexandrians say No Kings!”…