Thousands protest in North Alabama on second nationwide No Kings Day

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - Thousands of people packed the streets in North Alabama Saturday as part of another nationwide No Kings rally.

Crowds gathered in Huntsville and Athens to protest what organizers called President Donald Trump’s crackdown on First Amendment rights.

Protest organizers estimate several thousand people gathered in Huntsville Saturday morning on Governors Drive, all the way from Memorial Parkway to the beginning of the mountain.

Many protesters were impressed by the last turnout a few months ago, but this one was even bigger.

“I got pretty emotional when I saw how many people were out here,” said first-time protester Jesse Doggett. “It’s crazy.”

“The energy and the excitement and the crowds just in — for the previous No Kings and for this one — is very different for Huntsville,” added longtime protester Larisa Thomason. “There is something happening here on the streets, whether people want to believe it or not.”

Thomason, who says she’s marched on Washington several times, says these crowds reflect passion from thousands of people who are desperate for change.

“I feel things in this country are slipping away. We’re going to continue to fight it,” she said. “We don’t have secret police in the U.S. We don’t snatch people off the streets. We don’t ignore court orders, and we don’t trash the Constitution.”

In Athens, around 300 people gathered for their protests — tripled the crowd that gathered months ago.

They believe this is just indicative of how dire the situation has become, and how important it is for them to come forward and fight for what they say is right.

“I am so glad to see people standing up,” said protester Steve Trent. “Because when we see people’s rights being violated, trampled on, no due process, shipped away, treated like cattle, then it’s our job as citizens to stand up for them.”

These protesters called on local representatives to hear their concerns, and for Congress to end this lockout, saying nothing will be accomplished and the country won’t move forward if they can’t settle their differences and compromise.

“We’ve gone to extremes,” said NASA scientist Michael Goodman. “We need to stand up and let the people know, let our Congress know that we need to work together.”

Alabama Congressman Dale Strong posted on social media about Saturday’s rallies — particularly one in Washington D.C.— saying the “protest in D.C. is another example of liberals’ misplaced priorities. Democrats are fine to let the Capitol Police stand watch over what is really just a ‘Hate America Rally,’ but refuse to ensure those same officers get paid on time.”

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