Cities across Nebraska are preparing for a second nationwide protest on Saturday. National organizers say the “No Kings 2.0” movement aims to promote democracy and oppose what they call authoritarian policies by President Donald Trump.
The “No Kings” movement began in June, encompassing 2,100 cities and an estimated 5 million people in attendance across the country. The new wave is expected to include 2,500 cities nationwide, including 14 cities across Nebraska.
Nebraska protests are planned in Alliance, Beatrice, Blair, Chadron, David City, Fremont, Grand Island, Hastings, Kearney, Norfolk, North Platte, Ogallala, Scottsbluff and Wayne, according to the Mobilize Us website.
Tiffany Burns, a general volunteer representing the Lincoln-partnered organization Taco Tuesdays Familia, pointed out that the movement has reached beyond the more Democratic areas in the state.
“When you have a protest in Chadron, Nebraska organized — when was the last time that happened?” Burns said. “It's definitely compelling people to feel like we have space and we have the obligation to speak out.”
She said that the protest is open to all Nebraskans regardless of political affiliation.
“Nebraska tends to be really moderate. I think people would call themselves more traditional Republicans that would be fiscally conservative, but not necessarily conservative on social issues,” Burns said. “We're very welcoming, we support our neighbors, we love our neighbors, we support local businesses.”
Burns said she hopes the protest brings Nebraskans together while empowering voices.
“The goal for this is to continue to have people feel empowered to speak out, to be connected to each other, to recognize that there is a community that is feeling the same way that they are concerned,” Burns said.
Elected Republicans, like House Speaker Mike Johnson, labeled the protests as a “hate-America rally.” Johnson warned that the rally would attract “the pro-Hamas wing” and “Antifa people” in a Fox interview Oct. 10. President Trump designated Antifa as a domestic terrorist group Sept. 22.
Republican officials echoed Johnson’s message, and some, like Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, predicted the protest would turn violent.
“We are really trying to ensure that people are able to speak out, to share their outrage, but do it in a way that makes it clear," Burns said. “What we're asking for is for people to be treated humanely, you know, like we're asking you to follow the law.”
Nebraska Republican officials view this national protest as a distraction from the ongoing government shutdown.
“I understand that the Democrats' base have scheduled a No Kings protest in Washington, D.C., and what I'm hearing among colleagues in Washington is that the Democrats are in no mood to come to the table until after that protest,” Nebraska Rep. Mike Flood told Nebraska Public Media in an Oct. 8 interview.