Saturday’s ‘No Kings’ rallies will focus on early voting

Thousands of people around the country will protest the Trump administration on Saturday at “No Kings” rallies, which will focus on early voting ahead of the midterm elections. 

The No Kings Vote Early event will start next to Memorial Circle in Arlington, VA, featuring a rally and voter fest. Then, participants will march across the Memorial Bridge to the Lincoln Memorial Plaza in Washington, D.C.

“It’s not about did 10 million people show up?’, it’s about ‘are all the neighborhoods letting their people know where to vote, when to vote and that it’s important that they vote?’” Susan Douglas, an organizer with Third Act DMV, said. 

The rally will include live music and tables where voters can get information. “The purpose of those tables is what this whole No Kings event is about, which is getting people aware of what’s on the ballot, making sure they’re registered, if they haven’t voted, reminding them when they can vote,” Douglas said. 

In the past, No Kings protesters lined the streets with signs to draw attention to the president and policies they disagree with, but with the election getting closer, Saturday’s push will be to get people to the polls or vote early if possible.

“So, our past No Kings and a lot of the street protests and big rallies have demonstrated that there is people power out there unhappy with the situation and what we’re doing with this event is turning that people power into voter power,” Laura Usher, an organizer with Indivisible Route One Corridor, said. “Because we are concerned about interference with the election, the best way to prevent that is to get as many people to vote and to get as many people to vote early as possible.”

Another local organization, We of Action Virginia, will hold vote-early, turnout and election-defense events in Arlington as well. 

Gas prices, health care and the Iran war are among the issues on the minds of voters, according to Micaela Pond, founder of We of Action Virginia.  

“People are feeling angry and frustrated, but we are trying to be hopeful and say, ‘Well, your vote is your voice. So, if you don’t like those things, then get out there and vote. So, we can try to change course,’” Pond said. 

For those planning to attend Saturday’s rally at Memorial Circle, some metro stations, including Arlington Cemetery, will be closed.