Rhode Island residents gathered for a No Kings protest at the Rhode Island State House on Saturday, holding signs with slogans, wearing crowns and animal costumes and sharing their views of the Trump administration.
The signs were related to United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Palestine, democracy and President Donald Trump himself.
While walking, participants chanted: “When people are united they will never be defeated, no hate nor fear, immigrants are welcome here.”
URI students such as first-year Bella Wilson stood among the 30,000 protestors in Providence.
“I think it’s important to protest and fight for what you believe in,” Wilson said. “Things aren’t going well right now, so it’s best to do what we can even if it’s not much.”
Other URI students protested because of the importance of the first amendment.
“It’s important to stand up for what you believe in and exercise your American right of freedom of speech and assembly,” first-year Morgan Kelley said.
When the participants arrived in front of the State House in Providence, they listened to speakers invited by Rhode Island members of Indivisible, the group that started the “No Kings” protest. Each speaker talked about different struggles the U.S. faced over the century.
American citizens have to give the next generation a better world than we’re living in, according to Alisha Pina, organizer and emcee for the Providence No Kings protest.
“[The United States] needs change in their country, and they need it now,” Pina said. “This is what Americans live for, they know their rules don’t justify their borders.”
Rhode Islanders stand with individuals across the globe, according to Pina. There are so many people struggling from around the world. Americans can take care of those struggling in the U.S. because every ability and disability matters.
“There are more similarities [among the public] than there are differences,” Pina said.
Workers have fought for 100 years to have a voice on the job and to be able to bargain over their wages and health care, according to Jesse Martin, vice president of the Service Employees International Union 1199NE. The Trump administration’s big bill attacks Medicaid and will reduce the number of health care professionals they have in Rhode Island. People wait for hours in the emergency rooms because they prioritize billionaires, giving them a pass to get cared for.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement is also an attack on the United States by sneaking into homes and attacking essential workers, according to Martin. Without the workers, the economy wouldn’t be able to function.
“Here in Rhode Island, we’ve overcome those struggles,” Martin said. “800 workers at Butler Hospital went on strike [for three months] making it the longest one in [Rhode Island] history.”
The Trump administration wants the public to fear each other, according to Martin. However, everyone in the hospital strike stuck together on the picket-line.
The magic people sought in front of the capital was unity across differences, according to Martin. The integrity throughout the U.S. has been the backfold of American democracy for the working class. Together, Martin said citizens can work to build a better America.
Many Americans are working 100 hours a week to survive, and some even quit the system because of the decisions the Trump administration made so far this year, according to Martin. Martin believes the administration’s choices are trying to divide, demoralize and separate the public.
“[What] Americans deserve is an economy that builds a real future for everyone,” Martin said.
