Hundreds of Fairfax County residents are expected to hit the streets tomorrow (Saturday) as part of a nationwide protest movement opposing the Trump administration.
Though the main event will take place at noon near the National Mall in D.C., a dozen rallies are also planned across the county for this year’s second “No Kings Day of Action,” many of them organized by local chapters of the grassroots, liberal activist network Indivisible.
Decrying “the increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption of the Trump administration,” national organizers anticipate that participation in tomorrow’s protests will surpass the over 5 million people who reportedly took part in the first “No Kings” rallies on June 14.
Those demonstrations, including ones in Fairfax, Arlington and Alexandria, emerged in response to a military parade held in D.C. for the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, which happened to coincide with President Donald Trump’s birthday.
Indivisible of Franconia, which formed in May and recently protested deportation flights from Dulles Airport, says it expects to draw as many as 500 participants tomorrow after more than 400 people attended its first rally in June.
The group’s rally will take place from 10 a.m. to noon along South Van Dorn Street between Kingstowne Village Parkway and Kingstowne Blvd.
“Our peaceful day of action brings together local residents of all walks of life who share a simple message: We don’t ‘do’ kings in America,” Indivisible of Franconia co-founder Erica Sorohan said. “We are making it clear to the Administration and to elected officials that what’s happening in America today is not normal, nor should it be.”
Among other issues also highlighted by national organizers, Sorohan said she’s concerned by the Trump administration’s aggressive targeting of immigrants, funding and staffing cuts that are “gutting health care, environmental protections and education,” and policies like tariffs that are “driving up the cost of living” even after Congress passed a bill extending tax cuts that favor the wealthy and corporations.
Organizers of a separate rally in Springfield say they’re “a group of seniors appalled at the actions of the current administration, especially its disregard for the rule of law and actions suppressing free speech.”
Set for 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the Springfield protest will involve participants walking to the northeast corner of the Franconia-Springfield Parkway intersection with Spring Village Drive.
“We believe action by the people is necessary to prevent dictatorship, destruction of our democratic government and mass suffering,” organizers said on their event page.
Bailey’s Crossroads Indivisible plans to highlight the neighborhood’s religious diversity with its rally at 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. near the Giant Food at 3480 South Jefferson Street. The group drew approximately 600 people for its first “No Kings” protest in June.
“This time, bring your ‘No More Kings’ signs. But just as important, we invite you to stress a positive slogan: “Indivisible, We Love Our Neighbors!,'” the event page says. “Most of the major religions are represented in this neighborhood and virtually all religions have loving or caring for neighbor as a major tenet.”
Other locations in Fairfax County that will host “No Kings” rallies tomorrow include:
- Annandale: Audrey Moore Rec Center (8100 Braddock Road), 10 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
- Fairfax City: Main Street and Fairfax Blvd, 9-11 a.m.
- Fair Lakes: Fair Lakes Parkway and Fair Lakes Circle, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
- Fort Hunt: Alexandria Avenue’s Stone Bridge over the GW Parkway, no time listed, though the event page says it’s at capacity
- Herndon: Meeting at the Herndon Metro station for a train ride into D.C., 10 a.m.
- McLean: McLean Central Park (1468 Dolley Madison Blvd), noon-1:30 p.m.
- Reston: Reston Parkway and Bowman Towne Drive, 4-5 p.m.
- Vienna: In front of the closed Patrick Henry Library (101 Maple Avenue West), 10 a.m.-noon
- West Springfield: Rolling Road and Old Keene Mill Road, 10 a.m.-noon
While No Kings organizers have emphasized that the protests should be nonviolent, a Virginia National Guard task force has been authorized to be on “active duty” to conduct training in a case a response is needed, VPM News reported this morning.
