Thousands of Coloradans across the state are expected to join mass protests against President Donald Trump’s policies Saturday as part of the national “No Kings” movement, which organizers describe as a “nationwide day of defiance” against authoritarianism.
People in more than 50 Colorado cities and towns have organized demonstrations that are set to coincide with Saturday’s military parade in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the Army’s 250th anniversary on Trump’s 79th birthday.
There are more than a dozen protests planned throughout metro Denver alone, and Colorado communities large and small, from Greeley and Grand Junction to Fairplay and Lamar, have planned demonstrations.
The largest event in the state is expected in downtown Denver, surrounding the No Kings People’s Fair, which will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at Lincoln Veterans Memorial Park, just west of the state Capitol.
Protesters began gathering across Colorado on Saturday morning, with locals posting photos from events in Arvada, Fort Collins, Windsor and Edwards on social media. Several hundred protested along 120th Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard in Broomfield.
Crowds started gathering for the No Kings demonstration in Parker at 8:45 a.m. Saturday despite urging from town officials against holding the event.
Passing cars honked in solidarity as at least 100 people waved and hoisted signs denouncing Trump, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Douglas County home-rule proposition now on the ballot, at the intersection of Parker and Twenty Mile roads.
Other demonstrators dispersed by the dozen to walk to different intersections across the block-by-block protest.
The group was a mix of Parker locals and Coloradans who drove out to support the event. Town officials denied an event permit for the protest because of police resources needed for the nearby Parker Days festival, but organizer Carolyn Williamson refused to cancel.
Aurora resident Caroline Gallet, 66, said she chose to attend the Parker demonstration instead of events in Denver or Littleton after pushback from the town made national news.
“I’m amazed by the turnout,” she said. “I was worried because Parker is such a polarized community and I didn’t know how it would be received.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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