Eight demonstrations are planned Saturday throughout Riverside County as part of the nationwide “No Kings Day of Defiance,” coinciding with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.
Demonstrations are planned for 68700 E. Palm Canyon Drive in Cathedral City and an undisclosed location in Rancho Miraqe at 9 a.m., at Rimpau Park in Corona and West Florida and North Sanderson avenues in Hemet at 10 a.m., the Duck Pond in Temecula at 11 a.m. and Newport and Haun roads in Menifee at 1 p.m.
Later Saturday there will be demonstrations on the Main Street Pedestrian Mall, near Main Street and University Avenue, in Riverside at 5:30 p.m. and Downtown Palm Springs Park at 6 p.m.
The complete list is available at www.NoKings.org.
Organizers bill No Kings as “a national day of action and mass mobilization in response to increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption” by Trump and his allies. It coincides with Trump’s 79th birthday and a parade in Washington, D.C. marking the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army.
Municipal police departments, as well as the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, have released statements warning activists that while they have every right under the First Amendment to assemble and peacefully protest, behavior that leads to damage, obstructs traffic or interferes with law enforcement operations won’t be tolerated.
“Adherence to the law is an absolute requirement if we are to remain a civilized society,” according to a sheriff’s statement. “You are no longer exercising your rights when you infringe on someone else’s constitutional rights or freedoms.”
Organizers said “A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events.”