Detroit to Trump: ‘No Troops, No Kings’ — Thousands march for democracy and civil rights

It’s been almost four months since around 5,000 Detroit residents last gathered in the city’s oldest park to protest against Donald Trump and stand up for civil rights and democracy. 

On Saturday afternoon, a national day of No Kings rallies once again brought Michiganders out more than a hundred rallies and marches that stretched from Ironwood, the westernmost city of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, to Detroit, all part of the nationwide “No Kings” protest against Trump and his current administration, which has affected immigrants, caused federal workers’ layoffs, and attacked freedom of speech.

Gathering at Roosevelt Park in southwest Detroit, thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds began arriving just before 3 p.m., holding up signs in Spanish and English as they stepped out of their cars or buses, many reading “America has no kings,” or “No National Guard in Detroit”. Large banners stretched above the crowd as people found their places to listen to the speakers.

For many Detroiters, shouting and holding up their signs is a way to resist the Republicans’ latest demand for Michigan: Deploy the National Guard to Detroit for what JD Vance called “serious crime problems” during a speech at a manufacturing plant in Howell last month. 

That prompted Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat, to say “it’s only a matter of time” before Trump tries to send National Guard troops to cities in the Great Lakes State as he did to other cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, Portland, and others.

“Good luck with that,” Sandra Therrian, a Detroit resident, who attended Saturday’s rally, said. “No, they’re not going to be allowed in Chicago. They shouldn’t try to come too. We don’t need them. We don’t want them. They can go to their Republican places that have far more crime than we do. We take care of our own here.”

“The people united will never be defeated,” was one of the main chants heard around the crowd. 

State Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak), who is running for the U.S. Senate next year, applauded the courage of the protesters and told the Advance she hoped that more protests like this one would continue.

“It is encouraging. I know protesting might be intimidating, but it is a good way to stand up and fight back,” McMorrow said to the Advance.” We have an opportunity to stay together and raise our voices against Donald Trump and his administration.”

By the end of Saturday, Trump had responded to the No Kings” protests with a 19-second AI-generated video in which he is portrayed as a crown-wearing bomber pilot, in a plane labeled “King Trump”, dropping excrement on protesters. 

A march downtown and an arrest

As the crowd of protesters began a peaceful march from the park, down Michigan Avenue toward the Patrick McNamara Federal building, “No Trump, no troops” was one of the chants the several thousand participants made along the way. 

The sole disturbance came from Andre Williams, 24, a MAGA influencer with a megaphone who disrupted the march, circling the crowd of demonstrators in attempts to enter it. He was part of a small number of counter-protesters who also showed up at the No Kings rally and march.

“I came here by myself; I don’t respond to any organization. I am here for my country,” Williams said, while being surrounded by some protesters who tried to pull him away from the crowd. 

“Immigration is killing our country; it is killing Western values. It is taking away my jobs for the American working class,” said Williams.

“I’m unconcerned. He’s looking for views,” said Theoderic Strider, a Florida trans man who recently moved to Detroit to escape that state’s anti-trans and anti-gay legislation. 

“It’s more important to be kind to your neighbors than pretty much anything else right now,” said Strider.

Williams had also shown up at the June’s No Kings protest in Detroit, and as he was then, Williams was confronted by protesters attempting to de-escalate the situation. However, Williams avoided advancing further among the protesters on the road and ran toward those at the entrance of the federal building, where he was blocked by participants. 

Shoving then broke out between those who wanted to throw him out and those demanding that the situation stop. Police arrived and, pulling him by his arms, arrested Williams, and took him into custody.

A request for comment to Detroit Police about what charges, if any, were filed against Williams was returned Sunday afternoon.

“Adult male was arrested for disorderly conduct. No further information is available regarding the arrest. He was the only one arrested during march,” the email stated.

After listening to final speeches, the protesters returned to Roosevelt Park, ending the No Kings protest with chants still echoing through the streets of Detroit.