A veteran, a mom, and a construction worker walk into an anti-Trump rally

Despite triple-digit heat, thousands gathered in downtown Las Vegas for the nationwide “No Kings” rally against the Trump administration and presidential overreach on Saturday.

The demonstration coincided with the president’s birthday, which in turn happened to coincide with his $45 million military parade in Washington, D.C. The event, which observed the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday as well as Trump’s 79th, represented the largest display of military might in the nation’s capital in decades.

Like millions in towns large and small across the country, an estimated 8,000 demonstrators gathered near the federal courthouse on Clark Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. 

People of all ages, from babies to seniors using wheelchairs and walkers, marched along the street, waving flags, raising – often comical – signs, and chanting. Several protesters also passed out water and electrolyte drinks to combat the heavy heat along the busy road.

Indivisible, the grassroots group that organized the “No Kings” protest, said the demonstrations were in opposition to the erosion of democracy and “Trump’s illegal power grabs.” 

The Las Vegas protest builds on a week of mounting anger and disgust over immigration raids in Los Angeles and Trump’s decision to escalate the tensions by federalizing and deploying California’s National Guard without the consent of California state leaders.

Adriana Cisneros, a daughter of immigrants from Mexico, said it was one of the largest protests she’d ever seen Downtown. The 48-year old mother of three brought her daughter and niece to protest nationwide immigration raids at work sites by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“They’re tearing families apart, and kids disappear when they tear them away from their families. That’s what we’re fighting for, for our kids, peace and love and unity, instead of this hate that [Trump] brings to our country, we don’t need that here,” Cisneros said, holding an amalgamation of both the U.S. and Mexico flag. 

Cisneros said her grandparents first arrived in the U.S. through the Bracero program, which issued temporary work permits to millions of Mexicans to ease labor shortages during World War II, highlighting the contribution of Mexican workers throughout U.S. history. 

“I work with people that are here legally and have work permits and all of a sudden, they’re being revoked. No. It’s unjust,” she said.

The demonstration was largely peaceful, however, law enforcement made 15 arrests Saturday in connection to the event. A demonstration in Downtown Las Vegas Wednesday ended with 94 arrests. Police accused protesters of throwing rocks and water bottles at officers, blocking several streets and vandalizing property.

Heavy police presence dotted Saturday’s event. Police helicopters buzzed overhead and snipers surveyed from surrounding rooftops.

Eric Masiers, a 58 year-old U.S. Army veteran and member of the IATSE Local 720 union, said he spotted the snipers immediately. 

“I understand the police presence, but it’s a very peaceful protest out here,” Masiers said. 

Masiers said he was there to celebrate the Army’s 250th anniversary and oppose what he sees as growing presidential overreach by Trump. Masiers said he was extremely troubled by Trump’s liberal use of executive orders to bypass Congress. 

“Trump is trying to make this a dictatorship. As a veteran, I just won’t allow it. I won’t have it. I will do everything in my power to make sure that doesn’t happen,” Masiers said. 

As a veteran, Masiers said he was appalled by the use of taxpayer money to fund the $45 million military parade taking place in the Capital, as well as the federalization of the California National Guard. 

Trump also ordered 700 U.S. Marines deployed to Los Angeles.

“What Trump is doing to the troops, they’re making them illegally break their oath. You’re not supposed to stand against our own citizens,” Masiers said.

Katherine Kennedy, a 56-year old retiree and Masiers’ fiancee, said the rising protests against presidential overreach was “history in the making.”

“Growing up, I never would have dreamed that we could have a dictator in the White House,” Kennedy said, holding on to her seeing-eye dog, Bentley. “What are we leaving to our kids, our grandkids?”

“It’s sad what this country has become. It really is. Hopefully when [Trump] gets out of office, the damage isn’t so far set in our division as a country that we’ll be able to heal after we get him the hell out of office. That’s my hope for this country,” she continued.

Both Masiers and Kennedy said they feared for the economy, adding that they don’t believe Trump has fulfilled promises to bring down the price of groceries, gas, and other necessities.

Trump has acknowledged that his deportation agenda is hurting farm and hotel industries, and vowing to stop harsh immigration raids on those industries. Trump owns a number of hotels in the U.S., including one in Las Vegas.

Jesse S., who asked that only his initials be used in place of his last name, said the damage is already done and that job site raids have already hit Las Vegas. The 28-year old said he was attending the protest to stand for immigrants who are too afraid to speak out.

Jesse said the majority of immigrants in Las Vegas work jobs that can be difficult to fill, like construction and hospitality, in order to provide for their families.

“I work construction and they already raided two job sites,” Jesse said. “It’s messed up that they’re going into jobs, construction sites, restaurants, even food markets and just attacking us.”

Jesse, whose grandparents immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico, said he strongly supports immigration reform for “families that are here looking for a better life,” like his family did decades ago. 

“We shouldn’t be waiting 20 years to get our green cards,” Jesse said. 

A small handful of pro-Trump counter-protestors stood on a street corner waving flags as the “No Kings” protestors marched by, but there did not appear to be any conflict between the two groups.

Nationwide, there were more than 2,000 “No Kings” protests across several states including neighboring Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico and Wyoming. 

Most were without controversy or violence, however, in Utah two people were shot during a ‘No Kings’ protest in Salt Lake City. Political tensions were already on edge in the nation  following the shooting of two Democratic lawmakers and their spouses in Minnesota, killing one of the couples.