What is No Kings? These New Mexico cities plan to participate in nationwide protests

Organizers expect millions of protesters across the country to participate in a mass mobilization on Saturday in defiance of President Donald Trump's planned military parade in Washington for the 250th anniversary of the nation’s armed forces. The day also is the president's 79th birthday.

According to the No Kings nationwide website, the coast-to-coast protests are expected to be the largest mass mobilization since Trump took office in January. As of June 13, more than a dozen protests are planned across New Mexico, including in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Cruces.

"Silence isn't always the best option, so these protests are a powerful tool," Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said during a news conference Thursday. "They must, however, be peaceful. We have a zero tolerance in this state for violence (and) zero tolerance for breaking the law in any context."

Albuquerque

Albuquerque’s No Kings demonstration will take place at Mariposa Basin Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The rally and "mock parade" as the flyer states was organized by Indivisible's Albuquerque, Sandoval County and Rio Grande chapters as well as Th!rd Act and 50501.

Indivisible Albuquerque president Rayellen Smith said guest speakers include workers for the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center, the Sierra Club, the American Civil Liberties Union as well as local and state lawmakers.

Participants are encouraged to bring their children, wagons and dogs to participate in a mock military parade. No violence or "trouble" will be tolerated, Smith said.

Albuquerque Police will guide traffic during the event. Mariposa Basin Park is within 1,000 feet of a school, so there will be no firearms allowed at the event, APD said in a news release Friday.

Las Cruces

Protesters in Las Cruces will meet at Albert Johnson Park at North Main Street and West Picacho Avenue starting at 10 a.m.

Santa Fe

Santa Fe's demonstration will take place at the Roundhouse from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Organizers plan to start a march around 10:45 a.m with open mic as early as 9:30 a.m. Organizers urge participants to comply with traffic laws during the march, including not using amplified sound, such as the use of megaphones, and not blocking building entrances or exits on the planned route.

Other protests

According to the website, other communities in New Mexico planning a No Kings protest are Alamogordo, Carlsbad, Farmington, Gallup, Grants, Hobbs, Los Alamos, Los Lunas, Madrid, Portales, Raton, Ruidoso, Socorro, Taos and Truth or Consequences.