Politics

Pro-democracy demonstrators to march from Grove to Main on Saturday

Protesters gathered at the Grove Street Courthouse for a May Day rally on May 1. [LIGHTNING FILE PHOTO]

By Lightning Reports, Published: June 13, 2025

Demonstrators plan to gather at the Grove Street Courthouse and march to the Historic Courthouse on Main Street Saturday morning in one of hundreds of “No Kings Day” events across the U.S. and abroad.

Partnering with other organizations, Indivisible Henderson County is sponsoring the rally as part of the national pro-democracy mobilization. After congregating on Grove Street, demonstrators “will march united and peaceably to the Historic Courthouse on Main Street for a short rally,” organizer said in a news release. Individuals with mobility issues are invited to join the rally at the Historic Courthouse at 10:30 a.m.

Jay Carey, a U.S. Army veteran who was escorted from a Chuck Edwards town hall after getting into a shouting match with the congressman over federal budget, is scheduled to make remarks. Carey ran unsuccessfully in the Democratic primary for the 11th Congressional  District seat and then was chosen by the Democratic Party as the nominee for N.C. Senate District seat, losing to incumbent Tim Moffitt.

"Indivisible Henderson County is a volunteer nonpartisan group of citizens committed to peaceful, nonviolent action to stop the Trump administration and its supporters in Congress and state offices from destroying our democracy by an authoritarian takeover," the news release said. “IHCNC began with 34 residents of Flat Rock, NC. Within weeks it was joined by like-minded voters from across the county, prompting its renaming. Today, it has more than 110 members of all ages, backgrounds and political persuasions.”

Across the U.S. and overseas, more than 2,000 peaceful protests are planned, Ezra Levin, co-executive director of Indivisible, said Friday.

Indivisible Asheville and the western region Poor People's Campaign plan a "No Kings: Rise Together" rally from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Asheville.

The “No Kings” protests are set to take place to counter what organizers say are Trump’s plans to feed his ego on his 79th birthday and Flag Day, the Associated Press reported. The “No Kings” rallies follow several days of nationwide protests against federal immigration raids, including in Los Angeles, where Trump’s deployment of the National Guard further agitated his opponents.

The No Kings Day of Defiance is expected to be the largest single-day mobilization since Trump returned to office, organizers said. Organizers said they are preparing for millions of people to take to the streets across all 50 states and commonwealths.