#Worth1000Words - Kristin Henning on No Kings Protests

No Kings Day, June 14, was marked across the United States with peaceful demonstrations. Countrywide, the rallies attracted more than five million protestors. The same day, President Trump was attending a military parade of his devising, to mark the US Army’s 250th birthday, and Trump’s own 79th. Nearly 2,000 different rallies across 50 states took place to protest immigration crackdowns, attacks on health research, higher education, free speech and due process. Protestors noted the controversial use of our National Guard and U.S. Marines to quell unrest in Los Angeles last week and the increasing authoritarian reach of the Trump administration. In Minnesota, the No Kings event at the State Capitol in St. Paul had even more meaning, falling just hours after the shooting of two state lawmakers and their spouses, killing two and seriously injuring two others. One of the dead was the former speaker of the house in Minnesota, a highly regarded Democrat whose successes included public safety programs and abortion rights protections. Her passing is noted in the broken heart sign shown here. Despite warnings by State authorities to stay away from No Kings Day events in the area – issued because the shooter had flyers for these events in his vehicle, and was still at large, the turnout was significant. Estimated to be 25 – 30,000 people at our state’s capitol where this photo was taken. Kristin Henning reporting from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Photo: Kristin Henning