BY JOE MURCHISON
More than 200 people participated in a “No Kings” rally at the Laurel Library on Saturday, June 14, joining protesters in thousands of cities across the country.
The national event was to protest President Donald Trump’s administration policies that the organizers consider autocratic.
“We oppose xenophobia and the current oppressive regime,” said Amy Knox, founder of Laurel Resist, a local group that organized the Laurel demonstration. She added that the progressive group also opposes “Islamophobia, homophobia, misogyny and racism.”
Demonstrators lined up along Route 198 at the library, carrying signs and waving to passing motorists. One demonstrator’s sign that read “Honk If You Hate Dictators” drew a constant stream of honking from the passersby.
Among the numerous signs, others read “The Only Monarch America Should Have” (with a picture of a butterfly), “Resisting Kings Since 1776” and “Don’t Let Habeus Corpus Become Habeus Corpse.”
Prince George’s County Council member Tom Dernoga (District 1) joined the demonstrators, carrying a sign that read, “Trump Despises America, Real Americans Despise Trump.” Also present was City Councilmember James Kole (Ward 1).
Knox said Laurel Resist originated in 2017 at the beginning of the first Trump administration. The group of about 15 people meets monthly to plan voter education and registration drives, candidate forums and feedback to public officials. “This is our biggest mass mobilization,” she said.
