PHOTOS & VIDEO| Baltimore’s ‘No Kings Day’ protest sees thousands gather in Patterson Park

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Thousands of “No Kings Day” protesters blanketed a Patterson Park hilltop in Baltimore on Saturday as they demonstrated their opposition to President Donald Trump’s administration.

While holding cardboard signs and waving upside-down American flags, protesters screamed, “This is what democracy looks like.”

Patterson Park was one of at least 25 protests in Maryland, joining almost 2,000 more across the country on Saturday, according to the No Kings Day website. The movement was deemed a nationwide “day of defiance” to Trump’s administration. 

“We moved specifically to Baltimore because of [diversity],” said Hendrik Sterenverg, who immigrated from the Netherlands 40 years ago. “We live right around the corner from Patterson Park, and we love it here because of that diversity.”

Olga Sokolov, sitting across from Sterenverg, immigrated to the United States from Russia over 30 years ago. “We are here to make sure that whoever, whatever people know that there are people here who want democracy,” said Sokolov, sitting on a blue picnic blanket with a sign illustrating the three branches of the federal government. 

The protest started with performances by local music artists and chants along a crowded hilltop at the Observatory. There was also a moment of silence for the two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses who were the victims of an assassination plot early Saturday morning. 

“It makes me feel really good that other people are out here protesting against Trump and the agenda that he’s pushing,” said Ashton Owens, holding a sign that read: “When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty.”

Saturday marked the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army as well as Trump’s 79th birthday. It was also Flag Day. As soldiers marched in Trump’s military parade in Washington, D.C., protesters marched in the streets of Baltimore and trekked 1.25 miles through Patterson Park, making their voices heard. 

“Everyone feels so isolated,” said Kelsey Johnston, surrounded by her parents. “Right now, it feels really nice to be around people who agree with us and know that something’s wrong.”

Johnston said she calls U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s (D-Maryland) office daily. Local lawmakers, including Van Hollen, took a moment to speak before the protestors marched. 

“You’re all here because you love our country. You want to make sure it’s not hijacked by a Donald Trump dictator, and that is why you all give me hope,” Van Hollen said. “We do not bow down to kings, do we? Hell no!”

“This is the most corrupt presidential administration in modern history,” added Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen. “While they ban books, in Baltimore we build libraries.”

@baltfishbowl Thousands of “No Kings Day” protesters blanketed a Patterson Park hilltop in Baltimore on Saturday as they demonstrated their opposition to President Donald Trump’s administration. Patterson Park was one of at least 25 protests in Maryland, joining almost 2,000 more across the country on Saturday, according to the No Kings Day website. The movement was deemed a nationwide “day of defiance” to Trump’s administration. Read more at baltimorefishbowl.com. Reporting by Eddy Calkins/Baltimore Fishbowl. * * * #baltimore #baltimorecity #Maryland #pattersonpark #protest #protests #protesters #nokings #nokingsday #nokingsdayprotest #president #presidenttrump #presidentdonaldtrump #donaldtrump #Trump #trumpadministration #trumpprotest #ice #immigrant #immigration #science #usaid #LGBT #lgbtq #pride #pridemonth #baltimorenews #marylandnews #localnews #localjournalism #news #journalism #baltimorefishbowl ♬ original sound – baltfishbowl

The No Kings Day protests originate from the 50501 movement, also referred to as “50 protests. 50 states. 1 day.” According to its website, the movement has hosted five other days of nationwide protests since it started in February. 

Saturday’s Patterson Park protest was organized by Indivisible Baltimore.

Among the Trump administration’s policies sparking public outcry have been actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to detain and deport undocumented immigrants. 

Recently, one of the most high-profile immigration cases has been that of Kilmar Ábrego García, a Maryland father who is being held in Tennessee, after previously being illegally deported to El Salvador in March in what the Trump administration itself called “”an administrative error.”

Ábrego García was imprisoned without trial at a Salvadoran prison until being returned to the U.S. on June 6, following months of efforts by lawmakers, including Maryland Democrats U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen and U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey, who each traveled to El Salvador in separate attempts to meet with Ábrego García.

“We will not stand for getting rid of due process,” Van Hollen said on Saturday. “And yes, that is why I went to El Salvador in the case of Kilmar Ábrego García.”

Baltimore City Council member Odette Ramos spoke out against Trump’s divisive rhetoric and actions.

“This is white supremacy. He’s coming after all of us. He’s trying to divide our communities, but we’re in Baltimore,” Ramos said. “This is Baltimore, and Baltimore is worth fighting for.”

Ramos is the first Latina person to be elected to any office in Baltimore City.

“If they’re coming after one of us, they’re coming after all of us,” she said. 

The No Kings Day movement plans to hold a video call from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday night to recap the weekend’s protests across the country. You can register for the call here.