With more than 2,500 protests scheduled around the country, Saturday's "No Kings Day" is expected to be the largest peacetime protest in American history.
About two dozen protests are set for central Ohio, mostly in the morning or early afternoon. A larger gathering will take place at 4 p.m. at the Ohio Statehouse.
"I think it's really cool that people will have the opportunity to protest in their neighborhood, then go to the one at the Statehouse," said Mia Lewis.
Lewis is an associate director at Common Cause Ohio and volunteers with Indivisible Central Ohio, which organized the local No Kings events.
"I'm asking people to devote this one day to democracy. Give the whole day to the democracy. You know, if you can go to three events. Even better. You know, maybe you can go to four," Lewis said.
The first "No Kings Day" in June drew crowds in central Ohio and across the nation. The "No Kings" movement revolves around the idea that America has no kings, and criticizes President Donald Trump for acting like a monarch.
"The president thinks his rule is absolute. But in America, we don’t have kings and we won’t back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty," reads the No Kings website.
Some Republicans have called the protests "anti-American."
When asked about Saturday's planned events, a White House spokesperson told NPR, "who cares?" She had no further comment.
Lewis said the event draws Americans who love their country and want to protect their freedoms and the U.S. Constitution. She said many people don't want to see the country slide toward authoritarianism.
"The things that are being done by this administration, the undermining of free speech, the use of the military and the national guard against, you know, peaceful protesters or against just regular citizens, it's scary," Lewis said.
Despite the White House's apparent indifference to Saturday's scheduled events, Lewis said she believes protests matter.
"There will be a tipping point where you know enough people are involved, enough people or coming out that it becomes impossible to ignore," Lewis said.
She said when people see their neighbors carrying signs defending free speech, for example, that makes them more aware of what is happening and reiterates that people care about the country.
The following "No Kings" events are set for central Ohio:
- Lancaster, 10 a.m., 210 East Main Street
- Reynoldsburg, 10 a.m., 7232 East Main Street
- Cambridge, 11 a.m., 801 Wheeling Ave.
- Hilliard, 11 a.m., Merchant Park
- New Albany, 11 a.m., 99 West Main Street
- Sunbury, 11 a.m., on the square
- London, 11:30 a.m., Madison County courthouse
- Clintonville, 12 p.m., East North Broadway and North High streets
- Delaware, 12 p.m., West William and South Sandusky streets
- Marysville, 12 p.m., 5th and Main streets
- Newark, 12 p.m., courthouse square
- Pickerington, 12 p.m., OH 256 and Refugee Road
- Zanesville, 12 p.m., Muskingum County courthouse
- Bexley, 1 p.m., East Broad Street and South Drexel Ave.
- Mount Vernon, 1 p.m., Mount Vernon Public Square
- Springfield, 1 p.m., 76 East High Street
- Westerville, 1 p.m., 21 South State Street
- Grandview and Upper Arlington, 1:15 p.m., 1451 West 5th Ave.
- German Village, Columbus, 1:30 p.m., 1069 Jaeger Street
- Grove City, 2p.m. 4035 Harrisburg Pike
- Ohio Statehouse, 4 p.m., 1 Capitol Square
- Tesla Easton, 4:30 p.m., 4099 Easton Loop West
Lewis said decorated cars will travel between events throughout the day. She said the caravan will make noise, encourage protesters and provide an opportunity for people who can't walk or stand for long periods to participate.
"It'll be very celebratory," Lewis said.
Several speakers are scheduled for the afternoon event at the Statehouse, including Deidra Reese with Ohio Organizing Collaborative; Hasan Kwame Jeffries, a board member of the ACLU of Ohio; Pastor Derrick Holmes of Union Grove Baptist Church; and Ohio State University student Grace Metz.
