Residents of East Hawaii will participate in a nationwide protest on Saturday, highlighting their commitment to nonviolent resistance against authoritarianism. The event, scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. along Kamehameha Avenue near Pauahi Street in Hilo, is part of the second annual No Kings Day of Action. Organizers anticipate this gathering will be among the largest coordinated protests in United States history, with over 2,500 events registered nationwide, including four on Hawaii Island.
In Hilo, the protest is expected to attract a significant turnout, following the momentum from a similar event in June that drew more than 1,500 participants. The statewide protest is branded “NO DICTATORS” out of respect for Hawaii’s history of ali‘i, or chiefs and kings. It is organized by local chapters of Indivisible Hawaii, specifically Hilo One, Volcano, and Keaau.
Terry McDonald, an event organizer from Indivisible Hilo One, emphasized the importance of collective action. “Indivisible is running a marathon strategy to train a million activists. This is one element,” he stated in a news release. “Pushback works. That’s what we’re doing. Standing together with like-minded people creates solidarity and sends the message, ‘We’re not afraid.’”
The protest aims to showcase the community’s unity and resilience against authoritarianism. McDonald noted, “When we stand up in large numbers, we give courage to others, especially our elected representatives, to do what’s right — to say, ‘We like the Constitution; we’re going to keep it.’ It’s a win-win.”
The June protest saw more than 5 million people across all 50 states join the No Kings movement, marking it as the largest single-day protest against former President Trump’s perceived authoritarianism. Saturday’s event seeks to build on this momentum, fostering a peaceful day of resistance.
Lahi Verschuur, the media lead for the event, expressed enthusiasm for the support received from various organizations. “We’re excited to have been endorsed by the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly,” she said. This endorsement aligns with support from other groups participating in the No Kings protests, including the American Federation of Teachers and SEIU.
Indivisible Hawaii collaborates with numerous partners in this initiative, including the ACLU, Common Defense, 50501, Human Rights Campaign, League of Conservation Voters, MoveOn, National Nurses United, and Public Citizen. For more information on participating organizations, individuals can visit nokings.org/partners.
Indivisible Hilo One is a nonpartisan, pro-democracy organization dedicated to upholding the rule of law, ensuring free and fair elections, and respecting the dignity of all individuals. As Saturday approaches, the community looks forward to reinforcing their commitment to democratic values and standing against authoritarianism.
