'America Doesn't Do Kings:' 3,000 Protest Trump In New Haven, On Green, In March

NEW HAVEN, CT — The nationwide No Kings Protest movement was born out of opposition to the Trump Administration's military parade, held Saturday on his 79th birthday.

The $45 million parade was described as a celebration of the Army's 250th anniversary. But protest organizers and those millions of citizens who attended No Kings protests across the country say they see the spectacle as Trump using the U.S. Armed Forces to celebrate himself, akin to an authoritarian, or king.

The theme of No Kings protests across the nation Saturday was created by resistance movement Fifty-Fifty-One (50501), who note that "America doesn't do kings."

"They’ve defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights, and slashed our services. The corruption has gone too far. No thrones. No crowns. No kings."

The No Kings protests are bolstered by a coalition of organizers including the ACLU and the American Federation of Teachers, among others.

In New Haven, the thousands, from the very young to the very old, who came represented all walks of life, and with varying perspectives.

Jay from New Haven County's take was at once singular but representative of most folks Patch met with and spoke to.

Ellen Cosgrove of Cheshire, came because she believes American Democracy is under attack.

Ryan Delaney, 22, of Milford, a very recent college grad, came with a sign that advised, "Don't be on the wrong side of history."

In the center of the Green, organizers chanted, with the thousands as chorus: We are the people. The mighty, mighty, people fighting for justice and liberation," among myriad others including "Hey hey, ho, ho, Donald Trump has got to go."

In the background were New Haven police officers, including Assistant Chief Bertram Ettienne who said he did "not expect any incidents."

"Everyone is peaceful" he said. "They're exercising their rights."

Hours after the event had ended, police spokesperson officer Christian Bruckhart confirmed the 3,000 count and added that in the two-plus-hour event, there were "no incidents."

Patch asked Ettienne if any other law enforcement was in attendance besides the NHPD and Yale cops. "Not that I know of," though, pointed out that a federal agency's location is just steps off the Green. He said he had not seen nor identified any other enforcement officers or agents.

One of the key issues for protestors was the ICE raids across the country. Indeed, the No Kings protests on Saturday followed demonstrations against ICE raids from Los Angeles to New York City.

And, just days after a high profile ICE raid in New Haven.

Early Monday morning, ski-mask wearing ICE agents used vehicles to box in, and take into custody, a New Haven resident and mother as she was in the process of taking her two children to school.

The agents told Nancy Martinez they had a warrant for her arrest. And she was taken in front of her 13-year-old daughter and her 8‑year-old son.

Martinez was, as the city's mayor said, "disappeared" by ICE.

In response, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker, called "ICE’s actions are appalling and inhumane."

"To arrest a mother in front of her two young children while taking them to school is simply unconscionable and the lowest of the low," Mayor Elicker said. "We condemn this deplorable act of family separation and call upon the Trump Administration to stop its inhumane approach and cruel tactics that are disappearing people without due process and traumatizing our children and communities."

New Haven is a sanctuary city, a welcoming city for all, and our immigrant neighbors are a part of our New Haven family," Elicker said.

In late April, a Preliminary Injunction Order issued by U.S. District Judge William H. Orrick preventing Trump from unlawfully withholding federal funds from New Haven, and cities unless local governments assist the government with immigration responsibilities. The measure prevents the Trump Administration from unlawfully withholding federal funds from the City of New Haven and other Plaintiff cities and counties unless local governments assist the federal government with its immigration enforcement responsibilities.

The lawsuit, led by San Francisco and Santa Clara County, includes the City of New Haven as well as 13 other local jurisdictions. Collectively, these 16 jurisdictions are home to nearly 10 million residents.

"New Haven will continue to stand up for our residents and our values, and we will continue fight back with every resource available to us against the Trump Administration’s reckless immigration policies," Elicker said.