‘No Kings Day’ in Muncie sees hundreds of protesters

On Saturday, hundreds of people in Muncie joined the millions gathered across the country for what’s been dubbed the “No Kings Day” protests against policies in President Donald Trump’s administration.  IPR’s Thomas Ouellette reports.

The protestors convened under stormy skies at the Fallen Heroes Memorial Bridge, just outside of Muncie City Hall, and spanned nearly half-a-mile along the river trail.

Attendees held signs and protested a myriad of President Trump’s recent actions, chief among them Saturday’s military parade that was to celebrate the Army’s 250th birthday, but held on Trump’s 79th birthday.

For Army veteran Alan Johnson, it was his opposition to the parade that brought him out to protest.

“I celebrate the birthday of the United States Army,” Johnson said. “I think it’s a misuse of our forces. I don’t serve a person; I serve a constitution.”

Read More: Military parade and No Kings protests: A split screen of a divided America

Attendees protested multiple actions taken by President Donald Trump. (Thomas Ouellette/IPR)

Many signs and chants also protested recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids happening throughout the country.

Eliud Peralez was born and raised in America, but is Mexican by ethnicity. He says despite having citizenship, the mass deportations are still a personal issue for him.

“It’s hitting my family, it’s hitting my relatives. And I know it shouldn’t just be ‘oh, now its hitting me, now you wanna do something.’ I want this to be for any kind of injustice,” said Peralez. “For any kind of injustice, we need to speak up.”

Over a dozen protests happened across the state on Saturday, including places like Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, South Bend, and Evansville.

Thomas Ouellette is our reporter and producer.  Contact him at thomas.ouellette@bsu.edu