LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Hundreds of protesters gathered outside along the Las Vegas Strip Saturday as part of nationwide “No Kings” protests.
Protestors said their message is simple: no one, not even a president, should be above the law or democracy itself.
“People are angry, people are upset, and I think this is the way to show them that, hey man this is not ok, it’s not ok to treat people this way, anybody this way,” protester Roger Ramirez said.
Protesters carried handmade signs and American flags as they made their way down the Strip, voicing concerns about the future of the country and what they describe as an erosion of democratic values.
Many said that for them the moment feels urgent and that their march is a reminder that America’s strength lies in accountability and shared power.
“We’re in our 70s and we are not sitting down for this. Congress needs to get their butts in gear, and the Supreme Court has been incredibly disappointing, and if they’re not going to do something, it’s up to us,” protester Barbara Caplan’Bennett said.
Across town at Desert Breeze Park, a different crowd gathered to celebrate pride, but politics weren’t far from the conversation there either.
“Especially now, the ‘No Kings’ protests are so important because this country is going to continue to get divided from each other,” Pride festivalgoer Kalli Bottrall said.
At the Las Vegas Pride Festival, members of the LGBTQ+ community shared concerns as they brace for what they call a wave of rollbacks to protections and programs.
“We definitely have a target on our back and it’s ok because you can’t hit a moving target, we’re going to continue to move, we’re going to continue to evolve,” Bottrall said.
Organizers reported nearly 7 million participants in the “No Kings” protests across the country.
According to Metro police, 700 people attended Saturday night’s protest on South Las Vegas Boulevard and no arrests were made.
2,000 attend ‘No Kings’ protest in Downtown Las Vegas, 1 arrest reported
In Downtown Las Vegas, around 2,000 people attended a “No Kings” protest Saturday. One arrest was made during the downtown protest, according to police.
