No Kings Day Draws 150 on STX, Millions Nationwide

M.A. Dworkin

St. Croix - Millions of people came out nationwide and globally in peaceful protest to voice their opposition to Trump Administration policies on everything from strong-arm immigration tactics to mass firings of government employees, to overall quasi-Monarch applications of the law.

The nationwide effort involved more than 300 grassroots organizations, with protest events held at over 2,600 locations in all 50 States. Protest events rose up in cities ranging from New York, Atlanta, LA and Chicago including the three islands of the USVI. 

On St. Croix, the No Kings Motorcade and Rally drew 150 strong as Crucians joined in to be a part of the massive nationwide protests. 

A peaceful cross-island motorcade was followed by a rally in Frederiksted to stand against tyranny and affirm the Democratic rights of Virgin Islanders. Approximately 60 vehicles and more than 150 people participated in the unprecedented event which aimed to raise awareness of the significant harms of the Trump Administration’s authoritarian policies on the Virgin Islands and to affirm that, though democratically disenfranchised, Virgin Islanders can still exercise their constitutional right to peaceful protest and that such protests, in themselves, demonstrate the power of Democracy.

“Virgin Islanders are not complicit nor will remain silent as our human, civil, constitutional and sacred rights are diminished,” said Dr. ChenziRa Davis Kahina, one of the event organizers and speakers. “In solidarity with movements throughout the U.S. and the Caribbean Zone of Peace, and globally, we stand united to proactively acknowledge and demonstrate that the power belongs to We The People.”

Other speakers at the STX event were Positive Nelson and Ghadeer Taha.  

Although Republicans were largely silent on the day’s events, the demonstrations did draw criticism from some Republican leaders who were targeted by the protestors into influencing them to change their thinking on a number of repressive policy issues.

House Speaker Mike Johnson was quoted as saying: “I encourage you to watch - we call it the Hate America rally.”

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said: “Who cares?”

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer called it an event for the “terrorist wing of the Democratic Party.” 

President Trump was not at the White House during the protests that filled D.C.’s National Mall with an estimated 200,000 peaceful protestors, of the roughly 7 million who turned out nationwide.

“They say they’re referring to me as a King. I am not a King,” Trump said in a Fox News interview that aired the day before the event. 

During the massive worldwide event, President Trump was on a visit to his swank Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida attending a $1 million-per-plate MAGA Inc super PAC fundraiser.  He issued no comment on the day’s events.