Thousands gathered at the Arizona state Capitol to protest President Donald Trump's administration on Saturday in a national wave of "No Kings" demonstrations.
As the crowd assembled in the Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza in front of the Capitol building, a number of speakers addressed the protesters from a stage set up in a parking lot. Demonstrators filled the plaza and lined the roads around the Capitol.
"We meet together, and we say 'no kings,'" Julie Gunnigle, a local attorney and one of the speakers, said.
The "No Kings" protests were scheduled for Flag Day and meant to counter a military parade in Washington, D.C., celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Army and Trump's 79th birthday, according to the Associated Press.
The Arizona Republic reported that organizers expected 10,000 to 15,000 people to show up. Erica Connell from 50501 Arizona,an anti-Trump political organization, said the crowd had burgeoned to beyond 15,000 before 10 a.m.
ASU students Hayden Nguyen and John Anawalt were among the demonstrators.
READ MORE: Groups, students rally at Arizona Capitol for education funding, resources
Nguyen, a junior studying business and management, attended the protest with the Party for Socialism and Liberation. They said immigration raids motivated them to speak out and mobilize people.
"They're destroying our communities," Nguyen said, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Nguyen said many more people need to mobilize in opposition to Trump, and resistance must begin before the upcoming election seasons start.
Anawalt, a senior studying mathematics and physics, said he came to the protest as "a show of support for (his) fellow Americans."
He said he was concerned by the "lack of respect" for civil rights. However, Anawalt said he felt supported and welcomed at the demonstration.
"It's encouraging to know that people still care about each other, and we haven't fully lost that communal spirit we have as Americans," Anawalt said. "It makes me proud."
Brando Miquirray, one of the protesters, highlighted the diversity within the crowd.
"You see people of all walks of life," Miquirray said. "You got older folks, gay people, metalheads, Latinos."
A first-generation Mexican-American, Miquirray said his parents were granted amnesty during the administration of President Ronald Reagan. He said he felt the need to show up for birthright citizenship — a right which directly impacts him.
Makala Close-Haines is a local teacher who protested against Trump's education and immigration policies.
"They're taking kids out of my classrooms, they're taking families out of my classrooms, and I'm not okay with it," Close-Haines said.
Many demonstrators arrived with signs, flags and costumes, including Close-Haines, who brought a sign that said "Education, Not Deportation."
Miquirray also brought an upside-down American flag, which he said represents the country in distress.
American flags, both upside-down and right-side-up, were accompanied by Mexican flags, Ukrainian flags, pride flags and many others.
Drag performances were interspersed with speeches, some of which criticized Trump directly.
Orbit, one of the performers, started her show with audio of Trump speaking against "transgender ideology" and "wokeness." That was followed by a lip sync of a monologue by transgender actress and model Dominique Jackson from the TV show "Pose."
Orbit concluded by quoting a Jackson speech to the Human Rights Campaign.
"You do not have the power to accept or tolerate me," Orbit lip-synced. "I take that from you. You will respect me."
As the temperature climbed above 100 degrees, some protesters handed out water bottles from coolers and medics patrolled the area. Speakers paused multiple times to notify medics of issues in the crowd.
"Why don't we all take a big sip of water because the only thing we're melting today is ICE," Gunnigle said to the crowd.
READ MORE: A guide on how to safely protest on campus
Nguyen said that with all the water and medical support, it was worth it for people to attend despite the heat.
"It's time to make that sacrifice," Nguyen said. "It's time to show up for communities who cannot show up because they're being detained in Eloy and Florence right now."
Echoing Nguyen, Kimberly Vega, a fellow protester, said attending the demonstration was their "duty as Americans."
"It's neat seeing the community start to come together ... hopefully we can make a point stop the madness," Vega said.
Praising the audience, Gunnigle welcomed those who had never protested before along with seasoned demonstrators.
"You are the change that we have been waiting for," Gunnigle said. "We will continue to meet here, because this is the cause of a generation, and this is the task of a lifetime."
Edited by George Headley, Leah Mesquita, Matthew Marengo and Ellis Preston.
Reach the reporter at coyer1@asu.edu and follow @carstenoyer on X.
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Carsten Oyer is a sophomore studying journalism and mass communication, as well as public service and public policy. This is his second semester with The State Press, having previously worked as a politics reporter.
