No Kings Day protests draw hundreds in North Alabama

Across North Alabama Saturday, hundreds of protesters hoisted signs, chanted slogans and prompted drivers passing by to honk their horns, joining in the latest No Kings Day protests.

Rallies were held in Huntsville, Athens, Florence, Guntersville, Scottsboro and Fort Payne. Organizers billed it as a messaging event that's pro-American and anti-authoritarian. That messaging primarily targeted President Trump, his administration and the actions of ICE.

Though there have been a handful of these protests nationwide (including Saturday), Hunter Collins of Huntsville was attending his first at Big Spring Park.

"The one that really sent me over the edge was the war in Iran," Collins said. "That is not something that we need as a country. We're already so full of negativity and just destruction everywhere. And we went and we got involved in this was because of Israel, and so we really has no business being there. We were not under any type of imminent threat from Iran. And it just really sent me over the edge. No more."

The Huntsville protest started at Big Spring Park, but marchers carried their signs and slogans with them as they stopped at the new federal courthouse before heading back to the park.

In Athens, protesters filled the grassy area in front of the Limestone County Courthouse. Debbie Alvarado of Athens said the messaging from the past rallies has not changed too much.

" I think we're all out here defending our democracy and our rights of freedom of speech," Alvarado said. "Our rights are being stripped away one by one, and I think we're all here to defend democracy and the rights of everybody. And the illegal-ness of ICE is horrendous. It just really feels a lot like Germany taking over. We haven't learned our lessons from history. So, I'm here to speak out and voice my right."

Nationwide, there have now been three No Kings Day protests. The first was last June, the second in October. What's the next step? Jordan Hilliard, a Huntsville resident attending the Athens protest, said it starts in every town.

"Get involved with your community, to actually help the humans around you," Hilliard said. And therefore, also spread awareness and educating stuff with us going into primaries, and to know that even voting for local officials spreads this all the way up the chain."

There weren't any counterprotesters at the Huntsville or Athens rallies, though one SUV kept circling the courthouse square, blaring President Trump speeches through its speakers. In the past, Alabama's Congressional delegation commented on the rallies. This time, they did not.