No Kings

Last month’s fatal shooting of a teenager by Elkhart police was one of the issues highlighted during Saturday’s No Kings rally.

"These rallies play a major role in helping us all rediscover what it means to be a citizen and democracy," said Merle Baker with Elkhart County Indivisible. "They help us realize the power and the possibility of the people."

In Elkhart, a protest is planned for 10:00 a.m. to noon at the Civic Plaza. In South Bend, the Michiana Alliance for Democracy is planning a rally at 1:00 p.m. at Jon Hunt Memorial Plaza. Protests are also planned in Goshen, Niles, LaPorte and Nappanee, among other locations.

"I think that the numbers do so much more than put pressure on elected officials," said Gabrianna Gratzol, who helped organize Elkhart's event. "I think that they demonstrate to people who may be afraid to speak out or afraid to identify as opposing the current administration, to let them know that they’re not alone."

South Bend’s rally is scheduled to start at noon at Jon Hunt Memorial Plaza near the Morris Performing Arts Center. Elkhart’s No Kings protest begins Saturday morning at 10:00 at the Civic Plaza on Main Street. Events are also planned in Niles, Cassopolis, LaPorte, Plymouth, Warsaw and Benton Harbor, according to NoKings.org.

Nearly 2,000 demonstrators gathered Saturday afternoon in Jon Hunt Memorial Plaza as part of the nationwide No Kings protest.