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By Kate Plummer
Senior US News Reporter
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The No Kings movement has warned of "increasing political tensions and military presence" ahead of their next day of action.
The grassroots protest group hosted a 90-minute safety and security training on Thursday to help protest hosts "practice deescalation for any scenarios that may arise" before their scheduled protests against President Donald Trump on October 18.
Newsweek reached out to the No Kings group and the White House by email to comment on this story.
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Why It Matters
The Trump administration is cracking down on some protests. Trump has sent federal troops to some U.S. cities including Los Angeles. The president also attempted to send the National Guard to Portland, Oregon, following protests near an ICE building. The move has faced legal challenges.
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No Kings previously coordinated 1,800 protests across the U.S. on June 14, the same day as Trump's birthday and the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army. While many of the protests remained peaceful, there were some instances of violence including a vehicular assault in Virginia.
The guidance suggests the organizers are concerned about the potential for dangerous situations to arise at the protests and it reflects the group becoming increasingly professionalized and structured as it continues to grow.
What To Know
In a note about its training, the group said: "No Kings actions are peaceful and non-violent in a world with increasing political tension and military presence. Hosts and safety leads are required to join or watch this training on creating a safety plan and practice de-escalation for any scenarios that may arise."
For the October 18 protests, organizers across all 50 states aim to mobilize "to defend democratic norms and reject authoritarianism" according to the group's website. The group said that it would not "back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty" and pointed in particular to Trump's immigration policies and handling of the economy.
Speaking to Newsweek, William Hall, an adjunct professor of political science and business at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, said these trainings were "well founded, necessary and extremely timely."
"With the, what genuinely appears to be, ever increasing levels of tension and amours of politically motivated tension and conflicts, both violent and nonviolent, I believe the need for this type of information and training, is desperately needed, especially if there are to be resources available, from hopefully, responsible organizations, with a dedicated interest and motivation, to seriously attempt to address rising political conflict and related turmoil occurring within the United States, right before our very eyes," he said.
Other protest groups have coordinated recent events including a series of over 200 protests on September 20 called Make Billionaires Pay.
What People Are Saying
**On its website, the No Kings group said: "**June was just the beginning. The next wave of protests is here. On October 18, we gather in cities nationwide to reclaim democracy, reject fascism, and remind Trump that power belongs to the people."
What Happens Next
The protests take place on October 18. Information about them can be found on the No Kings website.
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