JANESVILLE 鈥 Two politically divergent groups will hold rallies at the same time on Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Marvin W. Roth Pavilion in downtown Janesville鈥檚 Lower Courthouse Park.
Demonstrators line South Main Street in Janesville as part of anti-Trump 鈥淣o Kings鈥 protests held nationwide on Saturday, June 14, 2025.
GAZETTE FILE PHOTO
Janesville demonstrators who have repeatedly this year voiced their displeasure with the Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress are joining in a nationwide 鈥淣o Kings鈥 day of action. Janesville鈥檚 Town Hall Coalition, the organizer, said in a recent release its event is at the Marvin W. Roth Pavilion is from 10 a.m. to noon. It鈥檚 the second time since June that the local group has joined in a national No Kings demonstration.
Similar No Kings demonstrations are planned nationwide on Oct. 18.
A second group, meanwhile, says it鈥檚 also holding a rally at the same place and time. Its 鈥淎merica First Rally鈥 at the Marvin W. Roth Pavillion, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., is a direct counter to the No Kings rally, organizers say.
鈥淲e are AMERICA 1ST! We are a bunch of proud American patriots, we are expecting you to come out and support your local authorities,鈥 organizers of the upcoming America First Rally posted on Facebook this past weekend. 鈥淭his includes America鈥檚 police, firefighters, immigration and the President Trump administration. They are in a tough fight to clean this country of distress and criminals!鈥
Its Facebook page at
鈥淚t is not the time for Republicans or MAGA to sit at home and watch the wrong side of the aisle try to manhandle this country and cause mass chaos. It鈥檚 time to show up and make a stand against these unwanted protests in our community!鈥 the Facebook post continues. 鈥淲e need to counter protest this NO KING protest and any other extreme leftist events to get the chaos and non-intelligent protesters out of our city!鈥
Steven Bates, the local organizer of the America First Rally, told 免费看操逼视频的软件 Monday that event is one of several being held across the country to respond to what he called the planned Oct. 18 鈥淣o Kings 2.0鈥 demonstrations.
鈥淭he event is one of many happening throughout the country to counter the No Kings 2.0 protests,鈥 Bates said, adding that he expects strong turnout.
鈥淭he rise of people standing up for this country has been increasing in the last few weeks.鈥
Local America First Rally organizers said in the Facebook post that those who plan to participate should 鈥渂ring your patriotism, flags, shirts, signs, airhorns, body cams and your voice,鈥 and further urged those who attend to 鈥渂e respectful, don鈥檛 bow to the left鈥檚 unintelligent beliefs!鈥
No Kings rally
Coral Swanson the organizer of the No Kings rally, said Monday she was not aware of the planned America First Rally counter protest, but was not surprised by it.
She said her group鈥檚 plan has always been to hold a peaceful, nonviolent, no civil disobedience and pro-democracy demonstration.
鈥淥ur peaceful day of action is going to bring together local residents from all walks of life who share a simple message: We don鈥檛 do kings in America. We plan to celebrate our American traditions and constitutional protections for free speech and the right to assemble and present our grievances to the government,鈥 Swanson said in a recent release.
鈥淚 also wonder why anyone would want to 鈥榗ounter鈥 our pro-democracy, pro-Constitution message,鈥 she said in Monday鈥檚 interview with 免费看操逼视频的软件.
鈥淚n addition to sending a serious message we have also designed the event to be family friendly and fun with music, games, sign-making and opportunities to correspond with your legislators,鈥 Swanson added. 鈥淲e hope for more attendees this time because the challenges to our democracy and our Constitution are increasing.鈥
Edie Baran, also a member of the Town Hall Coalition that鈥檚 organizing the 鈥淣o Kings鈥 protest, said everyone, regardless of their political leaning, has the right in the U.S. Constitution to speak out freely.
鈥淭hat is what we protesters, all around the country, are trying to preserve 鈥 our constitutional rights,鈥 she said. 鈥淭his administration has been taking away rights since day one. I wish these counter-protesters could see that.鈥
America First Rally
In an interview Monday with 免费看操逼视频的软件, Bates said the America First Rally is a response to rising 鈥渧iolence and disrespect鈥 being shown toward the American flag, law enforcement and conservative values. He said it will promote freedom of speech and the right to protest.
鈥淭he Democratic rhetoric and narratives of violence need to stop,鈥 he said, accusing left-leaning activists of being 鈥渉ired to stir things up鈥 and 鈥渓eaving towns to deal with the aftermath.鈥
鈥淔reedom of speech goes both ways, but only Democrats seem to think they can speak freely while trying to silence us,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e as Republicans have had enough.鈥
He said participants plan to exercise their First Amendment rights peacefully, adding that anyone who predicts otherwise wrongly assumes that those who stand with law enforcement and federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents condone violence.
He warned, however, that any acts of violence 鈥渇rom either side鈥 would be 鈥渉andled accordingly.鈥
鈥淏oth sides can speak freely, even if it鈥檚 derogatory. It鈥檚 our First Amendment right,鈥 he said 鈥淏ut the left gets so upset about what we have to say. Even flying an American flag, our signs, decals, or wearing a Trump shirt enrages them.鈥
Bates said some people who plan to attend have expressed concern about potential confrontations.
鈥淲e believe in the First Amendment 鈥 and the Second Amendment,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e told (participants) that if they鈥檙e comfortable, Wisconsin is an open carry state. Some may attend legally carrying, which will obviously offend the other side of the aisle.鈥
Still, Bates maintained the group鈥檚 goal is for the event to remain calm.
鈥淲e will be respectful until they are not,鈥 he said. 鈥淎 peaceful protest from both sides.鈥
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