Shreveport Joins Nationwide ‘No Kings’ Protests Saturday

A series of nationally coordinated demonstrations are scheduled to take place across the country this weekend...with one of them set to happen in downtown Shreveport. The events, known as the "No Kings" protests, are part of a nationwide series of gatherings coordinated in cities all over the United States.

The term "No Kings" is a play on one of the founding principles of America...the idea of rejecting a king (or any single ruler with absolute power). The assertion from organizers is that the United States has turned down a path of singular, authoritarian leadership. The original No Kings Protests in the summer were in response to the US military parade that was taking place the same day in Washington DC.

This weekend's events, including the planned Shreveport demonstration on Saturday, October 18th, in front of the Caddo Parish Courthouse, isn't in response to any one specific event that same day. But some organizers have said the current US Government shutdown has helped to fuel this round of demonstrations.

Shreveport No Kings Protest Event Details

According to the official event site, North Louisiana's gathering is set to take place from 1pm to 4pm at the Caddo Parish Courthouse, which is at 501 Texas Street in Shreveport. Locals have been discussing the event online on sites like Discord and Reddit, and have also pointed to the courthouse as their planned location.

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Shreveport is not the only Louisiana city involved...similar events are set to take place on Saturday in both New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

Organizers expect this weekend's events to break their previous record for largest one-day protest in US history. That record was set over the summer during another round of No King Protests.

The National Issue Behind the Protests in Shreveport

The central issues for the nationwide gatherings this time includes is the concept of presidential overreach, the nationwide crackdown on First Amendment rights, an ongoing government shutdown, releasing the Epstein Files, and conflicts overseas. The protests are designed to serve as a direct response from citizens concerned about the issues.

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The planned demonstrations have not been without controversy. The events have drawn sharp criticism from some political figures, including Shreveport-Bossier's own House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has characterized the rallies in a way that has drawn pushback from organizers.

Some of the organizers have pointed to this response as a direct attempt to silence protesters, and threaten their First Amendment rights. Which may fuel more people to take part in the event, even if they weren't planning to.

While Shreveport's No Kings event isn't likely to draw thousands, the intent is to serve as part of a larger event. It demonstrates how debates over governmental power are increasingly playing out in communities all across the country.