Update 6/16/25: Saturday at around 10 PM, the Republican Party of Arkansas responded to LRPR's request for comment saying, "We don't live in a monarchy, we live in a democracy. And in 2024, that democracy made its voice heard at the ballot box by overwhelmingly rejecting the failed leadership of the Democrat Party and electing Republican leadership nationwide."
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The “No Kings” protest in downtown Little Rock Saturday saw a massive peaceful turnout. The protest was part of a nationwide movement against recent policies and actions by the administration led by President Donald Trump.
The protests began in Little Rock, with activists marching over the Arkansas River to North Little Rock. Protesters then marched back to Little Rock for a rally.
Little Rock Public Radio estimates thousands of people joined the protest. Midway through, they spanned the full length of the Broadway Bridge, including crowds gathered on both Little Rock and North Little Rock sides.
Attendees talked about recent cuts to federal assistance programs. The Trump Administration has attempted to claw back funding for programs such as Medicaid or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP).
Attendee Lou Tobian said he feels Arkansas’ leadership is not acting in support of its people.
"We've got a MAGA in the Governor's Mansion,” he said. “We've got a legislature that's MAGA, and they just seem to be motivated by cruelty and menace rather than humility and compassion."
Tobian said the recent deployment of military forces to Los Angeles was top of mind when deciding to march in today’s protest.
Many of the chants related to fascism and democracy. Cries of “this is what democracy looks like” and “no fascist USA” rang across the bridge, while marchers waved a mix of anti-Trump signs and American flags.
Protester Jeremy Price said Arkansas is “fed up with fascism.”
“The protests that we have tried to organize so far have fallen a little flat,” he said. “And this one is awesome. I am so glad that everybody showed up.”
Across the country, there have been concerns about protests escalating. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Tuesday she would quote, “never allow to take place what they’re letting to go on in California.” She was referencing protests in Los Angeles where both members of the National Guard and U.S. Marines were deployed.
The Saturday march was entirely orderly. There were at least two sheriff boats on the river, some LRPD cars and at least one state police vehicle.
Protester Courtney Ainsgsley was passing out water, and said the protest had been entirely peaceful.
“Everyone's been kind,” she said. “Even the people who have been a bit abrasive, we haven't come to blows or anything yet. That's a testament to the Arkansan spirit.”
Before the march began, organizers told the crowd that there were counter protesters, though there were very few. They asked the crowd to be peaceful.
Little Rock Public Radio reached out to the governor's office for comment and were directed to the Republican Party of Arkansas. LRPR has not received a comment as of deadline.
Correction: A previous version of this article misidentified Jeremy Price as an organizer. The protest was organized by The People's Protests and Marches of Arkansas.
