‘No Kings’ protests scheduled in West Virginia cities

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with a statement from Gov. Patrick Morrisey.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) — Protests are scheduled to take place across the U.S. on Saturday, including in West Virginia.

The “No Kings” protests are in opposition to President Donald Trump’s policies on immigration and ICE detainments and his scheduled military parade in Washington, D.C. for the Army’s 250th birthday on June 14, which also coincides with Trump’s 79th birthday.

Critics of Trump also say that the protests are in response to his deployment of the National Guard at other nationwide protests this week.

The theme “No Kings” is part of a call by protesters for Trump to be “dethroned” as they compare his actions to that of a king and not a democratically elected president, The Associated Press reported.

According to the website for the protest, events are scheduled in Morgantown, Elkins, Buckhannon, Charleston, Wheeling, Romney, Keyser, Lewisburg, Huntington, Martinsburg, Berkeley Springs, Shepherdstown and Bluefield in West Virginia. The protests are all scheduled to take place before Trump’s military parade.

Mountaineers Indivisible Citizen Action, which is organizing the “Honk and Wave” demonstrations in Morgantown, called the action a “modern-day rebellion.” As of Friday morning, more than 120 people have said they plan to attend the Morgantown event.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R) released the following statement about the planned protests:

There are planned political demonstrations across West Virginia this weekend. I support the constitutional right to free speech and assembly, but West Virginia will uphold law and order. We will not tolerate looting, destruction, vandalism, or any violence toward law enforcement. I have directed the National Guard and State Police to stand ready to quell any actions that cross the line from peaceful protest to violent criminal behavior.

West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey