In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, a woman was taken into custody on Saturday after she allegedly displayed a handgun during a drive-by at a ‘No Kings’ demonstration held at Chapin Park. The incident involved 59-year-old Mary Moriarty from Surfside Beach, who now faces charges for pointing and presenting a firearm, according to local law enforcement.
The demonstration attracted approximately 1,000 participants and was the third major gathering since former President Donald Trump resumed his role in the White House. The protest unfolded amidst a government shutdown that has halted numerous federal programs and services. This situation has sparked concerns among protest organizers, who caution that the confrontation between an assertive executive branch and the legislative and judicial branches could signal a drift towards authoritarian governance.
Throughout the day, related events were also organized in the nearby cities of Conway and Florence, as well as in Myrtle Beach. Meanwhile, Republican leaders have criticized the demonstrators, labeling them as extremists and blaming them for exacerbating the ongoing government shutdown, which has now reached its 18th day.
It was the third mass mobilization since Trump’s return to the White House and came against the backdrop of a government shutdown that not only has closed federal programs and services but is testing the core balance of power, as an aggressive executive confronts Congress and the courts in ways that protest organizers warn are a slide toward authoritarianism.
Events were held in Conway, Florence and Myrtle Beach throughout the day.
Republicans sought to portray protesters as far outside the mainstream and a prime reason for the government shutdown, now in its 18th day.
From the White House to Capitol Hill, GOP leaders called them “communists” and “Marxists.” They said Democratic leaders including Schumer are beholden to the far-left flank and willing to keep the government shut to appease those liberal forces.
“I encourage you to watch — we call it the Hate America rally — that will happen Saturday,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana.
More than 1,500 people gathered in Birmingham, Alabama, evoking and openly citing the city’s history of protests and the critical role it played in the Civil Rights Movement two generations ago.
“It just feels like we’re living in an America that I don’t recognize,” said Jessica Yother, a mother of four. She and other protesters said they felt camaraderie by gathering in a state where Trump won nearly 65% of the vote last November.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this story.
