LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Several demonstrations are happening in Kentucky and southern Indiana as part of the nationwide "No Kings" protest on Saturday.
Thousands of people protested in front of the Floyd County Courthouse in downtown New Albany and in front of Metro Hall in downtown Louisville Saturday morning into the early afternoon.
The protests coincide with President Donald Trump's planned military parade in Washington, D.C. to mark the Army’s 250th anniversary, which also falls on the president's birthday.
Organizers said "No Kings" protests are planned in nearly 2,000 locations around the country, according to the movement's website.
Locally, there are planned protests in Kentucky and southern Indiana.
One is being held from 12-4 p.m. in front of Metro Hall in downtown Louisville. Another is planned in downtown New Albany, Indiana, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in front of the Floyd County Courthouse on Hauss Square.
According to the "No Kings" website, other planned demonstrations include:
- Jeffersonville, Indiana: 12-1 p.m. at Big Four Park (at the base of the Big Four Bridge)
- Corydon, Indiana: 12-2 p.m., at the Town Square on North Capitol Avenue
- Shelbyville, Kentucky: 1-3 p.m. at Stargazer Plaza
- Frankfort, Kentucky: 12-2 p.m. at the state Capitol
- Madison, Indiana: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on East Vaughn Drive, under the Milton Madison Bridge
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and the Louisville Metro Police Department said they are aware of the plans, and will keep an eye on the protests.
"LMPD will be monitoring to ensure public safety while protecting freedom of speech," LMPD Chief Paul Humphrey said in a video with Greenberg posted on the mayor's Facebook page Friday afternoon. "We expect everyone participating to be mindful of their actions and be safe and responsible, like the protests we saw on Monday."
Chanelle Helm, the president of Black Lives Matter Louisville, also posted about Saturday's protests. She said the group has held protests all year, and what is happening in Los Angeles "does not exist in Louisville."
"The conditions at which LA, Chicago, NYC, etc. and other places around the country that are protesting does not exist in Louisville. Nor does the atmosphere from 2020 present itself at all," Helm wrote.
The "No Kings" demonstrations come as protests continue over immigration raids in Los Angeles, California, which have also sparked protests in other cities, including Louisville.
A wave of political frustration poured onto the steps of Louisville Metro Hall Monday as several hundred people gathered in protest, demanding accountability and sanctuary for all.
The demonstration, fueled by outrage over immigration enforcement, National Guard deployment in Los Angeles, and broader political issues, featured speakers calling attention to recent arrests and what they see as a growing threat to civil liberties.
Newly-elected Metro Council member J.P. Lyninger, D-District 6, warned that the community isn't immune to what’s happening in other parts of the country.
“There were people who were taken on Third Street just the other day, and people were tagging me in pictures and videos,” Lyninger said. “This is happening here. It’s happening in our community. It’s maybe not the scale of Los Angeles — but it’s here.”
The comment came after the FBI in Louisville shared a photo Tuesday of an arrest involving federal ICE agents. That post sparked public backlash and reignited questions about local law enforcement’s role in immigration enforcement. But LMPD said Wednesday they have not been asked to assist with any ICE operations.
“We haven’t assisted with ICE on any operation here locally,” an LMPD spokesperson told WDRB. “They have not asked for our help or our assistance on any operations.”
According to department policy, LMPD officers are limited in their involvement with ICE arrests — unless the individual in question has an outstanding Kentucky criminal warrant.
The department, still under federal scrutiny for its handling of the 2020 social justice protests, said it has invested in training on crowd management and the appropriate use of force. With more protests expected this weekend, LMPD said they’re ready.
“Yes, we have people prepared to handle protests and any sort of public safety issues as they might arise,” the LMPD spokesperson said. “There may be a chance that we don’t need to intervene at all — and that would be fantastic. We allow people to protest and exercise their First Amendment rights. But yes, we will be in the area. We’ll be monitoring.”
Newly elected Metro Council member J.P. Lyninger warned that the community isn't immune to what’s happening in other parts of the country.
The LA protests started last Friday, after federal immigration raids arrested dozens of workers in Los Angeles. Protesters blocked a major freeway and set cars on fire over the weekend, and police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades. Some protests in other cities have led to clashes with police and hundreds have been arrested.
Tensions rose in LA after Trump deployed 4,700 National Guard troops. Some 2,000 National Guard troops have been in the city since last week when the raids set off protests. Some have provided protection to immigration agents making arrests. Another 2,000 Guard members were notified of deployment earlier this week.
This week, the president deployed 700 Marines. About 200 Marines out of those deployed to the protests are in the city, according to Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, commander of Task Force 51 who is overseeing the deployed troops.
Thursday, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily blocked a federal judge’s order that had directed President Donald Trump to return control of National Guard troops to California, shortly after a federal judge had ruled the Guard deployment was illegal and both violated the Tenth Amendment and exceeded Trump’s statutory authority.
The court said it would hold a hearing on the matter on Tuesday. The ruling came only hours after a federal judge’s order was to take effect at noon Friday.
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Copyright 2025 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press also contributed to this report.
