Hundreds gathered on Courthouse Square in Scranton over the weekend for the No Kings rally, part of a nationwide protest movement rejecting what attendees described as authoritarianism and concentrated power. The event was peaceful and drew teachers, veterans, union members and local residents who said they were there to stand up for democracy and the idea that no one is above the law.
Participants carried signs reading “No Kings,” “Liberty for All,” and “Democracy, Not Dynasty.” Organizers framed the gathering as a nonviolent expression of civic engagement rather than a partisan attack. American flags waved as volunteers handed out voter-registration forms, and speakers reminded the crowd that the nation’s founding principles rest on rejecting monarchy and protecting rights.
The only significant disruption tied to the day’s events happened in nearby Wilkes-Barre, where police arrested 52-year-old Michael Paul Kolarik of Scranton after he allegedly pointed a handgun at a group of protesters during a separate No Kings rally. Officers say Kolarik—driving a red Jeep Wrangler covered in Trump flags—brandished a firearm toward the crowd around noon on Public Square. Video footage reportedly shows him lifting a gun from the vehicle’s console and pointing it in the direction of the demonstrators. Police later recovered two loaded Smith & Wesson pistols—one in the console, the other holstered on his hip. Both weapons were legally owned, and Kolarik holds a valid license to carry. He was charged with terroristic threats, simple assault, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct. No one was injured, and officers say no shots were fired.
Adding an unexpected layer to the day: after the protests, Donald Trump posted an AI-generated video to his social media platform that appears to mock the movement. In the clip, Trump is depicted wearing a crown, flying a jet marked “King Trump,” and dumping brown sludge on crowds of protestors while the song “Danger Zone” plays. The video was widely reported and interpreted by some as reinforcing the “No Kings” message: that the imagery of a “king” figure—however fantastical—raises the very issue the protesters raised. Observers noted the video might undercut Trump’s own denials that he sees himself as a king, since the imagery directly evokes that idea.
Organizers in Scranton called their rally successful despite the distraction. They plan to continue voter-education efforts and community engagement in the months ahead. For them, the message of “No Kings” was less about politics than preserving norms of accountability and ensuring that power remains subject to the people.
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