By Christopher Millette, Charleston Gazette-Mail
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — “It’s American as apple pie.”
That was the consensus of more than 500 people who turned out Saturday for the second “No Kings” rally on the south steps of the state Capitol in Charleston.
“These people are Americans who love their country,” said Paul Epstein, organizer of the rally and board member for United West Virginia, an advocacy group. “Protesting and exercising your First Amendment rights … is the duty of every American citizen. It’s as American as apple pie.”
The “No Kings” rally in Charleston, and others in Huntington, Morgantown and smaller West Virginia cities Saturday, were a few of thousands of such rallies planned across the United States to denounce authoritarianism generally and the policies of President Donald Trump specifically.