Opposing Political Rallies Planned in Niles This Weekend

NILES, Mich. -- Local, county, and state authorities say they are aware and prepared, emphasizing safety ahead of local demonstrations taking place this Saturday. A local “No Kings Day” protest scheduled for Saturday afternoon, as a part of a nationwide demonstration.

At the same time, just blocks away, a Republican rally will take place in Veterans Memorial Park in honor of President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the United States Army.

Michigan State Police say they have dealt with similar protests in the past and have procedures in place to monitor events like these. Lt. DuWayne Robinson, a public information officer with the Michigan State Police 5th District, said the agency regularly trains for large public gatherings and is currently monitoring for any potential safety threats. At this time, no additional personnel are being deployed, but police say they are prepared to respond quickly if the situation changes.

Robinson said state and county police are coordinating closely with the local police department, which is leading the response.

He emphasized that the goal is to protect the rights of all individuals attending either event.

"We support people as they exercise their constitutional rights on both sides," Robinson said. "In the event that any violent activities take place, we will address those if and when they occur."

Authorities are encouraging the public to remain peaceful and report any suspicious activity to police rather than attempting to intervene on their own.

“If they see something, criminal activity or anything suspicious, the safest way to handle it is to let law enforcement take over instead of taking matters into their own hands,” Robinson said.

Both rallies are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. Saturday. The “No Kings Day” protest will take place on Second and Main Street, while the Trump birthday celebration and military commemoration will be held at Veterans Memorial Park near Main and 11th.

Police say their presence will be focused on keeping everyone safe and ensuring that the events remain peaceful.

“We’re responding to uphold those rights, not to take them away,” Robinson said. “We’re there to maintain peace and keep people safe.”

ABC57 plans to have crews covering the demonstrations.