An estimated 2,160 people attended a “No Kings” rally along Highway 41 in Chaska on Saturday, June 14. The rally was organized to protest the Trump administration’s policies and coincided with the military parade planned in Washington, D.C., on the same day.

“No King’s Day is because Trump is having his military parade, which he’s saying is for the military, but we all know is for his birthday, and because of his authoritarian and dictatorship tendencies,” said Mike Kaselnak, one of the rally organizers.

The protest carried on despite advisories from state officials and law enforcement after the early-morning murder of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hartman and her husband Mark, and the shooting of Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette.

After officials in that investigation found “No Kings” pamphlets in a suspect vehicle, Governor Tim Walz and other officials recommended prospective protestors to stay away out of an “abundance of caution.”

Kaselnak said they had received the advisory and had multiple calls with police in the morning. He said organizers worked to inform attendees of the advice from officials so they could make informed choices to stay or leave.

“They recommended we cancel, but they’ve been extremely supportive saying ‘we’ll do what we can,’” Kaselnak said.

There were several Chaska police squad cars located at the rally and surrounding areas and the event stayed peaceful throughout.

The advisories did not deter many in the crowds both in Chaska and around the state. Some even described being more motivated to attend to protest political violence and extremism.

“There are over 2,000 of these (protests) across the country happening right now, pushing back, saying we’re not going to stand for that kind of behavior,” Kaselnak said.

Lisa Lund of East Union said warnings from the State Patrol made her a little nervous to come out, but also more motivated. “This made me really impassioned. I’m invigorated,” she said.