BEMIDJI — Despite warnings about large gatherings in light of Rep. Melissa Hortman’s assassination, thousands of Northern Minnesotans turned out for planned “No Kings” protests Saturday, June 14.
There were over 2,000 rallies across the country.
An estimated 1,000 people gathered along Bemidji’s Paul Bunyan Drive on Saturday afternoon, holding signs with messages, some in honor of the late Speaker Emerita.
Sue Merrill of Bemidji told KAXE Volunteer photographer Lorie Shaull that she almost hesitated attending.
"Well, I kind of asked myself what Melissa might do, and that's it," Merrill said.
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
Tylor Roth of Blackduck also attended to peacefully represent his community.
"I am Hispanic, Latino. With everything going on in California right now, from the life that I grew up like, I wasn't completely bad," Roth said.
"But I was a good boy, hanging out with bad boys and you know, cops make me nervous. But someone needs to be out here from the other side of the community to be like, 'Hey, you know, this ain't how we're supposed to be doing it.'"
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
The rally in Brainerd had an estimated 2,000 attendees, and the one in Grand Rapids had an estimated 1,000 attendees.
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— Protesters hold signs in Downtown Bemidji part of the No Kings Day protest in Bemidji on Saturday, June 14, 2025.jpg
Protesters hold signs in Downtown Bemidji, part of the "No Kings" protest in Bemidji on Saturday, June 14, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— A protester surrounded by signs along Bemidji Avenue North at the No Kings Day protest in Bemidji on June 14, 2025.jpg
A protester surrounded by signs along Bemidji Avenue North at the "No Kings" protest in Bemidji on June 14, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— 03 Protesters along Bemidji Avenue North at the No Kings Day protest in Bemidji on June 14, 2025.jpg
Protesters along Bemidji Avenue North at the "No Kings" protest in Bemidji on June 14, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— A protesters with a Free to Protest Not Paid sign on her shirt along Northwest Fourth Street at the No Kings Day protest in Grand Rapids on June 14, 2025.jpg
A protester with "Free to Protest Not Paid" written on her shirt along Northwest Fourth Street at the "No Kings" protest in Grand Rapids on June 14, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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Protesters along Northwest Fourth Street at the "No Kings" protest in Grand Rapids on June 14, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— 01 Protesters line Northwest Fourth Street at the No Kings Day protest in Grand Rapids on June 14, 2025.jpg
Protesters line Northwest Fourth Street at the "No Kings" in Grand Rapids on June 14, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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Protesters along Northwest Fourth Street at the "No Kings" in Grand Rapids on June 14, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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Protesters line Northwest Fourth Street at the "No Kings" protest in Grand Rapids on June 14, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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Protesters line Northwest Fourth Street at the "No Kings" protest in Grand Rapids on June 14, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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Protesters line Northwest Fourth Street at the "No Kings" protest in Grand Rapids on June 14, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— Audrey Brandt Loer of Wadena holds a US flag and No King sign at the No Kings Day protest in Bemidji on June 14, 2025.jpg
Audrey Brandt Loer of Wadena holds a US flag and "No King" sign at the "No Kings" protest in Bemidji on June 14, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— Protesters in front of Old Central School along Northwest Fourth Street and Pokegama Avenue at the No Kings protest in Grand Rapids on June 14, 2025.jpg
Protesters in front of Old Central School along Northwest Fourth Street and Pokegama Avenue at the "No Kings" protest in Grand Rapids on June 14, 2025. Crowd size was estimated to be over 1000 people.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— A protester holds a We Shall Overcome sign along Bemidji Avenue North at the No Kings protest in Bemidji on June 14, 2025.jpg
A protester holds a "We Shall Overcome" sign along Bemidji Avenue North at the "No Kings" protest in Bemidji on June 14, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— Protesters hold Hands Off signs along Bemidji Avenue North at the No Kings protest in Bemidji on June 14, 2025.jpg
Protesters hold "Hands Off" signs along Bemidji Avenue North at the "No Kings" protest in Bemidji on June 14, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— A protester holds a Save Our Free Press sign along Bemidji Avenue North at the No Kings Day protest in Bemidji on June 14, 2025.jpg
A protester holds a "Save Our Free Press" sign along Bemidji Avenue North at the "No Kings" protest in Bemidji on June 14, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— A protester holds a D-Throne Don sign along Bemidji Avenue North at the No Kings Day protest in Bemidji on June 14, 2025.jpg
A protester holds a "D-Throne Don" sign along Bemidji Avenue North at the "No Kings" protest in Bemidji on June 14, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— 05 Protesters line Northwest Fourth Street at the No Kings Day protest in Grand Rapids on June 14, 2025.jpg
Protesters line Northwest Fourth Street at the "No Kings" protest in Grand Rapids on June 14, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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Protesters line Northwest Fourth Street at the "No Kings" protest in Grand Rapids on June 14, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— 01 Protesters hold signs along Northwest Fourth Street at the No Kings Day protest in Grand Rapids on June 14, 2025.jpg
Protesters hold signs along Northwest Fourth Street at the "No Kings" protest in Grand Rapids on June 14, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— Christian Paquette of Bemidji holds a Resist Tyranny Defeat Fascism sign at the No Kings Day protest in Bemidji.jpg
Christian Paquette of Bemidji holds a "Resist Tyranny Defeat Fascism" sign at the "No Kings" protest in Bemidji.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— Protesters cross Northwest Fourth Street at the No Kings Day protest in Grand Rapids on June 14, 2025.jpg
Protesters cross Northwest Fourth Street at the 'No Kings" protest in Grand Rapids on June 14, 2025.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
