'No Kings' protesters in Virginia and San Francisco struck by motorists

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Guardian

Sat 14 Jun 2025 18.55 EDT
Last modified on Sat 14 Jun 2025 18.56 EDT


Protesters at “No Kings” events in Culpeper, Virginia, and San Francisco, California, have been struck by motorists, according to local news reports. The protests are taking place at about 2,000 sites nationwide, from big cities to small towns. A coalition of more than 100 groups planned the protests, which are committed to a principle of nonviolence.

Police in the northern Virginia city of Culpeper identified 21-year-old Joseph R Checklick Jr as the motorist there. No injuries have been reported; police said that they have filed reckless driving charges against Checklick, and that more charges may be filed. Organizers estimated that more than 600 protesters showed up in the town of 21,000.

In San Francisco, at least four “No Kings” protesters in San Francisco were struck by a motorist who then fled the scene, according to NBC News. Law enforcement detained the individual, and stated that the protesters suffered non-life-threatening injuries. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, tens of thousands of protesters are filling the streets across the Bay Area.

The No Kings protests come on the heels of constant anti-Ice protests in San Francisco in solidarity with the anti-Ice Los Angeles protests.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/14/no-kings-protests-vehicles-struck-injuries

[Lovie777]

1. Pro shithole/republicans feel per their masters that they can.............

harm and murder at will with no consequences and they truly believe that. Just look mat the pardons.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

2. Beyond disgusting!!

[70sEraVet]

3. I was amazed yesterday at the level of support from people driving by!

Many had 'No Kings' posters they were displaying out their car windows! I have to wonder if many of those people avoided participating in the protest, because they feared violence at the hands of angry MAGAs?
I know my wife didn't go with me, because she felt that one of us should be ready to bail the other out of jail!

[travelingthrulife]

9. I noticed that too in San Diego. Lots of people honking giving thumbs up, waving flags

from sidewalks, apartments or cars.

[70sEraVet]

10. I went to a protest in Clarksville, TN

I expected some level of antagonism, but except for a couple of trucks that repeatedly blew black diesel smoke at us, all I saw mostly supportive gestures -- many more thumbs than middle fingers!

[BigmanPigman]

19. They always honk in support.

I've been to 30 protests in San Diego since 2016 and I have always noticed the cars honking in support. It really encourages the marchers. After I made this observation I started to take a noise maker for kids' parties with me to protests and I blow on it when we walk through intersections to encourage more drivers to honk in support. It works!

The only vehicle I ever observed which was full of nasty people was a two level a tour bus driving full of senior citizens. I very clearly let them know what I thought of them.

[Squaredeal]

4. I blame the police for incompetence.

At the Philly March , the police had every cross road blocked by a dump or garbage truck to protect the crowd and to keep lunatic drivers out. Police presence was very low-keyed at these intersections , almost as if they had nothing to do, except maybe offer emergency assistance and watch out for troublemakers trying to disrupt the protest. I saw no combat gear or assault weapons to threaten or anger the peaceful participants. I saw no one being dragged away.

[paleotn]

5. Told to keep a low profile I suppose. That was wise.

The optics, considering what was going on nationwide and in DC, would have been.....kinda bad.

[hay rick]

6. No car/protester incidents in Florida despite DeSantis' best efforts at incitement.

[orangecrush]

13. Good news, thanks

[Canada Kid]

7. Way to go Trump!!

Due to your streaming bullshit you have managed to suck all the worst shit from the bottom of your MAGA toilet and spewed them out into the streets, using vehicles as weapons to attempt to kill those who they deem as "dangerous" to their twisted view of society. What a great job as president, may you die screaming in pain!

[HeartsCanHope]

8. So upset by this, and so grateful no one was killed.

I belong to a craft forum. After posting about my experiences at a local protest I got a reply from a protestor from Minnesota. It was the first time they had gone to a protest. They were met by the organizer, told about the Hortmans and Hoffmans, then told that participating would be at their own risk. They chose to stay! It was a small town near the killings, and they had the most protestors they had EVER had! (Take that, Krasnov, Minnesotans are tough!) Most of the cars going by were supportive at their rally. The police provided officers to protect them, too. To me this protestor is a hero, standing up despite knowing there could be real danger. So glad there was not. This protestor's story is an additional reason for me to hope that we can outlast Krasnov, and we can figure out a new way forward. It will be difficult. Krasnov, the republican party, and the MAGAS have a tsunami of evil to answer for--but for the first time in over a decade, I have hope the tide is turning and justice will eventually be headed their way!

[RussBLib]

11. I feel pretty buoyed today

...with all the No Kings rallies, combined with the Orange Parasite's glum look in the Viewing stand, and so many soldiers not even looking his way and marching out of sync, it was a good day for America.

https://russblib.blogspot.com/?m=1

[orangecrush]

12. "Reckless driving"

[Martin68]

14. They just can't stand it that we got way more people to protest than they got to attend the stupid parade in DC.

[bdamomma]

15. Losers striking out on innocent protestors

because their cult felon member is spreading lies, hate and division. Humpty Dumpty is going to have his great fall.

[Evolve Dammit]

16. Attempted murder with a deadly weapon. Vehicles are considered deadly weapons in most courts I believe. nt

[proud patriot]

17. Cowards hide behind their cars

[Cha]

20. Killing machines.

[Cha]

18. Grateful No one was seriously hurt

by the only Violence coming from Fascists..

Mahalo BRDS

[maxsolomon]

21. Hard to say if these incidents were politcal and deliberate or

incredibly frustrated drivers trapped by the parades, looking for a way out.

I'm going with the latter till I see some confirmation of the former.