Overview

• House Speaker Mike Johnson labeled the Oct. 18 events a “hate-America” rally and described attendees as “pro-Hamas” and “Antifa,” while asserting Democrats won’t vote to reopen the government until after the protests without offering evidence.
• House Majority Whip Tom Emmer escalated the rhetoric by calling attendees the “terrorist wing” of the Democratic Party and tying the continuing shutdown to the planned demonstrations.
• Sen. Roger Marshall alleged the protests are “Soros paid-for” and suggested National Guard deployment if unrest occurs, a claim presented without proof as he expressed doubt the events would remain peaceful.
• Organizers from the No Kings coalition and Indivisible describe a nationwide, nonviolent day of action, with the D.C. “Remove the Regime March” outlining a route down 14th Street to the Washington Monument and explicit guidance for lawful conduct and no weapons.
• Civil-liberties advocates and a group of former national-security officials known as The Steady State condemned the GOP characterizations as an attack on First Amendment rights, as the shutdown continues after some federal employees missed paychecks.