Greensburg organizers expect more than 1,000 people at No Kings demonstration

The organizers of Saturday’s No Kings political demonstration have high expectations that people will turn out for the Greensburg event.

“I’m hoping for more than a thousand,” said Abby Graham-Pardus of Murrysville, chairperson of WTF Can I Do Westmoreland.

The group is planning the event at the Westmoreland County Courthouse courtyard in Greensburg from noon to 2 p.m. There will be a few speakers, including county Commissioner Ted Kopas and Allen Kukovich, a former state senator.

The Greensburg demonstration is one of thousands planned across the country Saturday as a way to show defiance against President Donald Trump and his policies, according to the No Kings website. The nationwide demonstration is organized by 50501 Movement.

Tensions in the U.S. surrounding immigration policy rose early this week when Trump deployed 4,000 members of the National Guard in response to immigration protests in Los Angeles.

Police in Greensburg and Pittsburgh are preparing for a deluge of participants at their respective No Kings events. Greensburg Police Chief Charles Irvin has said city officers will be working with Westmoreland County Park Police, state police and Westmoreland SWAT. The police presence will be on the ground throughout the city, and on rooftops near the courthouse, as there are several other events in Greensburg scheduled around the same time.

Both Irvin and Pittsburgh Director of Public Safety Lee Schmidt said they intend to protect the First Amendment rights of those participating in the demonstrations and, for Greensburg officers, safety of all attendees at the simultaneous events around town.

Graham-Pardus has organized a couple similar well-attended demonstrations that were held earlier this year outside the courthouse. Participants seem to enjoy meeting others and learning their perspectives. She encouraged participants on Saturday to be peaceful.

“I think it’s important for people to have local options to express their views,” she said. “Anybody who cares about where the country is going is welcome.”

Other local No Kings events are planned for Saturday in Mt. Lebanon, Washington County, Cranberry Township and Beaver County.

Other events in Greensburg Saturday include:

• An attempt to break the world record for the most people blowing a chewing gum bubble simultaneously will start at noon on South Pennsylvania Avenue. The attempt will take place during the Greensburg Business & Professional Association’s annual Summer in the City, which kicks off at 10 a.m. with a pet parade.

• The Greensburg YMCA is having a Y-Cup Block Party from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the facility and its surrounding parking lots. A volleyball tournament starts at 7 a.m. More details are at greensburgymca.org/y-cup-block-party.

• The Greensburg Hempfield Area Library will have a Mess-tival from 1 to 3 p.m. in its parking lot. For more details, visit ghal.org and click on the calendar tab.

• The Westmoreland Museum of American Art will have its cantilever gallery transformed into an art maze from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. More details are at thewestmoreland.org/series/art-maze-2025.

• Greensburg Craft Beer Festival in St. Clair Park is a ticketed event. To get more details, visit greensburgcraftbeerweek.com/greensburg-craft-beer-festival.