Hundreds of people participated in several “No Kings” protests in Orange County on Saturday.

One of the events took place in the City of Newburgh, where participants held up “No Kings” signs and American flags near Montgomery and 2nd Streets.

“Congress has been remiss in their duties and the oath they took to protect the Constitution,” said Margie Skelly, of Newburgh. “If they upheld their end of the deal, we wouldn’t have this problem with the president taking too much authority and being cruel and destructive.”

An estimated 2,000 No Kings Day protests are being held nationwide and are in opposition to Trump administration policies perceived by participants as authoritarian. It also counters a military parade marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, in Washington, D.C on the president’s birthday.

“I’m truly proud to see the turnout in the City of Newburgh,” says Orange County Legislator Kevindaryan Lujan, who marched with the group. “This is what democracy looks like – diverse voices standing up, saying we need better.”

Other No Kings protests in Orange County were held in Goshen, New Windsor, Middletown and Warwick.

They come on the heels of anti-ICE protests that have erupted in violence in several U.S. states and immediately follow the assassination Saturday of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, are believed to have been shot and seriously wounded by the same perpetrator.

The violence is sending shockwaves through the political community. New York state Sen. James Skoufis condemned the attacks.

“State legislators are real people with real lives, individuals looking to serve their community which includes, at times, making difficult policy decisions. As a state legislator who, at times, has to think about my family’s safety in light of my work, today’s political assassination is bone-chilling. It’s not something any state legislator in any party should have to be mindful of in the United States of America. But apparently, we do,” said Skoufis. “My heart is with the Hortman family at this unimaginable time - especially their children - as well as with Senator Hoffman’s family and all of Minnesota.”