Several hundred protestors marched around the Courthouse Square in downtown Newark on Saturday.
Before noon, pre-schoolers hunted for Easter eggs on the courthouse lawn while down the road you could hear the ping of baseball bats at Don Edwards Park.
But by 1 p.m., the early morning clouds gave way to sunshine – and the beeping horns and shouts from more than 350 people as they circled the square. They were among thousands across the United States who rallied in a national protest of President Donald Trump, his administration’s policies and the budget cuts being implemented by Trump advisor, billionaire Elon Musk.
Joey McArtor carried a sign that read, “Never in the history of EVER were the people against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion the Good Guys.”
Two weeks ago, she took part in the national “Hands Off” protest against Trump initiatives by joining thousands who protested in Columbus. An estimated 4,000 protested in Columbus on April 19. McArtor said she thought it was important to show up in her hometown east of Columbus in Licking County.
She said she’s tired of President Trump “acting as a tyrant” by ruling with executive orders. “His own and Congress is not involved. It’s just disgusting what’s happening now.”
Brent Shenk of Pataskala carries the theme of the day: “No Kings.” 
Veterans joined the march to protest Trump policies and budget cuts to the Veterans Administration. 
In Newark, protesters gathered at the Licking County Courthouse and marched around Courthouse Square. 
More than 350 people protested in Newark as part of a national protest on April 19. 
Protests of Trump administration policies include tax issues. 
Budget cuts to libraries and universities drew protests on Saturday. 
The national protest theme on Saturday was that the United States broke from a king with the start of the Revolution 250 years ago. 
Newark was among nearly 50 Ohio cities where protests occurred on Saturday, April 19. 
Protest signs in Newark on Saturday.
The protest in Newark was part of a national effort launched by an organization called 50501, the same organization that organized the April 5 protests.
The theme of the April 19 protest was “No Kings,” to honor the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution against the tyranny of British rule in America.
According to the 50501 website, there were protests across the country – from Charleston, South Carolina, to Los Angeles, California.
In Ohio, protestors gathered in cities large and small – from Columbus to Canton and from Akron to Zanesville. At least 46 protests were scheduled in Ohio.
Corby Foster of Newark, who was wearing a navy blue US Navy shirt and a Vietnam Veteran ball cap, told The Reporting Project that he is “tired of seeing what these guys are doing to our democracy,” especially, he said, “messing with the (Veterans Administration).”
“When I found out five times that he had a bone spur and he couldn’t go to Vietnam, that already drew against me. I had a lot of buddies that went and a lot of them died,” said Foster, who served from 1966 to 1969.
“This is the only way you can show that you don’t like what’s going on,” Foster said. “You can call your congressman and they don’t answer the phone.They don’t listen to you.”
Lisa Gillespie carried a sign in support of libraries and universities, which have been the target of Trump budget cuts.
“That was on my heart today,” she said.
“Libraries can’t afford to have their funding cut. The Ohio House has already done a number eliminating the public library fund, replacing it with a line item. I think it’s much more unstable. It’s going to affect the programs that libraries offer.”
“Ohio has one of the strongest library systems in the country, and they’ve been recognized as such,” Gillespie said.,
After an hour of marching and shouting, the crowd broke up.
Someone in an old sedan drove by the courthouse shouting, “We love Trump!”
At the same time, organizers asked protesters to “make sure you don’t leave any trash.”
They will be back on May 1st.
Brent Shenk, walked back to his car to drive home to Pataskala. He held onto a thin piece of cardboard with the inscription, “No Kings.”
Of the people protesting Shenk said, “They love the Constitution, that’s my thought.“
Choosing his words carefully, Shenk added, “and they want to honor those who died to bring us the Constitution, and those who died to keep it.”
Jack Shuler writes for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.