Opponents of President Donald Trumpโs administration are set to rally in hundreds of cities on Saturday during theย military parade in Washingtonย to mark the Armyโs 250th anniversary, which coincides withย Trumpโs birthday.
Click HERE for details on the “No Kings” protest in Charlotte
The โNo Kingsโ protests are set to take place to counter what organizers say are Trumpโs plans to feed his ego on his 79th birthday and Flag Day. โNo Kingsโ will follow several days ofย nationwide protestsย against federal immigration raids including inย Los Angeles,ย where Trump’s deployment of the National Guard further agitated his opponents.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is following the president’s cue. Abbott said Thursday that he hasย ordered the deploymentย of more than 5,000 Texas National Guard troops, along with more than 2,000 state police, in response to the ongoing demonstrations and in preparation for the โNo Kings” protests.
The Army birthday celebration had already been planned. But earlier this spring, Trump announced his intention to ratchet up the event to include 60-ton M1 Abrams battle tanks and Paladin self-propelled howitzers rolling through the city streets. He has longย sought a similar display of patriotic force.
Why is it called โNo Kingsโ?
The โNo Kingsโ theme was orchestrated by theย 50501 Movement, a national movement made up of everyday Americans who stand for democracy and against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration. The name 50501 stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement.
Protests earlier this year have denounced Trump and billionaire adviserย Elon Musk, the now former leader of Trumpโs Department of Government Efficiency, a government organization designed to slash federal spending. Protesters have called for Trump to be โdethronedโ as they compare his actions to that of a king and not a democratically elected president.
โTheyโve defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights, and slashed our services,โ the group says on its website, referring to the Trump administration and its policies. โTheyโve done this all while continuing to serve and enrich their billionaire allies.โ
Why are they protesting on Saturday?
The No Kings Day of Defiance has been organized to reject authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics and the militarization of the country’s democracy, according to a statement by organizers.
Organizers intend for the protests to counter the Armyโs 250th anniversary celebration โ which Trump has ratcheted up to include an expensive, lavish military parade. The event will featureย hundreds of military vehicles and aircraftย and thousands of soldiers. It also happens to be his 79th birthday and Flag Day.
โThe flag doesnโt belong to President Trump. It belongs to us,โ the โNo Kingsโ website says. โOn June 14th, weโre showing up everywhere he isnโt โ to say no thrones, no crowns, no kings.โ
Where will the protests happen?
Protests inย nearly 2,000 locations are scheduled around the country, from city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, organizers said.
No protests are scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., however, where the military parade will be held. The group says it will โmake action everywhere else the story of America that day.โ
โNo Kingsโ plans instead to hold a flagship march and rally in Philadelphia to draw a clear contrast between its people-powered movement and what organizers described on their website as the โcostly, wasteful, and un-American birthday paradeโ in Washington.
What is planned at the โNo Kingsโ protests?
People of all ages are expected to come together in the protest locations for speeches, marching, carrying signs and waving American flags, organizers said in a call Wednesday.
On the group’s website, it says a core principle behind all โNo Kingsโ events is a commitment to nonviolent action, and participants are expected to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation.
No weapons of any kind should be taken to โNo Kingsโ events, according to the website.
How many people are expected to participate?
The No Kings Day of Defiance is expected to be the largest single-day mobilization since Trump returned to office, organizers said. Organizers said they are preparing for millions of people to take to the streets across all 50 states and commonwealths.
