() As President Trump marks the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army on Saturday with a lavish military parade in Washington, D.C., thousands of anti-Trump protests have been planned across the country.
Billed as the “No Kings” movement a rejection of what some consider to be Trump’s unilateral method of governing these demonstrations will occur in more than 1,500 U.S. communities, organizers say.
“No Kings is a nationwide day of defiance. From city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we’re taking action to reject authoritarianism and show the world what democracy really looks like,” the event’s website says.
Pushback against Trump military showcase
Organizers say Trump’s multimillion-dollar Army parade is a vanity project that coincides with the president’s 79th birthday (it’s also occurring on Flag Day). More than 6,000 troops are expected to march near the National Mall, with tanks, armored personnel carriers and aircraft augmenting the festivities.
Trump will review the procession, and 200,000 people are expected to attend, weather permitting ( will stream the event and provide coverage of simultaneous “No Kings” protests). It begins at 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
Who is behind ‘No Kings’?
Saturday’s “No Kings” day of defiance is credited to the 50501 Movement, a grassroots organization. The name “stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement,” according to the group’s website.
“Since January, the Trump Administration has continued to attack our civil liberties, take illegal and unconstitutional actions, and gut the public services we pay for with our taxes,” organizers say.
What will protests look like?
“No Kings” organizers say they are committed to “nonviolent protest and community safety,” with organizers trained to de-escalate conflicts.
Still, some police departments are being cautious about the possibility that things may get out of hand or that some participants will purposely try to instigate violence or damage property. In New York City, an estimated 75,000 protesters are expected to converge in Bryant Park from across the five boroughs.
“When you have 5,000 people on the street, all you need is 20 to be an outside agitator. You don’t need 4,999. You have a small number of people that are professionals,” Mayor Eric Adams said Friday.
