No Kings Day: America Collides With Trump's Military Parade
While President Donald Trump’s military paraded through the streets of Washington, D.C., his highly publicized show of power quickly became overshadowed by millions of Americans who protested for the country-wide No Kings Day. In response to his aggressive mass deportation agenda, Americans gathered in over 2000 cities and towns to hold a simultaneous protest against the Trump administration. Their goal was clear: challenge the power that many believed had fallen into the wrong hands.
“These are not normal times in America,” Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-Ill.) told thousands of demonstrators in Chicago. “This is not a normal presidency.” Trump’s parade, which was meant to celebrate the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary and the President’s 79th birthday, featured a striking array of 28 Abram tanks and uniformed marching troops, a clear display of military strength. For many, however, this “spectacle” served as an alarming symbol of authoritarianism, especially at a time where tensions across the country were rising, and fast.
A few days prior, Trump had controversially deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles, in response to smaller protests over his immigration enforcement. This move, which was made over the objections of both state and local officials, drew criticism as California called out their concerns for the use of military force on domestic soil. Unsurprisingly, this only sparked further widespread outrage, and fuel to Saturday’s cause. In just days, the RSVP’s for the No King’s protest skyrocketed.
As a result, on June 14th, over five million participants, and even more who protested internationally, marched against President Trump. They filled the streets, parks and even past government buildings. The protests remained peaceful, with organizers making a heavy emphasis on their commitment to nonviolence. Citizens waved American flags, many waving them upside down to signal a nation being in distress. In Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was signed, over tens of thousands of people marched down the Ben Franklin Parkway all the way to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Demonstrators spanned from all ages, races and backgrounds. Veterans and students marched side by side with immigrants and teachers, carrying signs like “No One Is Illegal On Stolen Land” and “Democracy Dies In Silence.”
Organizers behind the protest insist that this movement should not just be a fleeting moment, but instead be the start of continuous effort to hold power accountable, prevent unchecked authority, and to protect our rights.
“Democracy is not given, it must be defended,” one of the signs read. Though Trump supporters hailed the parade as a symbol of patriotism, millions of others took it as a call to action. In fact, coalition leaders have already begun planning future protests. Now, the question is whether or not that unity and momentum of No Kings Day can be sustained, or if America will crumble under the pressure.
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