Organizers from the “No Kings” movement are gearing up for approximately 1,500 protests across the country this Saturday in response to upcoming military parades.
Interestingly, one major location is absent from these events—Washington, D.C. will host a military parade.
The protest leaders have framed their actions as a way to oppose what they see as an unsettling display. This year marks the 250th anniversary of the U.S. military and the 79th birthday of former President Trump.
“Rather than allowing this birthday parade to dominate the narrative, we will mobilize our stories into action across communities,” the organizers stated.
They are urging individuals in D.C. to join the main march in Philadelphia or attend local protests in nearby Virginia or Maryland. The same sentiment applies to participants of the “Marketing DC Joy Day,” which will kick off at 3 PM EDT at Anacostia Park. Activities there will include music, food, and kids’ entertainment.
The protest plan indicates that they expect to face “a significant force” given Trump’s recent comments in the Oval Office directed at potential demonstrators.
The No Kings protest is a collaboration among various progressive groups, but anyone interested can host their own event. Participating organizations include the American Federation of Teachers and Public Citizens among others.
This wave of demonstrations arrives amidst smaller protests in cities like New York, Chicago, and D.C. that push back against actions taken by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In Los Angeles, protests have carried on for the sixth consecutive day following a series of ICE-related incidents that began on Friday. This has ignited a political clash between California’s Governor Gavin Newsom and Trump.
Due to concentrated protests downtown, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has implemented a curfew.
In a recent speech, Trump harshly criticized the anti-ICE protesters, labeling them “animals” and “foreign enemies.”
In Washington, D.C., another protest aimed at countering the parade was canceled, with organizers initially optimistic about drawing a crowd of 20,000. The specific reasons for this cancellation remain unclear.
Over the past year, the No Kings Group has orchestrated national protests on multiple occasions, including ones for President’s Day and the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in April.
In major cities, protests are organized under the No Kings banner.
Atlanta
Scheduled from 10 AM to noon at Liberty Plaza.
Austin, Texas
Starts at 5:08 PM at the Texas State Capitol.
Baltimore
Takes place from 3 PM to 7 PM at the observatory in Patterson Park.
Boston
Runs from 11 AM to 3 PM in conjunction with Boston Pride events.
Charlotte, North Carolina
Rally begins at First Ward Park from 11 AM to 2 PM, followed by a march through Uptown Charlotte.
Chicago
Starts at Daily Plaza and continues until 2 PM.
Dallas
The rally is from noon to 2 PM at Akard Plaza.
Denver
Features music and games from noon to 4 PM at Lincoln Veterans Memorial Park.
Houston
Scheduled from 10 AM to noon, with the march starting at Houston City Hall.
Indianapolis
Happening at the Indiana State Capitol from noon to 3 PM.
Los Angeles
Scheduled from 10 AM to 2 PM at Los Angeles City Hall, with additional neighborhood demonstrations in areas like Hollywood and Pico Robertson.
Nashville
From 10 AM to noon at Vicentennial Capitol Mall State Park.
Philadelphia
The rally kicks off at Love Park from noon to 3 PM and will march to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Phoenix
Scheduled from 9 AM to noon at the Arizona State Capitol, featuring speakers, food vendors, and carnival games.
New York City
Rally taking place at Bryant Park from 2 PM to 4 PM.
San Francisco
Starts at Dolores Park and marches through Market Street to Civic Center Plaza; an additional demonstration will occur at Ocean Beach starting at 10 AM.
Seattle
Time from 2 PM until 3 PM, starting at Cal Anderson Park.
