The “No Kings” protests are set to occur in response to what organizers claim are Trump’s attempts to indulge his ego on not only his 79th birthday but also Flag Day.
The Army birthday celebration was already on the agenda. However, earlier this spring, Trump declared his plans to amplify the event, intending to showcase 60-ton M1 Abrams battle tanks and Paladin self-propelled howitzers parading through the streets. He has frequently desired a similar show of patriotic strength.
The “No Kings” theme has been coordinated by the 50501 Movement, a national initiative comprising everyday Americans who advocate for democracy and oppose what they term the authoritarian measures of the Trump administration. The name 50501 signifies 50 states, 50 protests, one united movement.
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Earlier protests this year have criticized Trump and billionaire adviser Elon Musk, the former head of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, an organization aimed at cutting federal spending. Demonstrators have demanded Trump’s “dethronement,” likening his actions to those of a monarch rather than a democratically elected president.
“They’ve defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights, and slashed our services,” the group states on its website, referencing the Trump administration and its policies. “They’ve done this all while continuing to serve and enrich their billionaire allies.”
The No Kings Day of Defiance is organized to oppose authoritarianism, billionaire-centric politics, and the militarization of American democracy, as outlined in a press release from No Kings.
This event is occurring to counter the Army’s 250th anniversary celebration — which Trump has escalated to include an extravagant military parade. The occasion will showcase hundreds of military vehicles and aircraft, along with thousands of soldiers. It coincides with his 79th birthday and Flag Day.
“The flag doesn’t belong to President Trump. It belongs to us,” the No Kings website asserts. “On June 14th, we’re showing up everywhere he isn’t — to declare no thrones, no crowns, no kings.”
Protests are slated for nearly 2,000 locations nationwide, ranging from city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, according to the No Kings website.
However, no protests are planned in Washington, D.C., where the parade will take place. The group states it will “make action everywhere else the story of America that day.”
No Kings intends to hold a significant flagship march and rally in Philadelphia to draw a stark contrast between its grassroots movement and what they describe as the “costly, wasteful, and un-American birthday parade” in Washington, according to the No Kings website.
People of all ages are expected to unite at protest locations for speeches, marches, sign-carrying, and flag-waving, as organizers announced in a call on Wednesday, June 11.
The group’s website emphasizes that a core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action, and participants are encouraged to de-escalate any potential confrontations with dissenters.
Weapons of any type are prohibited at the events, according to the website.
The No Kings Day of Defiance is anticipated to be the largest single-day mobilization since Trump took office, organizers mentioned. They are preparing for millions of individuals to take to the streets across all 50 states and territories.
