Cities and towns across the country are expecting to see “No Kings Day of Defiance” rallies on Saturday as part of a nationwide protest against the Trump administration.
Organizers behind the “No Kings” movement are calling the protests a reaction to the large military parade taking place in Washington, D.C., on Saturday in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States Army. It’s estimated the parade will cost around $45 million, potentially more since the Army has to pay for any damage its vehicles do to the streets.
President Trump, who will also be celebrating his 79th birthday on Saturday, is slated to speak at the parade, the stated purpose of which is to “reflect on the rich history and legacy of service, sacrifice and dedication” of the U.S. Army.
“Donald Trump wants tanks in the street and a made-for-TV display for dominance for his birthday,” "No Kings" says on its website. “No thrones, no crowns, no kings.”
As of reporting, the group expects around 1,800 rallies to take place on Saturday, with events planned in all 50 states but not Washington, D.C. Trump told reporters on Tuesday that anyone protesting the Army’s parade “will be met with very big force.”
Here’s what to expect.
What is 'No Kings'?
“No Kings” is the name for the organized protests scheduled to happen on June 14, not the name of a specific group. “No Kings is a national day of defiance,” the website for the protests reads. “From city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we’re taking action to reject authoritarianism.”
Over 180 progressive groups are listed on the website as partners who have helped organize the upcoming events and have sent members to work with “local partners to ensure peaceful and powerful actions” in designated locations throughout the U.S.
The "No Kings" protests were announced by the groups involved in early May, but recent events have driven more people to join the movement. Ezra Levin, the co-executive director of Indivisible, one of the groups involved in organizing "No Kings," talked to Rachel Maddow on MSNBC on Monday about how Trump’s response to protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Los Angeles caused the traffic to the "No Kings" website to skyrocket.
“Of those 1,800 ['No Kings' protests], more than 100 of those have been added to the map since Trump announced that he was sending the National Guard to L.A.,” Maddow told viewers. “If [Trump] was hoping to get people to not protest, it’s backfiring.”
The "No Kings" website allows individuals to register and organize their own event if there isn’t one already happening in their area.
No protest planned for Washington, D.C.
While there are protests scheduled throughout the country, there is intentionally nothing organized for the Washington, D.C., area for Saturday. The flagship march and rally will instead be in Philadelphia, the "No Kings" website says.
“Real power isn’t staged in Washington. It rises up everywhere else,” the organizers wrote. “On June 14, we’re showing up everywhere [Trump] isn’t.”
Where are the 'No Kings' protests happening on Saturday?
As of reporting, there is at least one protest planned in all 50 states, with many major cities expecting to see multiple.
The timing for the "No Kings" protest coincides with some of the activities scheduled for Saturday in Washington, D.C. Events are expected to occur throughout D.C., starting at 8 a.m. ET, through to the Army’s 250th Birthday Par
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