Over a million Americans hope they’ll be joining us for the “No Kings” protests on Saturday, June 14th. These peaceful demonstrations will overlap with upcoming celebrations of former President Donald Trump’s military parade and birthday. Events are planned at about 2,000 sites from coast to coast. These are events, big and small, that will help us push back against Trump’s administration and defend American democracy.
The “No Kings” protests arise from growing concerns about authoritarianism and fascism, as many Americans feel increasingly threatened by government actions. Organizers expect participation to surpass the earlier “Hands Off” protests in April, which drew millions to over 1,300 locations nationwide. Ezra Levin, a cofounder of Indivisible, hopes the No Kings movement will bring new people into the movement that has coalesced to resist Trump. He emphasized its promise to invigorate and grow the movement.
Due to increased security risk, organizers have increased their ability to provide pre-protest training sessions. They aim to prepare participants for potential confrontations, especially after Trump threatened that any dissent would be “met with very big force.” In reaction to these threats, it seems the White House was spooked enough to dial down its rhetoric. Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt denied this, telling the Atlantic that Trump “supports peaceful protests.”
The protests will not take place in Washington D.C., as organizers decided to avoid giving Trump a narrative that could justify a crackdown on counter-protesters. That’s a place where they’re really used to protests.” Levin added, “We didn’t want to give him the narrative device to say we’re protesting the military. Instead, we wanted to portray him as small and weak as he truly is. The ruling also spotlights deep public outrage rolling through the nation. It’s not just how the military parade gets a free pass here.
Hunter Dunn, the national press coordinator with 50501, underscored these increasing tensions on the ground in Los Angeles. Troops remain deployed there, increasingly targeted by protests against their presence and immigration enforcement actions. Dunn stated, “There’s more explicit focus on getting ICE and the federal government out of Los Angeles… because we’re actively under attack by our government.” He talked about the importance of community unity in these protests, emphasizing that unity and collective action are needed to keep everyone safe.
The “No Kings” movement gets its name from an agreement not to create representations of hierarchical authority figures. The campaign’s website declares: “The corruption has gone too far. No thrones. No crowns. No kings.” This phrase alone is enough to sum up the sentiment shared by many participants — and many Americans — who feel disappointed and disillusioned in the current political leadership.
As organizers turn up the heat on protest preparations, they are increasing security and medical assistance to help during the anticipated millions of people. They understand the dangers, especially for people who might be precariously legal, like those with DACA. Dunn advised those in precarious situations not to risk their safety for a protest but encouraged them to engage their communities instead. If someone’s legal status is in jeopardy, I would not want them to jeopardize it for an act of protest. He told them that their assignment was to get five of their neighbors to show up to participate in their stead. In doing so, more people would be able to engage.
It’s why demonstrators will flood cities and towns of every size across the United States. Their decisions will work to project a coordinated resistance to all of these proposed ills. Heather Friedli noted that personal experiences have created the kind of community bonds that enliven solidarity movements such as No Kings. She remarked, “Maybe in some terrible sense… that started those community connections that we maintain to this day, and I think we’re stronger for it.”