On Saturday, Donald Trump is celebrating his 79th birthday during a massive military parade in Washington, DC. Meanwhile, grassroots activists are organizing over 1,800 protests in major cities across the US, dubbed the No Kings campaign.
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Trump’s birthday on June 14 coincides with both Flag Day and the 250th anniversary of the US military, both of which will be observed in Washington, DC with a military parade. While the anniversary celebration had already been planned before Trump’s inauguration, the president is bloating the event with “60-ton M1 Abrams battle tanks and Paladin self-propelled howitzers” according to AP News. The full celebration is expected to cost taxpayers upwards of $45 million.
The No Kings campaign is planned as a response to this specific event in addition to all the ways Trump has seized power, overreached his authority, and embraced dictatorial tactics throughout his short presidency. In February, the White House official social media account even shared an AI image of Trump crowned as king.
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The No Kings campaign is coordinated by the 50501 volunteer organization, whose name stands for “50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement.” The campaign is supported by over 200 organizations—including the HRC, who provide downloadable signs and resources for additional Pride month protests. Protests are planned in over 1,800 locations across the US—everywhere but Washington, DC.
Organizers explain why on the campaign website. “On June 14—Flag Day—Donald Trump wants tanks in the street and a made-for-TV display of dominance for his birthday,” the group’s statement reads. “A spectacle meant to look like strength. But real power isn’t staged in Washington. It rises up everywhere else.
“Instead of allowing this birthday parade to be the center of gravity, we will make action everywhere else the story of America that day: people coming together in communities across the country to reject strongman politics and corruption. For that reason, NO KINGS is not hosting an event in Washington, DC.”
Like all of 50501’s protests, No Kings is organized as a strictly nonviolent protest. “A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action,” the group instructs. “We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events.”
To find a protest event near you and/or access protest resources, visit the No Kings website.
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