In a sweeping display of civic resistance, millions of Americans took to the streets Saturday in over 2,000 cities and towns across the country to protest President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and a controversial military parade held in the nation’s capital. The coordinated demonstrations, organized under the banner of “No Kings,” marked one of the largest single-day protest actions in recent U.S. history.
Timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and President Trump’s 79th birthday, the military parade in Washington featured tanks, helicopters, and thousands of troops marching past the White House. Critics condemned the event as a politicized show of force and a symbol of authoritarian overreach.
Meanwhile, protesters flooded public spaces from Los Angeles to Philadelphia, chanting slogans like “No more kings” and “Democracy, not dictatorship.” In Louisville, Kentucky, families marched with signs demanding an end to deportations and immigration raids. “It’s a turning point in this country,” said Ashley Van Bogaert, who attended with her daughters our streets.”
In Los Angeles, tensions escalated as National Guard troops deployed by Trump clashed with demonstrators near the Federal Building. Tear gas was used to disperse crowds, though many protests remained peaceful and resolute.
The “No Kings” movement, named to reject what organizers describe as Trump’s monarchical approach to governance, has drawn support from civil rights groups, immigrant advocates, and elected officials. “We don’t do kings in America,” said Ezra Levin, co-director of Indivisible, one of the organizing groups. “This is about defending democracy and standing up to unchecked power.”