On June 14, over five million Americans from all 50 states gathered in protest against President Donald Trump and the 250th Army Anniversary Parade.
Formed as a direct response to Donald Trump’s military parade, the “No Kings” organization and their cosponsors established more than 2,100 protests over the weekend. The flagship of the march was not held in Washington D.C. as a way to avoid conflict. Instead, the “Day of Defiance” was held in Philadelphia, where over many activists spoke and over 100,000 protestors gathered and marched.
On the “No Kings” website, they have expressed their feelings towards President Donald Trump, deeming him as a monarch rather than a president with the statement “No thrones. No crowns. No Kings.” They also expressed their main commitments and goals for the protests: keep fighting, take action immediately and focus on long-term change.
Many of their cosponsors spoke at the event to address how their organizations have been affected by the Trump administration. This included the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Indivisible, and many labor, environmental and human rights organizations.
ACLU National Campaign DIrector for Immigration Anu Joshi spoke in Philadelphia and addressed the thousands of Americans marching.
“Looking around at the thousands of people here with you — and the millions of people joining events like this across the country — it is clear to me that we cannot be silenced, and we are not afraid. When we know our rights and exercise them, when we protest, when we dissent, when we speak freely, when we act to protect our families, our friends and our neighbors, when we show up, we make progress for all of us,” said Joshi.
After the event, the American Civil Liberties Union released a statement regarding their choice to be present at the march.
“In just five months, we have sued the administration dozens of times for their abuses of power, we will continue to defend our rights. Protecting our democracy isn’t a partisan issue — it’s core to being American. We will use every tool we can, from litigation to legislation to powerful protests in the streets, to stop the unconstitutional actions of this administration and protect our rights,” said ACLU Chief Political & Advocacy Officer Deirdre Schifeling. “Today’s protests are a resounding message that people across the nation will not be intimidated by President Trump’s fear tactics. Americans are brave, democracy loving people and will not sit idly by as the Trump administration feeds our Constitution into the shredder — nor will the ACLU.”
Many lawmakers and congressional leaders also participated in the event to express their dissatisfaction towards the dominance of President Trump and his administration.
“Those of us who aspire and attain the public office are nothing but the servants of the public people, and the moment that somebody in public office begins to act like the master of the people — that is the moment to evict, eject, reject, impeach, try, convict, and start all over again,” Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin said when speaking to protestors in Philadelphia. Raskin was also the lead impeachment manager in the second impeachment trial of President Donald Trump during his first term.
In Michigan, thousands of protestors gathered in cities across the state, such as Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids and many more. On June 16, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer spoke about the events and expressed her solidarity with those marching.
“This weekend, tens of thousands of Michiganders built on our nation’s enduring legacy of peaceful protest. To everyone who exercised their constitutional rights this weekend peacefully, thank you,” said Whitmer in a post on X. “I’d also like to thank our first responders, local law enforcement, @MichStatePolice, and Col. James Grady, whose hard work this weekend ensured that all Michiganders could express themselves safely. Let’s continue to live our legacy and lead by example with peace, public safety and the rule of law.”
Co-Executive Director of Indivisible Ezra Levin was one of the last people to speak at the nearly three-hour event.
He paralleled the marches happening to events of the Revolutionary War happening the same day 250 years ago. He compared President Trump and his administration to the British monarchy and expressed that Americans today need to protect their democracy.
He spoke about Flag Day, which was on the same day as the protests and the military parade.
“During that dark moment, when it looked like we weren’t going to win—on this very day, in this very city 248 years ago—there was a Continental Congress that adopted this flag. It was defiant, it was bold, it was a signal of hope in the face of despair. They believed then as we believe now.”
He expressed the symbolism of the American flag, explaining how that flag has followed Americans for nearly 250 years in wars, protests and many other ways that have allowed citizens to express their constitutional rights.
