A wave of protests swept across the nation on Saturday as large crowds converged in cities to voice opposition against President Donald Trump and a significant military parade taking place in Washington, D.C. The event, marking the Army’s 250th anniversary and Trump’s 79th birthday, is projected to cost up to $45 million and has sparked criticism for prioritizing spectacle over social issues.
In Phoenix, Arizona, thousands gathered at Wesley Bolin Plaza to participate in what organizers dubbed the “No Kings” protest. The event is part of a nationwide initiative aimed at challenging perceived authoritarianism and promoting democratic values.
One of the attendees, Sharon Salomon, commented on the peaceful nature of the assembly: “If there are police or ICE or whatever here, we don’t see them. But I have never seen this many people any place before, and I have been to every protest,” she said, noting that the crowd was engaged with signs and speeches.
Meanwhile, Alyssa Hooper, another protester, expressed her fears regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities in her community, indicating concerns for her elderly relatives: “A lot of my family is elderly. I’m so worried that my grandpa could die at the hands of ICE officers even though he’s a citizen — he’s fully legal here; He’s worked all his life here. He’s bled for this country, literally,” Hooper explained.
In another part of the city, the Norterra area saw several hundred participants holding anti-Trump signs, as part of a peaceful “No Kings” rally. This was one of eight similar demonstrations planned within Arizona’s 8th Congressional District.
Brent Peak from Northwest Valley Indivisible, a grassroots group, played a role in organizing the protest along Happy Valley Road. He articulated the local sentiment: “Nationwide, the message is ‘No Kings.’ Here in our district, it’s ‘No Kings, no cronies.’ We want Abe Hamadeh to stand up to Donald Trump, and we think he will when there’s enough pressure,” Peak stated.
Michelle Koch, one of the participants in Norterra, questioned the rationale behind recent immigration raids, highlighting the contributions of migrant workers: “The migrant workforce helps keep things moving,” Koch said, questioning, “And to just go willy nilly, taking people out of their jobs (when) they’re working, they’re paying taxes. Why are they being targeted by ICE? I thought the whole idea was they were going to get the criminals, the rapists, and the murderers.”
The protests, sparked by the parade in Washington, D.C., are part of a broader movement with similar gatherings planned throughout the day across Arizona, according to the “No Kings” website.
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