Updated June 14, 2025 at 5:06 PM EDT
In a widespread show of dissent against the Trump administration, the “No Kings” protests unfolded across multiple cities in the U.S. and internationally on Saturday. These demonstrations coincided with President Trump’s controversial military parade. However, concerns about political violence in Minnesota led organizers to cancel events in the state due to the presence of a suspected gunman.
Organizers had planned around 2,000 protests, with major gatherings in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Internationally, events also took place in Germany and France. Philadelphia stood out as the primary venue, where tens of thousands marched peacefully, according to police reports.
The choice of Philadelphia as the central location was significant, as Joel Payne, a spokesman for MoveOn, explained: “there’s an indelible link between Philadelphia and between the freedoms and the ideals that the country was founded upon.” Ezra Levin, co-founder of Indivisible, described the event’s atmosphere as jubilant, stating, “Today what I saw was really was a boisterous, peaceful display of First Amendment rights,” in an interview with NPR.
Meanwhile, in Texas, over 60 protests, including a large one in Dallas, were organized, as reported by KERA. In Alaska, the protest’s theme was humorously centered on local wildlife, “The only king I want is king salmon,” as noted by Alaska Public Media.
However, in Minnesota, all events were canceled due to a “shelter-in-place order” following a tragic shooting targeting two state lawmakers and their spouses. Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed, while a state senator and his wife were injured. No arrests have been made yet.
Shahera Hyatt, a protester from Sacramento, created signs with messages like “From Palestine to Mexico, border walls have got to go,” and “ICE, you’re fired.” She felt compelled to join the protest, stating to NPR, “I decided to go because I feel like with unchecked authority, Trump has led America into clear fascism.”
Some participants expressed concerns about their safety, choosing to turn off their phones and avoid social media posts. Sacramento protester Ali Schoenberger shared her apprehensions, saying, “It does feel like there’s a vendetta against people who are exercising their rights to speak up against this administration.”
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President Trump orchestrated the parade, purportedly to mark his 79th birthday, a move criticized by opponents who see it as a demonstration of power. The Army had been planning an anniversary celebration for over a year, but the parade was a recent addition, marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army on Flag Day. Such military parades are uncommon in the U.S. during peacetime and have sparked criticism from political adversaries.
Margo Ross, a protester from California, voiced her fears about the country’s direction, saying, “I am completely terrified of what’s going on in our country.” She believes that “it’s been a coup and a fascist overthrow” and expressed her concern that the situation “gets worse and worse.”
Joel Payne added, “I think there is this broader understanding that what Donald Trump and his political supporters are doing is trying to position him as a monarch, as a king, as somebody who can operate above the law.”
During a press interaction, Trump commented on the protests, stating, “I don’t feel like a king. I have to go through hell to get stuff approved.”
U.S. Capitol Police reported the arrest of 60 protesters on Friday after they breached barriers and approached the Rotunda steps. Charges include unlawful demonstration, crossing a police line, assault on a police officer, and resisting arrest. Organizers of the protests have yet to comment on these incidents.
The No Kings protests are a collaborative effort of over 200 organizations, including MoveOn, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the American Federation of Teachers. Protests occurred in every state except Washington, D.C., where the military parade was held.
According to the protest’s official website, the decision to avoid Washington, D.C., was deliberate, aiming to “draw a clear contrast between our people-powered movement and the costly, wasteful, and un-American birthday parade in Washington.”
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Since Trump’s inauguration, the protests have also challenged the administration’s immigration policies and reductions in the federal workforce.
Saturday’s parade is estimated to cost between $25 million and $45 million, featuring 6,000 soldiers, 49 aircraft, 128 vehicles, and 25 horses. Trump’s vision for a parade was initially inspired by France’s Bastille Day celebration in 2017 but was postponed due to high costs.
Trump recently warned, “By the way, for those people that want to protest, they’re going to be met with very big force. And I haven’t even heard about a protest, but you know, this is people that hate our country.”
No Kings organizers emphasized nonviolence in their guidelines, urging participants to de-escalate potential conflicts.
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