'No Kings' Protests Around the Country (Update)

John Sexton 4:30 PM | June 14, 2025
AP Photo/Michel Euler, File

As you've probably heard, a coalition of left-wing groups is holding protests around the country today. They are calling the effort "No Kings" and the plans were in motion prior to the riots in Los Angeles in the past week. They were timed to coincide with a military parade being held in Washington, DC today. Still, in the wake of last week's events this feels like an effort to nationalize the LA riots. Here's who is behind No Kings.

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Organizers include Indivisible, the American Civil Liberties Union and 50501. Some of these groups organized protests during Mr. Trump’s first term over abortion rights and gun violence. The “Hands Off!” protests in April focused on the message that the president was threatening health care, education and Social Security.

The coalition behind “No Kings” has branded Saturday as a “day of defiance” against what the groups describe as authoritarian overreach by Mr. Trump and his allies. Plans for the event were in the works well before federal immigration raids set off protests in Los Angeles and other cities.

Organizers have characterized the Washington parade — the largest display of military power in the nation’s capital in decades — not as a celebration of the armed forces but as a theatrical “display of dominance” akin to military marches hosted by dictators abroad.

It's not just dictators that hold military parades. In fact, there's a military parade happening in the UK today as well. Trump got the idea for holding this parade from a visit to France during his first term.

While the idea might be novel for many Americans, military parades are common spectacles in many parts of the world. Trump was so taken by France’s Bastille Day ceremonies in 2017 that he vowed to match or top them. “It was one of the greatest parades I’ve ever seen,” Trump told reporters of the French festivities...

A tradition since 1880 and major focal point in the historical memory of the French revolutionary era, it’s the oldest and largest military parade in Europe — with about 6,500 people marching, 200 horses, 219 vehicles and almost 100 planes and helicopters...

For more than 260 years, Britain has held a ceremony, including a parade, called Trooping the Colour, to celebrate the birthday of the monarch. In King Charles II’s first parade, 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 300 musicians took part.

This year’s parade is to take place the same day as Trump’s — which happens to fall on his birthday.

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The protests are also being supported by Walmart heiress Christy Walton. Walton married one of Sam Walton's sons and when he died in 2005 she became the wealthiest woman in the world (according to Forbes). She's now a philanthropist, which probably means she hasn't worked a real job in decades. This is who is promoting "No Kings."

There are supposed to be hundreds of these protests spread across the country but the main ones are in big cities.

The main events are slated for Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York, Phoenix, Philadelphia and Charlotte, N.C. But there are also protests planned in smaller communities like Lewisburg, W.Va.; Pinedale, Wyo.; and Moab, Utah.

Philadelphia, a city rich with revolutionary history, will host the event’s national livestream, said Leah Greenberg, co-founder of Indivisible and one of the rallies’ organizers, keeping with their efforts to frame the protests as peaceful and patriotic opposition.

Peaceful and patriotic sounds good but we're already off to a bad start. As Beege has chronicled here, the No Kings protest in Minnesota has been canceled after a political assassination took place this morning. The suspect has been identified as Vance Luther Boelter and this was found in his car along with a manifesto listing a bunch of Minnesota elected officials and their addresses.

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Anyway, let's take a look at some of the protests. Seems to be a good turnout in Philly. You can hear someone leading a chant of "Intifada, Intifada."

Another chant in Philly.

Local businesses are already prepared for what often follows big left-wing protests once the sun goes down.

Here's the scene in Houston:

And in Fort Worth the Handmaids are out.

This is Nashville:

This is near where I grew up. I know this spot in Falls Church, VA.

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Looks like a big turnout in Little Rock, AR

In Fort Lauderdate:

In Atlanta:

Lexington, KY.

Good turnout in Los Angeles. Not a surprise since LA has been doing this all week.

And in San Diego:

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And here's New York City.

There are a lot more, mostly smaller, protests taking place. So looks like a successful turnout for the left. Of course we'll all be waiting to see what develops later in the day or evening. Frequently, all of this is just a prelude to another set of protests at night which tend to be not so peaceful.

Finally, it's worth noting we already have a "no kings" day in the US.

Update: LA dirtbags chanting "kill yourself" at US Marines (Looks like the National Guard to me).

Eventually the Guard pushed the crowd back.

Unlawful assembly declared.

Some people refusing to leave despite the tear gas.

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I dunno. I've been hit with paintballs before and it does hurt. Leave a nice welt too.

Eventually the police got the upper hand.

Antifa trying to evade arrest.

Police getting really aggressive.

Still a bunch of people aren't leaving.

Don't tell me that didn't hurt.

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Send in Batman.

Reports people were throwing concrete at the police.

I suspect this will get worse after dark.

Tags: DONALD TRUMP

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