“There’s no King” protests significantly reduce Trump’s military parade
A harsh contrast emerged in attendance between the Trump administration’s military birthday parade in Washington, D.C. and the “No Kings” protests held nationwide.
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Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in more than 1,600 locations across the country on July 17th, and it is expected to oppose many of the Trump administration’s policies.
The name of a good trouble life of protest comes from the phrases that are commonly used by the repetitions of the second half. John Lewis, a symbol of civil rights, argued that it is important to engage in “good troubles, necessary troubles” to achieve positive social change.
Often called the “moral compass,” Lewis was one of the most vocal critics of President Donald Trump’s first administration. The protest is scheduled for the fifth anniversary of Lewis’ death.
Organizers called for the Trump administration to take the stance on women’s rights, cuts on safety net programs, treatment of immigration, and the use of the National Guard to quell the largely peaceful protests in California.
Selina Stewart, chief executive of the Women Voters League, one of the organised groups, said Trump’s rules of fear, opposition and opposition silence. Instead, she said Americans should unite and embody Lewis’ ideals of social justice and work.
“What would he encourage us to do at this moment?” Stewart asked. “It’s going to look different to all of us, but we all know that we can do something and a lot of us can do a lot.”
The White House said Trump is offering what he said he would do.
“Nearly 80 million Americans have given President Trump historic orders to make America great again, and he is making that promise in record time,” said White House spokesman Liz Houston.
“Service to your community”
The group estimates show that many advocacy groups planning future protests were also involved in the nationwide “No Kings” demonstrations on June 14, attracting millions of attendees at 2,100 locations. Overall, since April, there have been monthly nationwide protests against the administration’s policies.
The flagship event will be held in Chicago, with hundreds of small events scheduled for cities and towns across the country in Atlanta, Missouri, Missouri, Annapolis, Maryland and Washington, DC. Several international protests are scheduled.
In addition to protests and marching, some groups will hold “moral gatherings” at state houses and federal buildings, food drives, teaching ins, voter registration drives and other community building events, said Allison Pugliam, co-director of the Declaration of the American Democracy.
“People are showing up in their communities in the way they feel they’re coming to show up. That’s exactly what it meant when he talks about good troubles and finds a way to serve your community,” she said.
Why Thursday?
Rather than holding a national protest on Saturday, as advocacy groups have mostly done this year, organizers have decided to hold an event on the fifth anniversary of Lewis’ death, despite falling on Thursday.
Daryl Jones, co-leader of the Transformative Justice Coalition, said organizers had the permission of Lewis’ family to use his name in the protest. They asked that it was not a gloomy opportunity, but a catalyst for his cause.
Many of the protests will take place after work days have ended to increase participation. Some are scheduled for early morning.
Organizers said they were not worried that Thursday’s protest would mean reduced turnouts.
“This is the largest civil rights movement action of the largest one-day voting rights (and) internationally in all 50 states and in US history, and the biggest weekday action of the year,” promised Barbara Arnwine, another co-leader of the Transferative Justice Coalition. “People are happy to gather to protest the celebration.”
Large and small events
This day, model advocacy groups have been using it since spring, hosting events in as many locations as possible, rather than one or two major cities.
This approach can be ignored by the public, making it more difficult for people to connect with local resources and conduct local advocacy, organizers said they attended a single, large event and didn’t know what to do next.
Palm Beach County, Florida, home to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Estate, will be the location for five events, including a Car Parade in March, and a speaker talking about Lewis’ heritage.
At Yonkers in New York, an inseparable chapter with the local NAACP worked together to host an event at Van der Dong Park, near the station and library. They expect at least 200 people to attend.
“The idea is to make a little noise,” said Irene O’Connor, who co-founded the NYCD 16/15 Individual Group.
Kisha Skipper, president of NAACP-Yonkers Branch #2188, said holding events on weekdays and after work is an effort to make it easier for families to attend and attract young people. Lewis became a supporter while he was in college and held a lunch counter sit-in in Nashville.
In addition to bubbles, sidewalk chokes and sign-making stations, the event will also include voter education and registration information, Skipper said.
In Annapolis, Maryland, seven local organizations worked together to march over two local bridges.
“We march over the bridge and represent the march over John Lewis’ Edmund Petus Bridge,” said Linda Davis, one of the organizers competing in Racial Justice in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. “We are still marching for civil and human rights like he did. We will continue to march until we have citizens and human rights.”
