The protests of 1,800 “kings” across the country aim to express dissatisfaction with President Trump’s actions that organizers say are authoritarian.
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Protests are planned for 1,800 communities across the country on June 14th, the same day President Donald Trump will hold a military parade in Washington.
For decades, the GOP has argued most of the symbols of patriotism, including the American flag, but those protesting Republican Trump say they are true patriots now.
“We don’t want to give the story grounds to Trump and Maga that they own the flag. “In fact, the most patriotic thing you can do is (at) show up peacefully in America and petition your government for something better.”
The rally, dubbed “No Kings Day,” against what is considered Trump’s grip on power, is expected to be the largest and most protest since Trump’s second term began, with more than 1,000 rallies in early April, which warned the protests that attracted 1 million Americans on the streets.
Levin said it was “very intentional” to put the front and center of the American flag and the image of America. This is because protesters believe Trump’s actions are “non-Americans” from attacking universities and political institutions to holding military parades.
“250 years ago, the Continental Army was formed to fight the king, and then the Americans came out and said, “No, wait, this is not something America represents.”
Organized by grassroots groups in cities and towns of all sizes, King’s Day was also Trump’s 79th birthday and flag day, coinciding with the US Army’s 250th anniversary ceremony. Executives argue that it is a coincidence that the parade will fall on Trump’s birthday.
Speaking to reporters in his oval office on June 10th, Trump warned protesters not to interrupt the events in Washington.
“They will meet with a great deal of force for those who want to protest,” Trump said. “This is people who hate our country, but they will meet with a very heavy force.”
There are no protests in Washington
Levin said organizers deliberately avoided protesting in Washington, and avoided the right-hand story of them being anti-veterans.
“We saw Trump take over the day and try to make everything about him, and we saw the opportunity to actually make this about the people of America and the democracy we defend,” he said.
Instead, the biggest protest was scheduled for the midday ET in Philadelphia, where the Second Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence.
“We chose not to feed the stories that Trump might want us to be directly rebutting him, or give him the opportunity to crack down on protesters,” Levin said.
Hosting organizations include long-standing groups such as Indivisible, Moveon, Human Rights Campaign, Working Family Power, Public Citizens, and multiple unions and grassroots groups such as 50501 formed since Election Date.
Organizers across the country were trained in setting dates and effective protests, but planning and organisation were left to local activists.
“It comes down to normal everyday people,” Levin said. “I think it’s important that it’s not just blue or purple states. This is not essentially an election political act. It’s about our democracy. This democracy is for you, and the power that elected officials are using legally or illegally, comes from you.”
Images of the American flag are “very intentional”
The American flag should be prominent in these protests, said Air Force veteran Jacob Thomas. The veteran-led organization is one of around 12 veteran groups that have partnered inseparably to create protests.
“For some people, they feel like they’re being adopted by Republicans and extremists, and it can be uncomfortable to use,” he said. “We must retrieve them for their higher purposes.”
Patriotism is standing up for your community and your neighbors, he said. And loving your country means facing that value.
The protests and the presence of veterans are even more important after President Trump summoned the National Guard and 700 Marines. Thomas said he has quelled the immigration enforcement protest in Los Angeles over Gov. Gavin Newsom’s objection.
The militarized response “betrays the principles veterans and the military pledge to support,” he said.
“This means loving your country.”
Veterans carrying flags representing various branches lead Minneapolis/st. Paul March, Thomas said.
“This is about loving your country… fighting for your country and fighting to make it better,” Thomas said.
The group is urging veterans to identify themselves to others in the crowd by wearing service hats, shirts, pins, medals and patches. He said he’d heard of a veteran who was planning to protest for the first time.
“I think it’s really important that veterans can see in these protests,” he said. The goal is to “remind people that we are here and oppose the harm he has created.”
Thomas said the veterans are irritated. The Trump administration said it is spending more than $100 million on military parades celebrating the military, while also cutting staff on veteran issues. They are concerned that there are fewer staff members who are acquired and meant reduced benefits and services that are promised.
The group also wants to counter the narrative that all veterans are conservative and lockstep into a Republican administration.
“We’re in all these spaces, and we’re going to show up in the community just like we did when we raised our right hand,” he said.
Veterans served the country to protect their neighbors from being discriminated against for “losing” and from losing social services and the legitimate process, he said. He said they served to protect America from tyrants, authoritarians and kings.
“This isn’t how things go, this isn’t how things should go.”