5 Million Unite Across U.S. For ‘No Kings’ Protests, Pushing Back On ‘Everything’ About Trump Administration

While President Donald Trump held a military parade to celebrate his 79th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the Army, over 2,100 counter-protests assembled across the country.

Organized by the 50501 movement, a grassroots movement to bring people together to share a single voice. Using local volunteers to set up demonstrations and the organization coordinates across the country to share a central message. The name represents 50 states, 50 protests, 1 movement.

This protest event, titled “No Kings,” was to directly protest the “authoritarian” actions that the Trump administration is taking. This large protest was in response to Trump’s military parade, similar to those in authoritarian countries, such as North Korea.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, a member of the coalition that coordinated the events, over five million people participated across the country.

While people across the country gathered on June 14 for a “No Kings” protest, in Los Angeles, that was the end of a week filled with protests.

In L.A., where there have been numerous ICE raids across the city, protesters have gathered in Downtown L.A. for several days. These protests faced a large-scale response, including Trump mobilizing both the National Guard and Marines to help manage the protests, which did turn violent at times.

On the day of Trump’s parade, rallies expanded across the city with about a dozen locations where people gathered.

While the largest protest continued in Downtown, with roughly 200,000 people gathering, several thousand people gathered in Studio City to push back against the “faux-King,” according to countless posters.

Surrounding an intersection, people lined the street for about a quarter mile in every direction, filling the crosswalks every time the walk sign clicked on.

With a background of car horns followed by cheers from the crowd, protesters joined in chants, “hey hey ho ho Donald Trump has got to go” and “no Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA.”

Battling the San Fernando Valley heat for hours, protesters carried flags and posters to promote unity and push back on actions by the president. A mix of American, Mexican and Californian flags waved throughout the crowd.

While everyone joined together to fight for a common interest of a free and fair democracy that upholds the Constitution, every member held their own story.

Kevin Bachman, a father whose wife and son joined him for part of the day, is fighting for the safety of everyone in his life.

“I’m fighting for our voices,” Bachman said. “I’m tired of our rights being taken away and ignored.”

With friends of his of Latin origin scared to leave home due to ICE activities in the city and government officials attempting to erase the identity of people his family members relate to, he is ready to make “a peaceful stand.”

A fellow protester, Louise Donegan, was there to protest “everything.”

Feeling like the Trump administration is moving toward a dictatorship and being frustrated with what is occurring with immigration, Donegan was moved by how many people showed up.

“I burst into tears when I got here [because] I was so happy to see other people brave enough to come out,” Donegan said. “I think a lot of people are frightened to even come to a peaceful protest these days.”

Others wanted to do more than just attend the protest. Luis Delcid, the son of an immigrant, was tired of being quiet, watching what ICE was doing in the city. He designed a shirt to promote the power of immigrants and donate all money collected to The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights.

“I implemented ‘Made America Great Already’ on it because that’s the whole MAGA thing,” Delcid said. “And then under it, I put ‘Brown Hands Built Your White House,’ because I feel like for so long they’ve been using immigrant work, and we’re always pushed to the side.”

Regardless of the reason, individuals gathered on June 14, and millions across the country came together for one of the largest mass protests in the history of the United States.