Before Donald Trump militarized his suppression of pro-migrant demonstrators in Los Angeles, is a massive nationwide demonstration for Saturday.
The protests “No Kings” on June 14 were designed as a peaceful uprising to counter President Trump’s military parade for his birthday (which is also the “flag day” and the 250th anniversary of the US Army). Trump organizes a spectacle that is worthy of a banana republic dictator. Including a deployment of tanks, shadows, mobile rocket launchers and other war machines that roll through the streets of Washington, DC. While military aircraft, including Apache helicopters, fly over it.
“No Kings” protest as a day of resistance
The protest organizers refer to June 14 as a “nationwide day of resistance” on which Americans get up across the country to “reject authoritarianism”. And to reclaim patriotism on behalf of democracy. “The flag does not belong to President Trump. It belongs to us,” explains the protest website.
Trump threatened demonstrators who intend to appear in his military parade. “If some demonstrator appears, he will be welcomed with great violence,” he said on Tuesday. In anticipation of such a reaction, the organizers consciously decided not to target the Parade route. A no-king event in DC is not even planned. Instead, demonstrators should appear “wherever wherever [Trump] It is not – to say: no throne, no crowns, no kings. “
Expected participation in the millions
Participation in the nationwide demonstrations is expected to exceed the “Hands Off!” Protests of April 5. In which more than 3 million people demonstrated against the then dominated Trump government against Elon Musk, who enforced drastic cuts in federal services through the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (Doge).
“We have been planning the No Kings Day for months,” says Ezra Levin, co -founder of the progressive grass root organization Indivisible, which is a central partner in a protest coalition. And the groups such as 50501, civil rights organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and many unions and environmental groups. Apart from some central events – e.g. B. a major event is planned in Philadelphia-the no-king protests are organized decentrally. With local groups that have control. The number of planned promotions exceeded the April scope last week.
Tightening by troop use in LA
Now that Trump has sent troops to the streets of Los Angeles – to proceed against Americans who make use of their right to freedom of expression to protest against the measures of Immigration and Customs Enforcement – the reasons for a demonstration have become even more tangible. With the “tremendous abuse of power” in Los Angeles, who “fueled the tensions,” says Levin, “suddenly everyone got up.”
The explosive location in the Los Angeles region was triggered by ICE agents. Agents who have expanded their arrests in jobs such as textile factories in the city center and a home depot. The tensions were additionally tightened by reports, according to which ICE ICE legal persons who appeared to be mandatory with immigration authorities, took custody and blocked in the basement of a federal building.
International solidarity
In conversation with the Rolling Stone on Monday, Levin reported 1,800 planned NO Kings events. Around 500 more than in April. This includes protests throughout America. From Nome, Alaska, San Juan, Puerto Rico and solidarity campaigns worldwide. “I guarantee that there will be millions of people on the streets at No Kings Day,” he says.
Levin recalls the planning for the no-king protest when Trump started to advertise his “dictatorial birthday parade”. “We did not want to leave the sovereignty of interpretation. We did not want to allow him to be staged as almighty.” The aim was to mobilize Americans of all areas of life – from large cities, small cities and rural regions – as a counterweight to Trump’s authoritarian ambitions. (Trump’s birthday party is extremely unpopular. According to a new survey, three out of four Americans reject the military parade. These include a majority of Republicans.)
Symbolism of resistance
The federal escalation in Southern California serves as a rocket drive for the protest mission. “In the context of his escalation in LA, the whole thing is greater importance,” says Levin. “It takes a visible demonstration that the Americans are against authoritarian power overruns.”
The organizers want to mobilize demonstrators that are both ideologically diverse and geographically distributed. “It has to take place everywhere. So that the contrast to what Trump does is as clear as possible,” says Levin, a former Congress employee. “This man only stands for himself and his cronies. And the American people will not accept that.”
Non -violent strategy against provocation
The protests in LA have so far been explosive. Characterized by clashes between demonstrators and the notorious brutal police officers and sheriffs of the city as well as with paramilitary forces of the Ministry of Homeland. The authorities have used tear gas. And they fired rubber bullets on crowds. The rushes were filmed as they threw stones and other objects on law enforcement officers.
Levin emphasizes that no Kings should set a sign of non -violent resistance. Trump’s ugly demonstration of power – including the use of the National Guard and the Marine Corps in Los Angeles against the will of the governor – must be answered with a combination of mass participation and peaceful atmosphere. “If you take action against peaceful protests, it takes more great, peaceful protests. That is the answer to the authoritarian script.”
Training for de -escalation
“We need non -violence on the streets,” he continues. “The alternative would be to deliver the pretext to the authoritarian to put down even more peaceful demonstrators outside of La.”
Since the emotions cook up, a special responsibility on the protest organizers. Most of them are volunteers. The no-king organizers are offering training for local protest managers this week. With a focus on public security and de -escalation. “Everyone must have the right mindset,” says Levin. And explains that the protests are a “strategic means to show how much this government acts outside of every standard.”
Events of this size can develop a life of their own. “Some people will participate because they have heard that things are going on there,” says Levin. “It is due to those who are more involved to show leadership. And to act under the banner of non -violence. Because the alternative plays Trump directly into his hands.”