As President Donald Trump prepares for a military parade in Washington, D.C., thousands of Americans are mobilizing to protest what they describe as an escalating authoritarian crackdown. More than 1,800 rallies are planned across the country under the banner of “No Kings,” a coordinated day of action organized by over 150 progressive organizations to coincide with Trump’s June 14 celebration—an event that will include tanks, thousands of U.S. soldiers, and heavy weaponry rolling through the capital.
The protests follow Trump’s weekend deployment of thousands of National Guard troops to Los Angeles to suppress demonstrations against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The decision came after reports of federal immigration raids across the city sparked unrest and peaceful protests on Friday.
U.S. law generally prohibits the use of the military in civilian law enforcement, except under specific emergency conditions. However, Trump invoked a federal law that allowed him to call part of California’s National Guard into federal service without the request or approval of the state government. California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, objected immediately and warned of dangerous consequences.
Newsom said the memorandum signed by Trump over the weekend “will allow him to go into ANY STATE and do the same thing.” The memo, titled Department of Defense Security for the Protection of Department of Homeland Security Functions, gives Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth sweeping discretion to “employ any other members of the regular Armed Forces as necessary to augment and support the protection of Federal functions and property in any number determined appropriate in his discretion.”
In a Sunday interview, Trump made his stance clear. Asked about the conditions for deploying active-duty Marines domestically, he replied, “The bar is what I think it is.” He added, “We’re gonna have troops everywhere.”
The protests in Los Angeles intensified after Trump’s announcement. According to CNN and the Los Angeles Times, law enforcement used tear gas and flash bangs against demonstrators, while some protestors set vehicles on fire and vandalized businesses. Overnight, several stores were burglarized, capping a weekend of unrest.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the lawbreaking but laid blame squarely on the Trump administration. “What we’re seeing in Los Angeles is chaos that is provoked by the administration,” she said. “When you raid Home Depot and workplaces, when you tear parents and children apart, and when you run armored caravans through our streets you cause fear and you cause panic.”
The coalition behind “No Kings,” which includes Indivisible, environmental groups, civil rights watchdogs, and labor unions, issued a statement denouncing the deployment. “People are peacefully and lawfully protesting the administration’s abuses of power and the abduction of their neighbors by ICE,” the statement read. “Instead of listening, the Trump administration is escalating tensions. Against the guidance of local leaders, they are deploying military force to suppress free speech. They do not care about our safety—it’s about silencing opposition. It’s a blatant abuse of power designed to intimidate families, stoke fear, and crush dissent.”
Paul O’Brien, executive director of Amnesty International USA, echoed those concerns. “This shows the Trump administration is ready to do whatever it takes—including deploying military forces—to target and punish those who speak out in defense of human rights,” he said. “This is not about protecting communities, this is about crushing dissent and instilling fear.”
In cities across the country—from Portland, Maine to Houston, Texas to Salt Lake City, Utah—people took to the streets in solidarity with protestors in Los Angeles. Organizers describe the “No Kings” movement as a rejection of authoritarian governance and political violence. “From major cities to small towns, we’ll rise together and say: we reject political violence. We reject fear as governance. We reject the myth that only some deserve freedom,” their statement declared.
Leah Greenberg, co-executive director of Indivisible, emphasized the peaceful nature of the upcoming events. She said the goal is to “create contrast, not conflict.” Organizers have trained in de-escalation tactics and are working with local partners to ensure the rallies remain nonviolent.
Trump’s use of military force domestically is drawing comparisons to authoritarian regimes. That comparison was underscored by the arrival of tanks in Washington, D.C., ahead of Trump’s birthday parade, which is scheduled for June 14. Video footage showed the armored vehicles rolling through the capital, where they will join thousands of troops and heavy weaponry in what critics call a show of force designed to intimidate opposition.
“The military parade will be a parade of force and intimidation by wanna-be authoritarians,” said Joanne Freeman, a professor of history at Yale University. “It fits right alongside the outsized military display in CA right now—making the same point.”
The growing confrontation between federal authority and grassroots resistance is shaping up to be a test of democratic norms in the United States. The Trump administration’s decision to deploy troops and tanks against U.S. citizens has ignited alarm among civil liberties advocates, state officials, and community organizers. As Trump escalates, the “No Kings” coalition is betting that peaceful mass mobilization can counter fear with solidarity.
“This is not about protecting communities, this is about crushing dissent and instilling fear,” said Paul O’Brien.
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