Nationwide protests will be held Saturday advocating against a military parade planned in Washington, D.C., to mark the 250th birthday of the Army, as well as President Donald Trump’s birthday.
The parade is expected to draw more than 6,000 soldiers and thousands more spectators.
Taxpayers will foot the estimated $45 million bill for the parade, according to the Pentagon.
The protests in response to the parade have been called “No Kings Day” protests.
The Associated Press has provided the following information regarding how the protests came to be:
Why is it called ‘No Kings’?
The “No Kings” theme was orchestrated by the 50501 Movement, a national movement made up of everyday Americans who stand for democracy and against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration. The name 50501 stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement.
Protests earlier this year have denounced Trump and billionaire adviser Elon Musk, the now former leader of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, a government organization designed to slash federal spending. Protesters have called for Trump to be “dethroned” as they compare his actions to that of a king and not a democratically elected president.
“They’ve defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights, and slashed our services,” the group says on its website, referring to the Trump administration and its policies. “They’ve done this all while continuing to serve and enrich their billionaire allies.”
Why are they protesting Saturday?
The No Kings Day of Defiance has been organized to reject authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics and the militarization of the country’s democracy, according to a statement by organizers.
Organizers intend for the protests to counter the Army’s 250th anniversary celebration, which Trump has ratcheted up to include an expensive, lavish military parade. The event will feature hundreds of military vehicles and aircraft and thousands of soldiers. It also happens to be his 79th birthday and Flag Day.
“The flag doesn’t belong to President Trump. It belongs to us,” the No Kings website says. “On June 14th, we’re showing up everywhere he isn’t — to say no thrones, no crowns, no kings.”
Where are the protests happening in Louisiana?
According to the No Kings protest website, a total of 11 protests have been planned across Louisiana. At least three of those protests are being planned in the New Orleans area.
The first protest is called the “No Kings, Only Queens” parade in New Orleans.
According to a flyer circulating online, the protest parade will begin at 10 a.m.
The parade starts on Chartres Street and will move through the Marigny before ending at Washington Square Park.
WDSU reached out to the New Orleans Police Department for more information on how the protest parade will be staffed, and if the event is permitted and received the following statement from an NOPD spokesperson:
“The proper permits have been applied for and granted.
“With regard to the staffing, the NOPD does not provide specifics on staffing or strategies for security reasons.
“NOPD is committed to safeguarding the fundamental right to free speech while ensuring the safety and security of all individuals. Our officers will be present to facilitate peaceful protests and protect public order.
“We have continuous and frequent protests in New Orleans, mostly concerning the Gaza/Palestine/Israeli conflict and now the ICE/ Immigration issues.
“The protests we tend to experience are largely benign and do not escalate to violence or property damage.
“However, we remain vigilant for any indications of potential escalation and are fully prepared to handle any issues that may arise.”
In Covington, a similar protest has been planned for 11 a.m. Saturday.
WDSU reached out to Covington police for more information on how this protest will be staffed and if the event is permitted.
According to Covington police, the protest will happen outside a government building on public property. Once the protest is over, those who attended will move to the pavilion at Bogue Falaya Park, which is a permitted event.
Covington police officers will be staffed at the protest, as well as have additional officers in the area. Police say they expect the protest to be peaceful.
The third protest will be held in Houma on Martin Luther King Boulevard starting at 12 p.m.
According to the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, the sheriff is aware of the protest and will monitor the event. Should the protest need a law enforcement response, deputies will respond if necessary.
This protest is not permitted because it will be taking place outside the court on a public street, which does not require a permit, according to the sheriff’s office.
WDSU has also reached out to Gov. Jeff Landry and the Louisiana State Police regarding the protests across the state.
LSP issued the following statement regarding the protests:
“The Louisiana State Police continues to work closely with our public safety partners at the local, state, and federal levels to monitor activity and ensure the safety of all residents and visitors. We support the right to peaceful assembly while remaining committed to maintaining public safety and order.”
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill issued the following statement regarding the protests:
“The First Amendment guarantees the right to peacefully assemble and petition the government – it does not” protect anarchy, vandalism, or rioting. This isn’t California. I’ll defend constitutionally-protected activity, but I’ll prosecute criminal actions.”
At the time of this publication, a response from the governor had not yet been received.
The nationwide and local protests come amid scrutiny of how President Trump’s administration has handled the protests in Los Angeles over immigration raids.
About the parade marking the 250th anniversary of the Army:
President Donald Trump, in his most aggressive language yet regarding the protests, used a speech ostensibly supposed to be used to recognize the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army to denounce the protesters while repeating his false statements about the 2020 election being rigged and attacking the previous commander in chief, former President Joe Biden.
The Republican president, who sees the military as a critical tool for domestic goals, has used the recent protests in Los Angeles as an opportunity to deploy the National Guard and U.S. Marines over the objections of California’s Democratic governor. Protesters blocked a major freeway and set cars on fire over the weekend in Los Angeles, but the demonstrations in the city of 4 million people have largely been centered in several blocks of downtown.
“We will not allow an American city to be invaded and conquered by a foreign enemy. That’s what they are,” Trump said Tuesday.
Trump’s heated rhetoric came as he has left open the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act, one of the most extreme emergency powers available to the president. It authorizes him to deploy military forces inside the U.S. to suppress rebellion or domestic violence or to enforce the law in certain situations.
Trump received plenty of cheers from the crowd, which laughed at the president’s jokes and delighted in his dancing to his campaign anthem of “YMCA.” However, some members of the audience were uneasy with certain aspects of his remarks.
Robin Boothe, who voted for Trump and works on the base as an audiology assistant, said the speech was “classic Trump.” However, she also found it to be too partisan, especially his comments on Los Angeles.
“I thought that was better left for a news conference than what we were celebrating today,” the 50-year-old said.
Get the Facts: Here’s the cost and scale of the Army’s birthday military parade
The president called Los Angeles “a trash heap” with “entire neighborhoods under control” of criminals and said the federal government would “use every asset at our disposal to quell the violence and restore law and order.”
“We will liberate Los Angeles and make it free, clean and safe again,” Trump said.
Trump authorized the deployment of 4,000 National Guard soldiers to the city against the wishes of California Gov. Gavin Newsom. About 700 Marines were deployed to the Los Angeles area but had not yet been sent to respond to the protests.
Newsom asked a federal court Tuesday to block Trump from using the military in his city. California leaders accused Trump of fanning protesters’ anger and stoking the unrest.
In an address Tuesday evening, Newsom warned: “California may be first, but it clearly will not end here. Other states are next. Democracy is next. Democracy is under assault before our eyes.”
Trump also announced his administration was restoring the names of seven military bases that were given the monikers of Confederate leaders until being changed by the Biden administration. Fort Pickett, Fort Robert E. Lee and Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia, Fort Hood in Texas, Fort Gordon in Georgia, Fort Rucker in Alabama and Fort Polk in Louisiana will have their names changed back, Trump said.
Army preparing for largest military parade on the capital’s streets in decades
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has already brought back the names of Fort Bragg and Fort Benning in Georgia.
“Can you believe they changed that name in the last administration for a little bit?” Trump said. “We’ll forget all about that.”
As they did when they changed back Fort Bragg and Fort Benning, Defense officials announced Tuesday that they had identified service members with the same last names in order to make the change and not have the bases officially carry Confederate-related names.
Before he spoke, Trump watched the U.S. Army demonstrate a missile strike, a helicopter assault and a building raid, a preview of the kind of show of American military might he’s expected to display in the nation’s capital for a massive military parade this weekend.
Trump has promoted the Army’s anniversary as a reason to hold the parade on Saturday, which is also his 79th birthday. Tanks and other vehicles will roll down city streets in a reminder of how the Republican president is reshaping the armed forces after returning to the White House this year.
“I think it’s going to be great,” Trump told reporters at the White House earlier Tuesday. “We’re going to celebrate our country for a change.”
As a backdrop to the parade, “No Kings Day” protests are planned across the country on Saturday to push back against what critics see as the administration’s draconian policies. Trump said earlier Tuesday that there would be more immigration raids and that any additional protests would be met with even greater force, including those who show up at the parade.
If they do, Trump said, “they will be met with very big force.”
“I haven’t even heard about a protest, but you know, this is people that hate our country. But they will be met with very heavy force.”
Newsom weighed in Tuesday on the parade, accusing Trump of forcing the military “to put on a vulgar display to celebrate his birthday, just as other failed dictators have done in the past.”
Fort Bragg, which was briefly Fort Liberty and is near Fayetteville, North Carolina, serves as headquarters for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. Highly trained units like the Green Berets and the 82nd Airborne are based there.
The atmosphere resembled a state fair with military flair. Inflatable slides and attractions for children were set up in a field, with artillery, trucks and helicopters parked on another section of the lawn. Right outside the security checkpoint — but still on the base — two stands were selling Trump political hats, T-shirts and other paraphernalia.
Hegseth and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll were also at Tuesday’s event, along with service members, veterans and their families.
Driscoll, who spoke to the crowd before Trump arrived, called the president “the greatest recruiter in our Army’s history.”
Hegseth told the crowd that the U.S. is “restoring the warrior ethos” to its armed forces.
“We’re not a college or a university. We’re not interested in your woke garbage and political correctness,” Hegseth said, drawing cheers.
President Donald Trump called protesters in Los Angeles “animals” and “a foreign enemy” in a speech at Fort Bragg on Tuesday as he defended deploying the military on demonstrators opposed to his immigration enforcement raids and as he vowed to “liberate” the West Coast city.
For more on the military parade, click here.
For more on the No Kings protests, click here.
Information from the Associated Press was used to contribute to this report.
READ MORE:New Orleans residents plan to participate in ‘No Kings Day’ protests
