June 14, 2025, marked President Donald Trump’s military parade celebrating the Army’s 250th anniversary and his birthday. What really drew people in, though, was the “No Kings” protest happening at the same time, against Trump’s policies and actions during his second presidency.
Tens of thousands of people crowded in parks and plazas across the U.S. In New York City, the biggest “No Kings” protest began at Bryant Park on Saturday afternoon. An estimated 50,000 people marched down Fifth Avenue to Madison Square Park.
The New York Immigration Coalition also took part in protests, especially because of the recent actions taken by ICE in taking people into custody from their immigration court dates.
Marchers stretched for blocks around Fifth Avenue even as harsh rain poured down. Some protesters decided to show up in patriotic symbols. Women marched in suffragette white dresses, people banged on drums and many others held signs denouncing Trump.
In New Jersey, the “No Kings” protest rally started at the Seated Lincoln Statue in Newark with special appearances from New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, Rep. LaMonica Mclver and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.
The nationwide protests were a big hit, Trump’s military parade in Washington, however, was not. Not only was the parade overshadowed by the protests, but it was also overshadowed by the turmoil in the Middle East and the assassination of a Democratic state legislator in Minnesota, the New York Times reported.
Most of the day Saturday, speculation raged about the assassination of Democratic State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Investigators have said that the suspect was dressed to appear like a police officer.
On Thursday, President Trump addressed the “No Kings” protests directly for the first time, the New York Times reported.
“I don’t feel like a king; I have to go through hell to get stuff approved,” President Trump said, appearing to refer to the opposition he faces from Democrats. “We’re not a king at all, thank you very much.”
