Watch live: Military parade, ‘No Kings’ protests held against Trump across US
WASHINGTON AP A massive military parade unfolding against the backdrop of President Donald Trump s unconventional flex of fighting forces in American streets this week is on track to begin Saturday evening with tanks bands and thousands of troops The parade honoring the Army s long-planned th anniversary celebration and coinciding with Trump s th birthday is set to step off from the Lincoln Memorial under the threat of stormy weather in Washington and protests around the country tied to a turbulent week of immigration enforcement that has involved military deployment in Los Angeles Demonstrators crowded into parks and plazas across the U S Saturday to rally against Trump as administrators urged calm and mobilized National Guard troops ahead of the military parade The Associated Press is providing live video of both the parade and No Kings protests Watch below Here s the latest Who is organizing the protests The Movement has been orchestrating the across-the-country protests the name stands for states protests one movement The group says it picked the No Kings name to aid democracy and speak out against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration Protests earlier this year have denounced Trump and billionaire adviser Elon Musk Protesters have called for Trump to be dethroned as they compare his actions to that of a king and not a democratically elected president On its website the group says it expects participants to seek to de-escalate any anticipated confrontation and not to bring weapons to any events A rather awkward moment for a No Kings rally in London The phrase No Kings has a different meaning in Britain so Trump s opponents had to alter their language a bit when they staged a demonstration Saturday outside the U S Embassy in London one of dozens planned in cities across Europe Organizers solicited for signs reading No Tyrants and No Clowns instead of No Kings and No Crowns in deference to Britain s constitutional monarch Specific riffed on the idea with hand-lettered signs like Elect a Clown Get a Circus The timing was also a bit awkward King Charles III was not the target but this anti-Trump rally came on the same day Britain celebrated the monarch s official birthday with an annual parade known as Trooping the Colour Charles is barred from party politics with all decisions made by the prime minister his Cabinet and the elected House of Commons By contrast Trump s opponents accuse him of ignoring the limits placed on his power by the U S Constitution Philadelphia Rejecting Kings Since That s the message of a red-white-and-blue sign adorned with a Liberty Bell carried by -year-old Karen Van Trieste in Philadelphia Demonstrators participate in the No Kings protest Saturday June in Philadelphia AP Photo Yuki Iwamura The -year-old nurse who drove up from Maryland this morning says she grew up in Philadelphia and sought to be with a large group of people showing her advocacy I just feel like we need to defend our Democracy Trieste declared before listing a series of concerns including the dismantling of the Centers for Infection Control and Prevention harm to the LGBTQ and immigrant communities and the Trump administration s practice of ruling by executive order Florida rally goers prepare to avoid any provocation even jaywalking About a thousand people gathered on the grounds of Florida s old Capitol Saturday morning where protestors chanted this is what group looks like and carried signs with messages like one nation under distress and dissent is patriotic Organizers explicitly recounted the crowd in Tallahassee to avoid any conflicts with counter protestors and to avoid disrupting traffic taking care to not even jaywalk People gather on the grounds of Florida s old capitol in Tallahassee Fla for No Kings protest on Saturday June AP Photo Kate Payne Republican Gov Ron DeSantis and Florida law enforcement administrators have warned of grave consequences for demonstrators who violate the law Organizers say another march will go to the gates of Trump s Mar-a-Lago resort where DeSantis warned that the line is very clear and not to cross it Early marchers appear at flagship No Kings rally in Philadelphia Philadelphia is hosting the main No Kings march and rally Organizers needed to avoid the huge prevention presence in Washington D C where this evening s military parade coincides with Trump s birthday Several hundred people have gathered in Love Park despite intermittent rain Organizers are handing out small American flags Multiple people are carrying anti-Trump signs with messages including fight oligarchy and deport the mini-Mussolinis and the wrong ice is melting as they wait for the march to start Demonstrators participate in the No Kings protest Saturday June in Philadelphia AP Photo Yuki Iwamura A handful of people are wearing gas masks or balaclavas to cover their faces One woman in a foam Statue of Liberty crown brought a speaker system and is leading a singalong changing young man to con man as people sing on of Trump s favorite tunes YMCA One man in revolutionary-war era garb and a tri-corner hat is holding a sign that quotes Thomas Jefferson All tyranny necessities to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent White House says rain won t halt the parade but lightning could Rain is forecast across the Washington region right around parade time but Trump is looking forward to seeing the crowd Rain pounded the nation s capital Friday night and the National Weather Amenity says a flood watch is in effect for the area until p m Saturday Chances for more thunderstorms increase through Saturday afternoon and evening and as much as three inches of rain could fall within an hour or two forecasters disclosed Trump remained positive Saturday morning in a Truth Social post OUR GREAT MILITARY PARADE IS ON RAIN OR SHINE REMEMBER A RAINY DAY PERADE BRINGS GOOD LUCK I LL SEE YOU ALL IN D C White House spokesperson Anna Kelly has disclosed the parade will happen even if it rains but that lightning could cause organizers to clear out the area for safety reasons Related Articles Cities brace for large crowds at anti-Trump No Kings demonstrations across the US The Army is set to celebrate years with a parade that coincides with Trump s birthday The present day in History June Ruth Bader Ginsburg nominated to the U S Supreme Court The National Weather Operation issues Alaska s first ever heat advisory Kaia Gerber Cindy Crawford party with Ivanka Trump amid dad s L A crackdown DC s Pennsylvania Avenue transforms into a vendor village Vendors are taking advantage of the expected large expected crowds and setting up shop on Pennsylvania Ave near secured zones for the Amy s th birthday festival and parade Large snowplows are being used to block off van traffic allowing pedestrians to walk on the historic street and visit vendors selling art souvenirs clothes jewelry and beverages There s also a wide variety of food options from fan-favorite funnel cakes to lobster rolls Several small stages where musicians will provide live music are also spread out through the vending area Philadelphia s top prosecutor warned federal agents against latest state law A great number of elected executives have urged protesters at the No Kings demonstrations to be peaceful and warned that they will show no tolerance for violence destruction or exercises such as blocking roadways In Philadelphia site of the flagship No Kings march and rally for Saturday s nationwide demonstration the city s top prosecutor had a warning for federal agents as well ICE agents going beyond their legal rights killing assaulting illegally handling people in violation of the law denying them their due process in a way that constitutes a crime under the laws of Pennsylvania you will be prosecuted District Attorney Larry Krasner explained a news conference Thursday Krasner is a leading progressive prosecutor whose police accountability efforts have made him a prominent campaign trail target in Pennsylvania for Trump and other Republicans AP-NORC Poll Largest part say this parade is not a good use of money A survey published this week finds that U S adults are more likely to approve than disapprove of Trump s decision to hold the military parade The AP-NORC poll revealed that about in U S adults somewhat or strongly approve of the parade while about in somewhat or strongly disapprove But about in Americans surveyed explained the parade is not a good use of regime money including the vast majority of people who neither approve nor disapprove of the parade overall according to the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Constituents Affairs Research Agents have announced the display of military force will cost tens of millions of taxpayer dollars Read more about the AP-NORC Poll on Trump s military parade Thousands join No Kings rally in Atlanta It s a festive atmosphere in the shadow of the Georgia state capitol where the American Civil Liberties Union is handing out blue wristbands to keep count of the crowd in Liberty Plaza Organizers announced the plaza already reached its ceiling of people Several of the No Kings demonstrators are carrying American flags It s a diverse crowd mostly people in their s or older and specific families with children A demonstrator holds a sign during a No Kings protest Saturday June in Atlanta AP Photo Mike Stewart One woman is carrying a sign saying when cruelty becomes normal compassion looks radical Taylar W she didn t want her full last name used declared there s just so much going on in this country that s not OK and if no one speaks up about it who will A schedule of parade day engagements a m - p m Army fitness competition a m Army Birthday Festival begins featuring meet-and-greets with soldiers Army astronauts and Medal of Honor recipients as well as military demonstrations a m - p m NFL Skills Drills interactive event with NFL players p m - p m Livestream workout from the International Space Station with astronaut and Army Col Anne McClain p m - p m Official ceremony and cake-cutting p m Army birthday parade p m or following the parade Enlistment ceremony concert on the Ellipse and fireworks display Dozens from a veterans group arrested outside US Capitol A day ahead of the military parade in Washington about veterans and family members were arrested on Friday after functionaries revealed they crossed a police line Organizers with Veterans for Peace explained they were planning to hold a sit-in at the U S Capitol in protest of the presence of military members on the nation s streets That includes for Saturday s military parade as well as National Guard and active-duty Marines in Los Angeles Police say participants were arrested after they crossed a perimeter of bike racks intended to keep them away from the U S Capitol Here s what to expect at the big parade The tanks are staged and ready to roll Fencing and blockades are up Protective metal plating has been laid out on Washington s streets And more than troops are poised to march near the National Mall to honor the Army s th anniversary on Saturday which happens to be President Donald Trump s th birthday Crews work on setting up an archway on the National Mall during preparations for an upcoming military parade commemorating the Army s th anniversary and coinciding with President Donald Trump s th birthday Thursday June in Washington AP Photo Rod Lamkey Jr One big unknown Rain is in the forecast and lightning could cause delays but the White House explained the parade must go one rain or shine And Trump mentioned Thursday night that the weather doesn t matter Doesn t affect the tanks at all Doesn t affect the soldiers They re used to it Daylong festivities celebrating the Army are planned on the National Mall featuring NFL players fitness competitions and displays culminating in the parade which is estimated to cost million to million The Army expects as numerous as people to attend A special reviewing area is being set up so that the president can watch up close as each formation passes the White House Cities brace for large crowds at anti-Trump No Kings demonstrations across the US Cities large and small were preparing for major demonstrations Saturday across the U S against Trump as officers urge calm and National Guard troops mobilize A flagship No Kings march and rally are planned in Philadelphia but no events are scheduled to take place in Washington D C The demonstrations come on the heels of protests flaring up around the country over federal immigration enforcement raids that began last week and Trump ordering National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles where protesters blocked a freeway and set cars on fire Police responded with tear gas rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades while functionaries enforced curfews in Los Angeles and Democratic governors called Trump s Guard deployment an alarming abuse of power that shows the Trump administration does not trust local law enforcement The Army is set to celebrate years with a parade that coincides with Trump s birthday The massive military parade that President Trump has long yearned is set to step off from the Lincoln Memorial on Saturday evening with tanks bands and thousands of troops Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery honoring the Army s th anniversary and coinciding with President Donald Trump s th birthday Saturday June in Arlington Va AP Photo Manuel Balce Ceneta And the biggest question marks are whether it will be overshadowed or delayed by either the weather in Washington or planned protests elsewhere around the country Falling on Trump s th birthday the parade was added just a meager weeks ago to the Army s long-planned th anniversary celebration It has triggered criticism for its price tag of up to million and the possibility that the lumbering tanks could tear up city streets The Army has taken a variety of procedures to protect the streets including laying metal plates down along the course The daylong display of America s Army comes as Trump has shown his willingness to use his fighting forces in means other U S presidents have typically avoided inviting an array of lawsuits and accusations that he is politicizing the military
