Protest Organizers Trained Thousands, Accuse Trump Administration of ‘Fascism’

Nationwide demonstrations are set to unfold this weekend, coinciding with President Trump’s military parade and birthday celebrations.

Organizers anticipate massive turnout, with events planned in thousands of locations across the United States.

Massive Scale Planned for ‘No Kings’ Demonstrations

Dubbed “No Kings,” the planned protests on Saturday are expected to draw millions of participants.

Events are slated for approximately 2,000 sites from coast to coast.

The timing aligns with the President’s military parade and his birthday, adding a layer of significance for organizers.

Interest in the demonstrations reportedly surged following recent actions involving National Guard and U.S. Marine Corps troops in Los Angeles.

These deployments were aimed at addressing protests related to increased deportations.

“We’ve seen hundreds of new events on the No Kings Day map since the weekend,” said Ezra Levin, co-founder of Indivisible, a group backing the effort. “We’ve seen hundreds of thousands of people register for those events.”

Reasons Cited by Organizers

A website promoting the “No Kings” protests outlines the grievances driving the demonstrations.

Reasons cited include allegations of the administration defying courts, mass deportations, attacks on civil rights, and cuts to services.

The protest’s slogan, “No thrones. No crowns. No kings,” reflects the core message that “the corruption has gone too far.”

Actions are planned in both large metropolitan areas and smaller towns.

This widespread approach is a deliberate strategy, organizers say, aimed at demonstrating opposition exists throughout the country, not just in major cities.

Strategic Avoidance of the Capital

Notably, the “No Kings” movement is not hosting a primary event in Washington D.C.

Organizers stated this decision was made to shift focus away from the military parade.

Instead, Philadelphia is set to host a flagship march.

A separate D.C.-based organization is planning a “DC Joy Day” in the district.

This event aims to celebrate the city’s people, culture, and connections.

“We did not want to give him the excuse to crack down on counter-protesters in DC,” Levin explained. “We didn’t want to give him the narrative device to say we’re protesting the military.”

Levin added that the goal was “to make him look as small and weak as he is, and protest everywhere else in the country.”

Preparing Participants and Administration Responses

Organizers have significantly expanded capacity for pre-protest training sessions.

This comes amid increased security concerns, particularly following the events in Los Angeles.

“Know your rights” calls, such as one led by the American Civil Liberties Union, have seen substantial participation.

One such call reportedly had over 18,000 listeners at one point.

Questions covered included concerns for legal immigrants, responses to potential violence, and dealing with agitators.

Social media discussions have included tactics like sitting down if violence occurs, though organizers caution this may not be suitable or safe in all situations.

Participants are encouraged to attend with personal safety plans.

President Trump addressed the topic of potential protests during a press conference this week.

He stated people protesting the military parade “hate our country” and would be “met with very big force.”

However, he also mentioned he was unaware of any planned protests specifically against the parade event itself at that time.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later clarified that President Trump “supports peaceful protests.”

When asked about the “No Kings” theme during a separate event, President Trump offered his perspective.

“I don’t feel like a king,” Trump said. “I have to go through hell to get things approved.”

Intense Rhetoric from Some Organizers

Some involved in the protests have used strong language to describe their view of the current situation.

Hunter Dunn, national press coordinator for the decentralized protest movement 50501, was reportedly teargassed during a protest in Los Angeles.

Dunn is helping organize the “No Kings” action in Los Angeles, where troops remain deployed.

Protests against their presence and immigration enforcement actions continue there.

According to Dunn, the Los Angeles event has a more explicit focus on opposition to federal agencies like ICE.

Dunn stated the situation in LA has made the protest “more obviously a protest against authoritarianism and fascism.”

“I’d say, because we’re actively under attack by our government,” Dunn stated.

Dunn emphasized the importance of community solidarity.

“If you stand up by yourself against the government, you’re going to be crushed… But if an entire community rises up together in solidarity, there’s not a government in the world that could crush that. We’re safer together,” Dunn remarked.

Building for the Future

Organizers view Saturday’s events as a significant moment for the movement.

Levin described it as “among the largest catalytic events” driven by the administration’s actions.

The hope is the protests will attract new participants and strengthen future opposition efforts.

While acknowledging the immediate goals are not to end the administration or “save democracy” in one day, Levin framed the effort as a long-term strategy.

“The way we think of it is, we’re building a muscle,” Levin said. “We’re doing quite a big workout on Saturday. But it is a tactic in an extended strategy to safeguard American democracy.”

Thousands have reportedly received training as organizers prepare for the large-scale demonstrations this weekend.