Hundreds be part of ‘No Kings’ protest in Alexandria as DC parade prep begins

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Hundreds converged on downtown Alexandria, Virginia, to protest President Donald Trump and the parade celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Military, whereas safety saved issues beneath wraps throughout the river within the District of Columbia forward of the parade.

The loosely constructed "No Kings" motion, notably supported by Walmart heiress Chrissy Walton, deliberate to carry dozens of protests throughout the nation. And, up to now, the protest simply out of sight of the White Home seemed to be producing a number of curiosity.

Studies of crowds from 1,000 to five,000 folks, assembled in Market Sq. in Alexandria, Virginia, to protest the concept that Trump would maintain a army parade on what can be his 79th birthday, based on X accounts.

Impartial Ladies’s Discussion board official Julie Gunlock shared an accounting of occasions Saturday, posting a collage on X that featured folks waving indicators that stated "I like my ICE crushed," "King of Farts" and "Completely satisfied Obama Appreciation Day."

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One other X snippet confirmed a rising crowd in Market Sq. because the closing bars of the "Star-Spangled Banner" performed from a boombox. One protester famous that Alexandria, Virginia, is the place Vice President JD Vance’s current non-public residence was.

With US Freeway 1 divided into the most important north-south streets "Patrick" and "Henry" by means of downtown and its historical past because the closest metropolis to George Washington's Mount Vernon property, references made on-line described how Alexandria was a becoming place to oppose a supposed king.

GOVERNORS WARN ANTI-TRUMP ‘NO KINGS’ PROTESTERS AGAINST BECOMING VIOLENT: ‘YOU’RE GOING TO GET ARRESTED'

Accounts described the group as largely "aged" whereas others contended there have been attendees of all ages.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin warned potential troublemakers statewide Friday he had "built-in" the Virginia Nationwide Guard with the Virginia State Police to guard life, property and egress on the Commonwealth’s roadways.

"We can not enable folks to place folks's lives in jeopardy by disrupting site visitors or something alongside these strains," Youngkin instructed reporters.

"And so, should you break the regulation, you are going to get arrested," he stated. "I'll defend all people's constitutional proper, however should you break the regulation, you are going to get arrested."

Tanks forward of the U.S. Military's 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington Friday, June 13, 2025. (Getty Pictures)

Protests additionally cropped up Saturday afternoon in Hampton Roads, Virginia, as Trump’s parade took form simply throughout the Potomac River from one other counterprotest scheduled within the rich liberal enclave of Falls Church, Virginia.

The co-organizer of the Norfolk, Virginia, "No Kings" protest stated of Trump, "This isn't his kingdom. We aren't his topics," in feedback to The Virginian-Pilot .

"This isn’t about politics. That is about honor," one other demonstrator instructed the paper.

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In Washington, hundreds additionally converged forward of the parade, sporting patriotic or pro-Trump gear and MAGA hats.

Paradegoers who spoke to Fox Information Digital overwhelmingly reported that they didn't count on violence in Washington Saturday, citing the tight safety.

"There’s safety in all places," one paradegoer stated. "I'd say, , it is a massive occasion with the whole lot that is been occurring.

"I have never seen many protesters, however I've seen a few indicators."

One other attendee in Washington stated the occasion felt "family-oriented" and protected.

Safety Saturday included the Secret Service, law enforcement officials and army members stationed alongside entry checkpoints and strolling among the many throngs of paradegoers. Trump's parade kicked off early, simply earlier than 6 p.m. Japanese Customary Time, with regulation enforcement vetting folks attending with steel detectors and pat-downs.

Streets surrounding historic spots close to the parade route, just like the White Home and Washington Monument, had been shut down and barricaded to bolster security.

Fox Information Digital noticed a handful of protesters carrying indicators denouncing Trump as a dictator and Black Lives Matter indicators and different messages calling for equality, however crowds surrounding the entry factors for the parade had been primarily comprised of Trump supporters, veterans, households and others who got here out for the patriotic parade.

Officers from Walmart reportedly stated ads from Walton are "by no means linked to or endorsed by Walmart."

Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox Information Digital.

He joined Fox Information in 2013 as a author and manufacturing assistant.

Charles covers media , politics and tradition for Fox Information Digital.

Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple College with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story ideas could be despatched to charles.creitz@fox.com.