Mass protests in opposition to Trump throughout US as president holds army parade

[ad_1] Bernd Debusmann, John Sudworth and Kayla Epstein Reporting from Washington, Los Angeles and New York

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/5d36/live/04ddd4e0-4955-11f0-8d35-db6aa603eef9.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/5d36/live/04ddd4e0-4955-11f0-8d35-db6aa603eef9.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/5d36/live/04ddd4e0-4955-11f0-8d35-db6aa603eef9.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/5d36/live/04ddd4e0-4955-11f0-8d35-db6aa603eef9.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/5d36/live/04ddd4e0-4955-11f0-8d35-db6aa603eef9.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/5d36/live/04ddd4e0-4955-11f0-8d35-db6aa603eef9.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/5d36/live/04ddd4e0-4955-11f0-8d35-db6aa603eef9.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/5d36/live/04ddd4e0-4955-11f0-8d35-db6aa603eef9.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Getty Images People take part in a "No Kings" protest outside the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, on 14 June 2025 as US President Donald Trump presides over a military parade in Washington, DC." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Pictures A protest outdoors the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Michigan

Protests in opposition to President Donald Trump have taken place in cities and cities throughout the US in a coordinated occasion titled "No Kings".

The demonstrations had been held to counter a uncommon army parade hosted by Trump in Washington DC, and got here after days of protests in Los Angeles and elsewhere over his immigration insurance policies.

Lawmakers, union leaders and activists gave speeches in cities together with New York, Philadelphia and Houston to crowds waving American flags and placards essential of Trump.

The army parade on Saturday night, additionally Trump's birthday, was timed to have a good time the 250th anniversary of the US Military. He warned that any protests on the parade could be met with "heavy power".

Watch: Patriotism or boring? Parade-goers react to Trump’s army show

Organisers mentioned there have been a whole bunch of protests with thousands and thousands of members.

In Philadelphia, folks gathered in Love Park. "I simply really feel like we have to defend our democracy," Karen Van Trieste, a 61-year-old nurse, advised the Related Press.

She mentioned Trump's staffing cuts to public well being businesses had been one of many the reason why she turned out.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/4dd2/live/fe847e40-49f0-11f0-9471-e380f647874e.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/4dd2/live/fe847e40-49f0-11f0-9471-e380f647874e.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4dd2/live/fe847e40-49f0-11f0-9471-e380f647874e.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/4dd2/live/fe847e40-49f0-11f0-9471-e380f647874e.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/4dd2/live/fe847e40-49f0-11f0-9471-e380f647874e.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/4dd2/live/fe847e40-49f0-11f0-9471-e380f647874e.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/4dd2/live/fe847e40-49f0-11f0-9471-e380f647874e.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4dd2/live/fe847e40-49f0-11f0-9471-e380f647874e.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Reuters Trump is standing and facing the parade, his back turned to the camera and his right hand held to his right temple in a salute. Other dignitaries are sat around him and In front of him is the parade - dozens of soldiers marching past." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Reuters Trump, the commander-in-chief, stands to salute because the troops march previous

One of many bigger crowds was in Los Angeles the place leaders and legislation enforcement have been on excessive alert throughout days of protests, typically violent, in opposition to a sequence of deportation raids.

Trump despatched within the state's Nationwide Guard every week in the past in opposition to the needs of Governor Gavin Newsom and to the anger of native officers.

On Saturday, Jose Azetcla, a member of the civil rights group the Brown Berets, advised the BBC in Los Angeles that it was immigration that introduced him out on to the streets.

"It isn't harsh, it is evil. You do not separate households," he mentioned.

Watch: "No Kings Day" protests in opposition to Trump happen throughout the US

There have been confrontations between protesters and Nationwide Guard troopers close to the Federal Constructing and tear fuel was fired to disperse the crowds.

However a block or two away, a whole bunch of protesters continued marching peacefully.

Regardless of the biggest outpouring of protests since Trump was re-elected, opinion polls point out his immigration insurance policies stay broadly standard with the general public.

A CBS/YouGov survey final week discovered 54% of Individuals accredited of his coverage to deport immigrants who're within the US illegally - 46% disapproved.

A plurality of Individuals (42%) mentioned Trump's programme was making them safer and 53% mentioned he was prioritising the deportation of harmful criminals.

The "No Kings" identify of the protests refers to criticism that Trump has overstepped the boundaries of presidential energy in his second time period.

The president stood to salute as a number of the hundreds of uniformed troopers collaborating within the parade marched previous, alongside dozens of tanks and army autos, plus marching bands.

Watch: Troopers, tanks and fireworks - How Trump's army parade unfolded

He spoke briefly to thank these current for his or her service.

"Our troopers by no means surrender. By no means give up and by no means, ever stop. They combat, combat, combat. They usually win, win, win."

Some politicians and former army leaders have criticised the occasion as a expensive vainness mission. The worth tag is between $25m and $45m (£18.4m to £33.2m), in accordance with the Military.

However lots of these attending advised the BBC that for them it was about celebrating the army, to which a few of them held a deep connection.

When Melvin Graves returned from combating in Vietnam, he acquired no parade, he mentioned, so this was as shut as he would come to 1.

Mr Graves acknowledged politics performed an element within the occasion however added: "That is about honouring these women and men who served, to thank them for his or her service."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/1e32/live/f9767cf0-4987-11f0-9471-e380f647874e.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/1e32/live/f9767cf0-4987-11f0-9471-e380f647874e.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/1e32/live/f9767cf0-4987-11f0-9471-e380f647874e.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/1e32/live/f9767cf0-4987-11f0-9471-e380f647874e.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/1e32/live/f9767cf0-4987-11f0-9471-e380f647874e.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/1e32/live/f9767cf0-4987-11f0-9471-e380f647874e.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/1e32/live/f9767cf0-4987-11f0-9471-e380f647874e.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/1e32/live/f9767cf0-4987-11f0-9471-e380f647874e.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Melvin Graves wears a T shirt saying 'Army veteran - still serving America'" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> The parade was a solution to say thanks, says Melvin Graves

The final US army parade was held by President George HW Bush in June 1991, celebrating the US-led victory within the Gulf Struggle.

A crowd of 200,000 folks attended the parade to cheer on veterans, peaking at 800,000 who watched the fireworks show, the LA Instances reported on the time.

The numbers at Saturday's occasion was properly under that, partly as a consequence of moist circumstances and the forecast of heavy rain.

For youthful veterans, the parade was one thing they by no means noticed throughout their time in service.

Brian Angel, a former infantryman from Virginia who served within the Military between 2014 and 2017, together with a stint on the border between South and North Korea, advised the BBC he wished to see extra of this.

"Each department ought to get some kind of parade or recognition."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/e1a7/live/0cb92170-4986-11f0-9471-e380f647874e.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/e1a7/live/0cb92170-4986-11f0-9471-e380f647874e.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/e1a7/live/0cb92170-4986-11f0-9471-e380f647874e.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/e1a7/live/0cb92170-4986-11f0-9471-e380f647874e.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/e1a7/live/0cb92170-4986-11f0-9471-e380f647874e.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/e1a7/live/0cb92170-4986-11f0-9471-e380f647874e.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/e1a7/live/0cb92170-4986-11f0-9471-e380f647874e.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/e1a7/live/0cb92170-4986-11f0-9471-e380f647874e.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images A protester in LA throws a tear gas canister back towards police" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Pictures A protester in LA throws a tear fuel canister again in direction of police

Some consultants noticed an uneasy juxtaposition between US troopers marching by the capital whereas troops had been deployed by the president to cope with protests in LA.

Safety knowledgeable Barbara Starr advised the BBC: "Due to that polarisation proper now over this immigration debate and using troops in uniforms carrying weapons, I believe it does overhang this parade in a approach that was maybe not initially envisioned by the military."

A few of the "No Kings" demonstrations within the state of Minnesota had been cancelled by organisers after flyers for the occasion had been discovered within the automobile of the person accused of fatally taking pictures a state politician and her husband.