Tag Archives: Democracy under attack

NO KINGS DAY! Sat June 14, mark your calendar now!

‘We Don’t Do Kings’: Mass Protests Planned to Counter Trump’s Birthday Military Parade

Common Dreams, By Jake Johnson, May 06, 2025

“Donald Trump wants to spend tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to throw himself a big fancy parade with tanks in the streets,” said one organizer. “This is straight out of the authoritarian playbook.”

Pro-democracy campaigners late Monday announced a nationwide “No Kings” day of defiance on June 14—the same day U.S. President Donald Trump plans to hold a birthday military parade more befitting a dictator than an elected head of state.

More than 100 “No Kings” events have already been registered across the U.S., with many more expected in the weeks ahead of the day of action.

See the full list of planned events and locations here (mobilize.us)

“Donald Trump wants to spend tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to throw himself a big fancy parade with tanks in the streets,” explained Ezra Levin, co-executive director of Indivisible, on Monday’s broadcast of The Rachel Maddow Show (see below). “This is straight out of the authoritarian playbook. He wants to project strength. He wants everybody to think that he is all-powerful. That he rules the world.”

“He doesn’t,” Levin added. “Real power is not in D.C. It’s distributed all across the country. And what we’re looking to do on No Kings Day is to say, look—Donald Trump does not own the flag. He does not own patriotism. In fact, we can all show up in opposition to a king in this country.”

The event’s website says the goal of the mass demonstrations is to show that “from city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we’re taking action to reject authoritarianism.”

“In America, we don’t do kings,” the website states. “On June 14th, we’re showing up everywhere he isn’t—to say no thrones, no crowns, no kings.”

News of the latest mass mobilization against Trump and his far-right agenda came days after the U.S. Army confirmed plans for a parade on June 14—the Army’s 250th birthday and Trump’s 79th.

“The Army anticipates featuring 150 vehicles, 50 aircraft, and 6,600 soldiers,” The Washington Post reported, citing an Army spokesperson. “The parade will accompany a fireworks display and a day-long festival on the National Mall with military demonstrations, musical performances, and a fitness competition.”

The price tag for such festivities could be massive, with two unnamed defense officials telling NBC News that it could be as high as $45 million. In an interview that aired over the weekend, Trump called the potential cost “peanuts compared to the value of doing it.”

“We have the greatest missiles in the world,” Trump declared. “We have the greatest submarines in the world. We have the greatest army tanks in the world. We have the greatest weapons in the world. And we’re going to celebrate it.”

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) said in a statement Monday that “this would be an unprecedented waste of money to please this self-absorbed con man, and the public should make clear it’s unacceptable.”

“The egotist-in-chief wants taxpayers to foot the bill for a military parade on his birthday,” said Cohen, the lead sponsor of legislation that would “prohibit the use of federal funds for a military parade in the District of Columbia intended for the personal celebration of President Donald J. Trump, and for other purposes.”


Jake Johnson is a senior editor and staff writer for Common Dreams.

Where to find a May Day Protest near Benicia – and beyond!

100 DAYS OF RESISTANCE – links with details for your May Day Protest …

IN BENICIA ON MAY DAY

May 1 is a Thursday, and EVERY Thursday in Benicia there is a VIGIL FOR DEMOCRACY, 5-6 PM! Stop by at City Park, First & Military Streets – gather on the sidewalk by the Gazebo. “Come whenever you can, stay as long or as briefly as you can. Bring your signs, bells, kazoos, noisemakers. Invite ten people to join us.”

MAY DAY STRONG – EVENTS NEAR BENICIA / IN THE BAY AREA

  • LATE BREAKING ADDITION – THERE DEFINITELY IS A PROTEST IN NEARBY FAIRFIELD, CA – Thursday, May 1, 5 – 7pm PDT. In front of Garamendi’s Fairfield Office Building, 1261 Travis Blvd, Fairfield https://www.mobilize.us/speakoutdemocracysod/event/778894/
  • This link will take you to a page with details on May Day Protests in Martinez, Napa, Berkeley, and Oakland.
  • This link will take you to details for May Day Protests in Walnut Creek, Rio Vista, El Sobrante and Davis.
  • And here’s the link for San Francisco.

MAY DAY STRONG! EVENTS ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY!

Trump’s failed 100 days – and a HUGE nationwide protest this Thurs May 1

100 DAYS OF RESISTANCE – find a nearby May Day Protest below

From an Indivisible email, April 29, 2025

Today marks the 100th day of Trump’s second term. In that short amount of time we’ve seen him attack our basic constitutional rights like birthright citizenship and due process, shutter federal agencies and programs that millions of people depend on, and target marginalized communities across the country.

But we’re also seeing a growing backlash against this administration. Trump’s approval rating is historically low. Polls show people disapprove of his policies on almost every issue including trade and the economy — and that’s before the real impacts of tariffs and empty shelves hits most Americans. Things have gotten so bad, Trump is demanding investigations into the pollsters.

This shift in the political climate didn’t just happen — the backlash is shaped and driven by the grassroots. Every one of you who showed up to district offices and empty chair town halls, took to the streets to protest, supported independent media, donated to legal and advocacy orgs, and got involved in a thousand different ways played a crucial role in building the backlash that we see today.

And your courage has been contagious. A rising faction of the Democratic Party is beginning to fight back. Universities are beginning to hold the line against Trump’s bullying. Whistleblowers inside the government are speaking out. And folks who’ve never attended a protest in their lives are out in the streets.

So to everyone getting this email who has called your Members of Congress, joined us at Hands Off! protest, hosted a recess event, shared a call to action on social media, wrote a postcard, chipped in with a one-time or recurring donation, started an Indivisible group or joined one, we want to say THANK YOU.

Today doesn’t just mark the 100th day of this fascistic presidency. It marks the 100th day of courageous resistance. If you’re looking for a suitable way to mark it:

Register for one of the nearly 1000 May Day protests taking place this week.


IN BENICIA ON MAY DAY

May 1 is a Thursday, and EVERY Thursday in Benicia there is a VIGIL FOR DEMOCRACY, 5-6:30 PM! Stop by at City Park, First & Military Streets – gather on the sidewalk by the Gazebo. “Come whenever you can, stay as long or as briefly as you can. Bring your signs, bells, kazoos, noisemakers. Invite ten people to join us.”

MAY DAY EVENTS NEAR BENICIA / IN THE BAY AREA

  • This link will take you to a page with details on May Day Protests in Martinez, Napa, Berkeley, and Oakland.
  • This link will take you to details for May Day Protests in Walnut Creek, Rio Vista, El Sobrante and Davis.
  • And here’s the link for San Francisco.

TWO Weekly Benicia protests – Sundays and Thursdays at City Park

Benicia is alive with citizen opposition to Trump’s chaoic and illegal authoritarian takeover threat

April in Benicia is a month of flowering trees, the start of Farmers Market and crowds at the 9th Street beach. This year it’s also the genesis of two, count ’em, TWO citizen protests! We are aware, and we care, and we will not be silent!

Thursdays at 5pm…

Longtime Benicia organizer-activist Susan Street put out a call for Thursday night vigils, starting on April 3. A good crowd has gathered each Thursday since at the Gazebo in City Park, First & Military Streets. Here’s from her announcement:

VIGIL FOR DEMOCRACY
Every Thursday, 5-6:30 p.m.
On the sidewalk by the Gazebo

 
[map / directions]
Come whenever you can, stay as long or as briefly as you can. Bring your signs, bells, kazoos, noisemakers. Invite ten people to join us.

Stay on the sidewalk. Don’t block anyone attempting to walk through. Ignore any harassment.

Sundays at noon…

Benician Heather Pierini put out a similar call in late March to protest the cuts made by DOGE and the current administration. Friends and neighbors gather near the Gazebo on Sundays, 12 – 1PM. Initially this was to take place every second Sunday, but soon that was changed – now it’s EVERY Sunday. Here’s from the FB page:

No, no, Bad DOGE
Every Sunday at 12 PM – 1 PM
City Park, Benicia