A massive wave of “No Kings” demonstrations swept New York City and dozens of other U.S. cities Saturday, coinciding with President Trump’s 79th birthday and the 250th anniversary military parade of the U.S. Army in Washington.
In Manhattan alone, roughly 50,000 protesters flooded Fifth Avenue with chants like “No Kings, No Trump!” Signs carried messages condemning perceived authoritarianism and advocating for democratic values. Despite rainy weather, the crowd remained largely peaceful; only about eight arrests were reported.
These events were part of a national day of defiance organized by the 50501 Movement, encompassing thousands of rallies aimed at protesting Trump’s policies, including his deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles amid anti-ICE unrest.
While the NYC demonstration stayed calm, other cities experienced flare-ups: Los Angeles police used tear gas and batons, and in some regions protests were postponed following a politically motivated shooting in Minnesota.