Going to No Kings protest in Bucks County, Philadelphia? Here's what to bring, what to know
A day of demonstrations are planned across the United States June 14, where attendees will reject 'authoritarian politics' in the nation.
Known as the No Kings Nationwide Day of Defiance, the demonstrations serve to divert attention from a military parade in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, June 14, which No Kings organizers say President Donald Trump is using to celebrate himself. The parade, which celebrates the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, coincides with the president's 79th birthday.
'This is bigger than politics,' organizers said in a news release. 'They've defied our courts, deported citizens, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights, slashed essential services, and handed billions to their allies. Enough is enough.'
Because local organizers are involved in setting up No Kings events, each demonstration can look a bit different. For example, there will be a rally and march in some major cities, but not all No Kings Day protests may involve a march.
The so-called "No Kings Day" protests will center with the largest in Philadelphia, but will include sites in Bucks County and other parts of suburban Philly.
Organizers said that a 'core principle' behind No Kings events is 'a commitment to nonviolent action.'
'We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events,' according to a news release.
Public protests are protected in the United States by the First Amendment and are legal in public areas providing you are not blocking car or pedestrian traffic or blocking access to government buildings.
That said, law enforcement may interpret your intentions differently and some have acted with force.
The Human Rights Campaign advises protesters to scope out the area of the protest ahead of time and identify multiple routes out of the area. An offline-accessible map can help. During the protest, remain aware of your surroundings and what's happening around you.
Also, counter-protestors are allowed to show up and voice their contrasting opinions, although they shouldn't be allowed to physically disrupt the event, according to the ACLU of Southern California.
While demonstrators are urged to act lawfully at No Kings protests, tensions can escalate or bad actors can be present, heightening the possibility of arrests.
People are urged to remember that if they are arrested, they have the right to remain silent, and if you exercise that right, you should say so out loud, according to the ALCU. The group said you do not have to answer any questions about where you are going, where you are traveling from, what you are doing, or where you live.
People also do not have to consent to a search of themselves or their belongings, but police may pat down your clothing if they suspect a weapon. However, refusing consent may not stop an officer from carrying out a search, but making a timely objection before or during a search can help preserve your rights in any later legal proceeding, the ACLU advises.
If you are arrested, you have the right to a government-appointed lawyer and are not required to answer where you were born, whether you are a U.S. citizen or how you entered the country, the ACLU said.
Donald Trump's military parade: What is it celebrating, date, time, route
Experts at Physicians for Human Rights suggest bringing the following:
Backpack or string bag: You won't want anything bulky and you'll want your hands free. Fanny packs can also help.
Face mask or bandanna: Useful for helping to shield your eyes from pepper spray or tear gas.
Water: You'll need to stay hydrated. Bring as big a bottle as you can, with a squirt top in case you need to quickly wash off your skin or eyes.
Glasses: Avoid wearing contact lenses, which can trap irritating chemicals. If you must wear contacts, wear shatter-resistant goggles with a tight seal. Avoid wearing makeup such as eyeliner for the same reason.
Comfortable clothes, closed shoes: You may want to cover as much skin as possible. You should also consider bringing a spare change of clothes in your bag in case your clothes get sprayed. Some protesters make a point of wearing all black, or at least clothes without obvious slogans or easily identifiable markings.
A few days of any vital medication: In case you are arrested. Ideally, they should be in a labeled prescription bottle.
Cash: In case you need bail.
Snacks: High-energy, high-protein munchies are preferred.
Many organizations advise protesters to leave their phones at home to protect their privacy, as they can easily be tracked. If you must take your phone, keep it turned off until you need it, and before you go, disable Face ID or fingerprint security and stick with the 6-digit passcode instead. You may also consider buying a cheap secondary phone to use.
Also, if you bring a phone, bring a backup power source if possible, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Other suggestions the LGBTQ+ civil rights organization has for what to bring to a protest are:
Keep a well-stocked first aid kit in your vehicle
A list of written emergency contacts on your body or a piece of paper, so you don't have to rely on your phone
No Kings day events are happening across the area, according to a map of events. Here is a non-exhaustive list of locations where No Kings demonstrations are planned:
Langhorne: Congressman Fitzpatrick's Office (1717 Langhorne-Newtown Road), 12-2 p.m.
Quakertown: Triangle Park 304 W Broad St, Quakertown, 12-2 p.m.
Doylestown: Main and East Court streets (in front of old Courthouse), 6-8 p.m.
Harleysville: Meadowbrook Plaza 280 Main Street, Harleysville, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Lambertville/New Hope: Location TBA, 9-10:30 a.m.
Springfield Delco: Baltimore Pike and Route 320, 1 p.m.Delco: Delaware County Courthouse, 12 p.m.
Havertown: Intersection of Eagle Road and Sunnyhill Lane, 12 p.m.
Ardmore: Ardmore and Lancaster aves., 10 a.m.
The Grand Military Parade is on Saturday, June 14, starting at 6:30 p.m. ET. The Army Birthday Festival at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., will be taking place throughout the day and wrap up before the parade, according to the U.S. Army.
Trump's birthday is Saturday, June 14. He was born in 1946, and he'll turn 79 years old this year.
Anthony DiMattia contributed to this story.
Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: No Kings protest Philadelphia: Here's what to bring, safety tips
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Dominion Post
26 minutes ago
- Dominion Post
Pride and Protest: Pair of events unites those opposed to president's actions
MORGANTOWN — On Saturday, Morgantown found itself at the crossing of protest and pride. In the morning, protesters gathered in support of the movement 'No Kings Day.' By afternoon, the Morgantown rail-trail was alive with music, rainbows and community as Morgantown Pride hosted its annual block party. Though different, both events were united in a message to protect rights. First, a rally lined the sidewalks of Evansdale with people holding handmade signs and peacefully chanting 'No kings!' and 'This is what democracy looks like!' The demonstration was part of a movement organized in opposition that participants called 'the erosion of democratic norms and rising government overreach.' 'This country doesn't have kings,' said Ron Allen, a member of the Mountaineer Indivisible Citizens Action Group. 'We're against authoritarianism, which is the direction this administration is heading.' Allen called the day's march not just a protest, but a stand to 'preserve our democratic rights and fend for democracy.' 'If he really wanted to honor the military, he could have done it on July 4,' Allen said. 'This is a counterpoint to that. People across the country are mobilizing, and we're proud to be part of it.' The nationwide protests were scheduled to coincide with the massive military parade taking place in Washington, D.C., to mark the U.S. Army's 250th birthday. Saturday was also President Trump's 79th birthday. By early afternoon, the day shifted to a celebration over the rail-trail for the Morgantown Pride Block Party. Jeffrey Shears, the new president of Morgantown Pride, greeted attendees as they came to celebrate. The day was full of events like drag shows, music, local vendors and family-friendly activities. 'It's a great day for Morgantown,' Shears said. 'It's a great day any time our town rallies around a cause. Whether it's protest or pride, our community shows up.' Planning this year's events came with challenges, Shears said, as they faced reduced support following the rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion measures. 'We're so used to having corporate sponsors,' he said. 'With DEI going away, we've really seen who supports our community and who doesn't.' Shears, a military veteran and former Mr. Rainbow Pride of West Virginia, said his mission now is to serve and defend his community. 'I spent 20 years defending our country,' he said. 'Now I'm spending the rest of my life defending our community.' For performer Bella la Vall, who took the stage during the block party, the connection between the morning protest and the Pride celebration was more than clear. 'Sometimes, the most rebellious thing you can do is be gay, be proud, be an artist,' she said. 'Even this Pride event is a 'No Kings' protest, without calling itself that.' Originally from New York, Bella stayed in Morgantown after college because of the strong support system she found here. 'There's something powerful about being visible in a world that often wants you to shrink,' she said. 'When you have your community, you can get through anything.'
Bloomberg
31 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Bond Investors Look to Fed for Guidance on Timing of Rate Cuts
Treasuries investors whipsawed by President Donald Trump's trade and fiscal policies will this week glimpse the impact on the Federal Reserve's interest-rate policy. While Fed Chair Jerome Powell and his colleagues are set to keep their benchmark steady at the June 17-18 meeting, traders will scrutinize economic and interest-rate projections for insight into how policymakers may respond to the uncertainty.
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
No major problems reported at 'No Kings' rallies in Brevard
There were the warnings from the governor and from Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey. But aside from a few people falling prey to the heat and some passers-by flashing obscene hand gestures, Brevard County's "No Kings" protests went off without any major issues, police and community leaders reported. There were 'no real issues or concerns. For the most part it was a peaceful and respectful assembly,' Palm Bay Police Chief Mario Augello said of the rally held in the city Saturday, June 14. "They dispersed when they said they would without having to be directed." In Cocoa, two people were overcome by the heat and humidity as temperatures pushed upward into the mid-80s, police reported there. The rallies took place on the Space Coast and coincided with protests across the country — and hours before the large-scale military parade in Washington, D.C., organized by the Pentagon and hosted by the Trump administration. The nationwide protests — called to denounce Trump's presidency and the administrative changes he's put into place — drew millions of people across the country, and tens of thousands in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta. In some of the cities, there were reports of violence, with tear gas lobbed into crowds by police in Portland, Ore., and one person was wounded after someone fired off a gun during the downtown rally in Salt Lake City, police reported. One person drove a sport utility vehicle into a crowd of rallygoers in Culpeper, Va., following what authorities said was an otherwise peaceful demonstration. The peaceful rallies also took place in Brevard County days after Ivey made comments warning against violence at any demonstrations. "If you throw a brick, a fir bomb or point a gun at one of our deputies, we will be notifying your family where to collect your remains, because we will kill you, graveyard dead," said Ivey, whose comments went viral nationwide through social media and other news platforms. "We're not going to play,' Ivey said during a press conference in Titusville with the attorney general and others to reemphasize Gov. Ron DeSantis' message that Florida would not tolerate violent protests. DeSantis also said the state would not penalize drivers who rolled through crowds in self-defense. The violence, however, did not surface. '(The demonstrators) did a fantastic job. I'm proud of the community for showing the world that our sheriff had no reason for making such threats. Honestly, he needs to apologize,' said Lauren Giocone, one of the protesters at the Cocoa rally. An estimated 2,000 people lined the streets at State Road 520 and U.S. 1, holding up signs and waving. Giocone said that there was at least one truck that drove through the area repeatedly, belching smoke as it rode by. At another point, she said several pro-Trump men were seen walking through the crowd. No incidents were reported. In Palm Bay, between 400 to 600 people gathered for the protest, Palm Bay police reported. 'That's what America is about,' said Cocoa City Council Member Alex Goins. 'Living side by side with those from different walks of life and different views." J.D. Gallop is a criminal justice/breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jgallop@ X, formerly known as Twitter: @JDGallop. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Brevard 'No Kings' rallies go on without any major issues, police say
