4 days ago
‘No Kings' protests: What to know about Saturday's Mass., nationwide demonstrations
Protests are planned across the country on Saturday in opposition to President Donald Trump, coinciding with his birthday and a military parade planned in the nation's capital.
Dozens of protests are scheduled across Massachusetts, among hundreds planned nationwide, under the banner of the 'No Kings in America' movement, whose organizers say Trump's strict approach to immigration enforcement and other policies have leaned into authoritarianism.
The protests will cap a week in which Trump ordered National Guard troops and Marines into Los Angeles after demonstrations broke out opposing immigration raids in the city.
The 'nationwide day of defiance' aims to counter 'the increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption of the Trump administration,' organizers for the national No Kings movement said. 'We've watched as they've cracked down on free speech, detained people for their political positions, threatened to deport American citizens and defied the courts.'
Saturday's protests were planned to counter celebrations for Trump's 79th birthday, which also falls on Flag Day and the birthday of the U.S. Army. A military parade is planned to ring the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The Army is preparing for 200,000 people to attend the event.
Read more: Can Trump deploy the National Guard to stop protests? Here's what the law says
In Boston, demonstrations will coincide with the city's annual Pride Parade, one of the hallmarks of the June festivities celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.
Mass 50501, part of a national movement organizing protests in all 50 states, said it encouraged organizations to march in or attend the Boston Pride parade to show solidarity with LGBTQ+ people.
Demonstrations are planned in Massachusetts' largest cities — Boston, Worcester and Springfield — as well as communities from Provincetown to Pittsfield, according to the No Kings website.
Celebrations in Washington for the Army's birthday had been in the works for months, according to The Associated Press
Earlier this spring, Trump announced plans to grow the celebration into a massive military parade complete with tanks and howitzers rolling through the streets of the capital.
Multiple nearby counterprotests are planned, including a mass march to the White House.
The president told reporters at the White House on Wednesday that the parade would be a big celebration and protestors would not be welcome, according to NBC News.
'If there's any protester that wants to come out, they will be met with very big force,' Trump told the reporters. 'I haven't even heard about a protest, but you know, this is people that hate our country, but they will be met with very heavy force.'
No Kings said it is not hosting an event in Washington, D.C. However, it aims to make demonstrations 'everywhere else the story of America' on Saturday. The organization's flagship event will be held in Philadelphia.
Officials said they were also on alert for signs that the immigration-related clashes between law enforcement and protesters in Los Angeles would spread.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
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Read the original article on MassLive.
