LOS ANGELES (CNS) – Thousands of demonstrators are expected to gather Saturday in downtown Los Angeles, throughout the Southland and nationwide to protest the policies of the Trump administration while offering a counterpoint to a planned military parade in Washington, D.C. that coincides with President Donald Trump’s birthday.
The “No Kings” events are billed as a peaceful way to oppose the administration’s “authoritarianism and show the world what democracy really looks like,” say organizers at 50501, a national group that stands for 50 protests, 50 states, one movement.
“They’ve defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights, and slashed our services,” according to a website for the event, referring to the Trump administration. “The corruption has gone too. far. No thrones. No crowns. No kings.”
No Kings marches and rallies will take place Saturday — Flag Day — when Trump is hosting a military parade to celebrate the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday and his own 79th.
Opponents of the parade — the nation’s first since 1991’s National Victory Celebration, which was timed to welcome returning veterans of the 100- day Persian Gulf War — say it is a vanity project of a nascent dictator.
“President Trump wants tanks in the street and a made-for-TV display of dominance for his birthday,” No Kings organizers say. “A spectacle meant to look like strength. But real power isn’t staged in Washington. It rises up everywhere else.”
One of the largest crowds locally is expected at a rally and march Saturday at Los Angeles City Hall, near the scene of recent clashes between law enforcement and protesters around immigration issues. Trump has deployed thousands of troops, including 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines, to Los Angeles, citing a need to support local law enforcement.
Ahead of Saturday’s events, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna and CHP Deputy Commissioner Ezery Beauchamp held a joint news conference at LAPD headquarters on Friday to discuss law-enforcement preparations aimed at keeping the numerous demonstrations peaceful.
Their message was clear: Law enforcement is fully prepared and will arrest anyone who commits a crime or incites violence.
“Let me absolutely clear on this — if you come to Los Angeles to exercise your rights peacefully, we are here to protect that, but if you come to our city with the intent to commit crimes, damage property or harm others, including our officers, you will be arrested,” McDonnell said.
“We will not allow violence, vandalism or threats to public safety to undermine the rights of those who are demonstrating lawfully.”
Luna echoed McDonnell’s message, saying “extreme violence is not going to be tolerated.”
“If you’re out there throwing rocks, Molotov cocktails, high-grade pyrotechnics and all these other weapons, you’re going to get caught, and you’re going to get arrested,” Luna said.
Luna did not disclose how many law-enforcement personnel will be on duty, but emphasized that they are “heavily deployed” — which he hopes will create a “calming” presence for protesters.
Said Beauchamp: “We have activated eight of our Special Response Teams, which are specially trained officers, and they will all be activated working throughout the state of California. In L.A. County, we are on tactical alert, and for us, what that means is all days off are canceled for all CHP officers, so that we can provide the highest level of safety and service to everyone here in Los Angeles County.”
Suju Vijayan, co-leader of the East Valley Indivisibles progressive coalition, which will be on hand Saturday at a Studio City “No Kings” event, said the protests have a special meaning in Los Angeles, site of civil unrest over Trump’s policies last week and the place where military troops are now stationed as a result of the president’s orders.
“This is pushback against the idea of a Soviet-style military parade and the overreach where Trump is trying to turn himself from president into a king,” Vijayan told City News Service. “We in Los Angeles have seen the overreach in person, so No Kings Day has taken on even more significance.”
She said the sense that Trump “puts himself above the people of this country” has inspired residents to speak out about the administration’s perceived transgressions.
“There’s tremendous energy around these events,” she said.
Other rallies in Los Angeles and Orange counties are scheduled in Woodland Hills, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Pasadena, Whittier, Anaheim and Huntington Beach, according to a map of events shared by NoKings.org.
Here are some of the scheduled No Kings events and times:
— Anaheim, 4 p.m., La Palma Park, 1151 N. La Palma Parkway;
— Antelope Valley, 11 a.m., 10th Street West and Rancho Vista Boulevard;
— Dana Point, 1 p.m., Selva Road and Pacific Coast Highway;
— El Segundo, 10 a.m., El Segundo sign, Imperial Avenue and Main Street;
— Huntington Beach, noon, Pacific Coast Highway and Huntington Beach Pier;
— Laguna Beach, noon, Pacific Coast Highway and Main;
— Long Beach, 9 a.m., Bixby Park Annex, East Ocean Boulevard and Junipero Avenue;
— Los Angeles: 9:45 a.m., Los Angeles City Hall, 200 North Spring Street;
— Malibu: noon, Malibu Library, 23519 West Civic Center Way;
— Pasadena: 2 p.m., Lake and Colorado;
— Santa Clarita, 10:30 a.m., McBean Parkway and Valencia Boulevard;
— Santa Monica, 11 a.m., Palisades Park and Ocean Ave;
— Studio City, 11 a.m., Southeast Corner, Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Ventura Boulevard;
— Torrance, 11 a.m. Torrance City Hall, 3031 Torrance Blvd.;
— West Hollywood, 11 a.m., West Hollywood Park, 647 N. San Vicente Blvd.;
— Whittier, 2 p.m., Whittier City Hall, 13230 Penn St., and
— Woodland Hills, 11 a.m., Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Victory Boulevard.
Besides the law-enforcement presence, there will be about seven medical task forces ready to assist anyone who may become ill or experience an injury, L.A. Fire Department Capt. Erik Scott said Friday.
These teams will consist of a fire engine and an ambulance — two to focus on fires and the other five to respond to medical emergencies, he said.
“Over the weekend that number will exceed seven, but we’ve yet to determine that, Scott said.
There will also be a so-called advanced provider unit that will include a nurse practitioner and a physician assistant on an ambulance. Scott said they will be able to address any possible mass injuries, or if a large number of people are arrested and are in need of medical assistance.
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