No Kings anti-Trump protests to hit Tampa Bay streets
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Protestors are taking to the streets in Tampa Bay and nationwide on June 14 in what organizers expect will be the largest single-day anti-President Trump rally since the start of the administration.
Why it matters: The widespread movement will run counter to Trump's multimillion-dollar military parade in D.C.
- "No Kings is a nationwide day of defiance," organizers wrote. "From city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we're taking action to reject authoritarianism."
- More than 100 pro-democracy advocacy groups are partnering to organize the No Kings events.
Zoom in: More than a dozen protests are planned across the Tampa Bay region, including in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota (University Parkway and J.D. Hamel Park), Ellenton, Largo (Central Park and Ulmerton Road), Palm Harbor, Riverview and New Port Richey.
Zoom out: Millions of people are estimated to protest in more than 1,500 cities across all 50 states and commonwealths, organizers said.
Context: Trump proposed a military parade on his 79th birthday and the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary.
- The Army predicts it will spend $25 to $45 million on the plan, an estimate that doesn't include Secret Service or law enforcement.
- D.C. is not known for having military parades, but Trump has been vying for one since his first term.
Yes, but: There will be no organized protest in Washington, D.C.
- "We want to create contrast, not conflict," said Leah Greenberg, co-executive director of Indivisible, one of the partner groups.
- "The choice to hold No Kings events in every city but D.C. is a deliberate choice to keep the focus on contrast, and not give the Trump administration an opportunity to stoke and then put the focus on conflict."
Catch up quick: Within a month earlier this year, anti-Trump activists rallied during the Hands Off!, 50501 and May Day protests.
April's Hands Off! protest saw at least 3.5 million people join, by organizers' count, far surpassing the 500,000 RSVPs it garnered. At least 10,000 in Tampa Bay participated.