While cities across the country plan to hold “No Kings” protests on June 14 — there won’t be a dedicated event in downtown Columbus that day.
That’s because Indivisible, the group behind the protests scheduled around the country on June 14, plan instead to participate in the 2025 Stonewall Columbus Pride March.
According to Stonewall and Indivisible organizers, the group will be a participant in the march, which begins June 14, starting at 10:30 a.m along High Street.
According to USA Today, there are about 2,000 protests under the “No Kings” label scheduled nationwide to oppose what organizers see as President Donald Trump’s power grab. The national events will take place the same day as a parade to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army in Washington, D.C., which also falls on Trump’s 79th birthday.
More: No Kings, Pride protests scheduled in Columbus this weekend. See where they will happen.
Stonewall Columbus welcomes ‘those who support the LGBTQ community’
Densil Porteous, Stonewall Columbus executive director, said local Indivisible supporters will be marching in the protest and may be conveying a protest message about Trump.
“We welcome those who support the LGBTQ community and can follow our guidelines,” Porteous said.
Mia Lewis, an organizer for Indivisible Central Ohio, said about 200 people will be marching alongside a float from the organization and handing out materials.
“Its a two-for: celebrating pride and protesting the attempt to usurp our democracy in the White House,” Lewis said.
Columbus police: We are here to protect First Amendment rights
Pride March participants, whatever group they affiliate with, will see a large police presence during the June 14 parade.
Commander Scott Evers speaks to the media to discuss safety at Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival and March at Goodale Park on Thursday, June 12, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.
At a June 12 press conference, Columbus police Cmdr. Scott Evers said that the department was prepared for the possibility of protests or counter-protests during the event. Like at many large demonstrations, Columbus police will have its blue-vested dialogue team on site in the event of demonstrations.
“If people are protesting, it’s their First Amendment right — we are here to accommodate and welcome anybody that comes to this city and wants to exercise their rights,” Evers said.
Evers said that the police department is not aware of any specific threat to the Pride March but said that the police department is prepared for any scenario that may present itself.
Will there be a No Kings protest Downtown or at the Statehouse?
While there will not be a protest June 14, there will be a A Columbus No Kings protest, hosted by 50501, held at the Ohio Statehouse on June 13 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Are there other No Kings protests in central Ohio?
There are several “No Kings” protests set to take place in central Ohio June 14. They are:
A No Kings Hilliard protest at Warehouse 839 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
A No Kings Clintonville protest at the intersection of North Broadway and Indianola Avenue from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
A No Kings: National Day of Action protest at Westerville City Hall from 3 to 4 p.m.
A No Kings Grove City protest from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
A No Kings Pickerington protest at the intersection of State Route 256 and Refugee Road from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
A No Kings Delaware protest at Delaware City Hall from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
A No Kings London protest at the Madison County Courthouse from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Cole Behrens covers K-12 education and school districts in central Ohio. Have a tip? Contact Cole at cbehrens@dispatch.com or connect with him on X at @Colebehr_report
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Will there be a No Kings protest at the Ohio Statehouse? What to know