“No Kings” mass protests will be sweeping the nation this month on June 14.
The political rally happens to fall on National Flag Day, which is also President Donald Trump’s birthday — a day he plans to celebrate with a military parade that will be “one like you’ve never seen before,” he posted in a short video to Truth Social on Friday, June 6.
Victorville resident Andrew Smith is organizing the No Kings rally on Bear Valley and Amargosa roads in Victorville. He says the ‘No Kings’ protest is the first of its kind and was intentionally scheduled to coincide with the president’s planned military parade.
Smith currently has about 198 people signed up on Mobilize.us for the event. His rallies consistently draw double the attendance registered, however, and Smith is anticipating 300 to 500 attendees on June 14 based on “recent political developments,” he told the Daily Press, referring to the Los Angeles protests and ICE raids.
He has had 20 new sign-ups amid the Los Angeles protest controversy this week, and interest continues to grow daily, Smith said. He will also be organizing another protest the weekend after No Kings, targeting the ICE facility in Adelanto. Follow his Facebook at www.facebook.com/adhodge84 or the Mobilize.us website to stay up to date with current protests in the High Desert.
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What is the ‘No Kings’ rally?
According to protest organizers, No Kings is a national day of mass mobilization in response to “authoritarian excesses” and “corruption” from the Trump administration.
The day of protesting will echo the cry of the importance of free speech and freedom for the detained, a statement from Victorville organizers read. “We’re taking to the streets nationwide. We’re not gathering to feed his ego. We’re building a movement that leaves him behind.”
These protests fall under the larger 50501 campaign, 50 states, 50 capitals, one protest on the same day, which calls on activists nationwide to organize monthly demonstrations opposing the Trump administration.
The rally is the third event in the series: the first was Hands Off in April, followed by Stop the Oligarchs in May. The 50501 campaign is also organizing an event for August, but Smith and other city organizers are still awaiting details for the date.
The Victorville protest will take place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, June 14 at 12068 Amargosa Road.
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‘No Kings’ is a peaceful protest
A core principle behind all ‘No Kings’ events is a commitment to nonviolent action, organizers said. ‘No Kings’ organizers expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with the rally’s values.
“It is absolutely essential that we remain peaceful throughout the entire event,” Smith wrote to the event followers on Facebook. He says that any deviation from nonviolence risks undermining the message of the rally.
An example of peaceful protesting was a rally that Smith organized independently on June 6 in Victorville dubbed ‘D-Day: Remember, Resist, Reclaim.’ The protest opposed proposed cuts to veterans’ benefits and drew about 50 attendees, 45 of whom were veterans, who protested without altercation.
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Where to participate near the High Desert
The Victorville rally is the only No Kings event in the High Desert, but residents may participate in other San Bernardino County protests should they find themselves “down the hill” that day.
Other protests on Saturday, June 14 will take place at these locations:
Big Bear: 1 to 5 p.m. at 42170 Big Bear Blvd.
Rancho Cucamonga: 5 to 7 p.m., RSVP on Mobilize for the address.
Fontana: 12 to 7 p.m., RSVP on Mobilize for the address.
Corona: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1156 E Ontario Ave.
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McKenna is a reporter for the Daily Press. She can be reached at mmobley@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Victorville ‘No Kings’ protest set for Trump birthday, military parade