On June 14, 2025, Grand Rapids will be hosting a “No Kings Day” demonstration with a “Day of Defiance” protest at Ah-Nab-Awen Park starting at 10 a.m. and a “Democracy Over Dictatorship” rally starting at 12p.m. at Rosa Parks Circle, part of thousands of such events planned across the country. The protests are being staged in direct opposition to a military parade President Donald Trump scheduled to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States Army. The event coincides with his own 79th birthday, though he’s repeatedly claimed that has nothing to do with the event.
The parade, according to NBC News, will feature 600 soldiers, 50 military aircraft, 150 vehicles and around 30 horses. It will cost nearly $45 million, including $16 million to repair the streets along the parade route from the damage caused by tank treads.
The organizers of the No Kings protests see this parade as, according to the group’s website, a “display of dominance for his birthday. A spectacle meant to look like strength… On June 14th, we’re showing up everywhere he isn’t—to say no thrones, no crowns, no kings.”
The protests also denounce what they see from the second Trump administration as government overreach.
“They’ve defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights, and slashed our services,” their website reads. “The corruption has gone too far.”
In the wake of recent protests clashing with ICE and the National Guard, some may be worried about safety at these protests. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has a web page set up with answers to some of the questions they may have.
For those attending a protest, the ACLU suggests staying in “traditional public forums,” like streets, sidewalks and parks, and reminds that protestors don’t need a permit to do so, as long as they don’t obstruct traffic.
In the event that a protester’s rights have been violated, they suggest taking down any available information, such as the badge and patrol car numbers of the officers in question, as well as the agency they work for, in addition to contact information for nearby witnesses and photographs of any injuries.
If a protester is stopped by the police, the ACLU urges them to stay calm and keep their hands visible. From there, they should ask if you are free to leave and do so if allowed. Otherwise, they encourage staying silent and calling a lawyer. The police are not allowed to listen to a call made to a lawyer.
Protesters do not have to— and are encouraged not to— consent to a search of their person or belongings. Police may “pat down” their clothing, but may not confiscate, demand to view, or delete any photographs or videos that were taken while protesting.
The ACLU has made downloadable graphics with these rights for those who want to have easy access to them.
