 "While US President Donald Trump holds his grand parade, 'No Kings' protests take over America. Reuters / AP")
US President Donald Trump finally witnessed the parade of his dream despite protests against him taking over the country. The grand military parade held at Washington, DC, marked the 250th anniversary of the US Army, which interestingly coincided with his 79th birthday. However, the parade was being conducted at a time when the US was facing both domestic and political turmoil.
It was all in all a Trump show, the parade started with Trump being greeted by a 21-gun salute and the strains of “Hail to the Chief” as he took his seat in a reviewing stand. The crowd, filled with Trump supporters, also sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to the president.
In his remarks after the parade , Trump thanked the troops, telling the gathering that “The Army keeps us free, makes us strong.” “Time and again, America’s enemies have learned that if you threaten the American people, our soldiers are coming for you,” he said as he warned the US’s global adversaries.
“Your defeat will be certain. Your demise will be final, and your downfall will be total and complete. Our soldiers never give up, never surrender, and never quit," Trump added. “They fight, fight, fight and win, win, win,” he remarked, which was followed by thunderous applause.
Anti-Trump protests take over the US
Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets, parks and plazas across the US to protest against Trump. The protesters blared anti-authoritarian chants mixed with support for protecting democracy and immigrant rights.
The organisers of the ‘ No Kings' demonstrations noted that millions had marched in hundreds of events across the country. Meanwhile, governors across the US had urged calm and vowed no tolerance for violence, while some mobilised the National Guard ahead of marchers gathering. Confrontations were isolated.
Huge crowds were seen marching in New York, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles, some behind “no kings” banners. It is pertinent to note that LA was witnessing demonstrations over the past week over the immigration raids, which ultimately led to an all-out clash between the protesters and the National Guard, which was deployed by Trump.
However, on Saturday morning, Minnesota officials had to cancel the state’s ‘No Kings’ protests after Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed and state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were wounded in politically motivated shootings targeting the Democratic lawmakers overnight.
Police noted that they found “No Kings” fliers and a list of other potential targets in the suspect’s vehicle. Shortly after the news of the attack broke out, the Texas state legislators said that they received a “credible threat” against them ahead of the planned protest at the state capitol building in Austin. A suspect was arrested later. In other cities, the protests carried on as per the schedule.