WASHINGTON: Tens of thousands of Americans protested President Donald Trump at rallies and marches in major cities from New York to Los Angeles on Saturday.

The protests marked the largest outpouring of opposition to Trump’s presidency since he returned to power in January, and came the same day that thousands of military personnel, vehicles and aircraft will march through and fly over Washington, DC, in a parade celebrating the US Army’s 250th anniversary.

National Guard troops and US Marines are also in Los Angeles, having been ordered there by Trump to secure the heavily Democratic city amid protests over his immigration policies.

Anti-Trump groups planned nearly 2,000 demonstrations across the country to coincide with the parade. Many are taking place under the theme “No Kings,” asserting that no individual is above the law.

Marines make first arrest of civilian in Los Angeles

All planned “No Kings” protests in Minnesota were canceled following the assassination” of one Democratic lawmaker and wounding of a second.

‘Disgusting display’

In downtown Los Angeles, several thousand protesters began marching, packed shoulder to shoulder and stretching along nearly a dozen city blocks.

The protest was peaceful at midday. American flags, many flown upside down, far outnumbered the Mexican flags at the rally.

Erika Rice, 46, said she was moved to attend her first protest because of Trumps decision to use the military to assist ICE on immigration raids and to protect federal buildings in her city.

Using the military here is a disgusting displaying of trying to wield power over the American people and over immigrants, she said.

Thousands packed Chicagos Daley Plaza and surrounding streets on Saturday under the iconic Picasso statue. Some chanted “Lock him up!” in reference to the president.

Members of the far-right Proud Boys, ardent Trump supporters, appeared at an Atlanta “No Kings” protest, wearing the group’s distinctive black and yellow colors.

In Los Angeles, the US Marines made their first detention of a civilian on Friday, part of a rare use of military force to support domestic police.

AFP witnessed Marines temporarily detaining one man at the federal building before they handed him over to law enforcement.

The US military would not say why he was detained, despite multiple requests, but the incident appeared to be a minor — albeit extremely rare — example of federal troops detaining a US civilian.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2025