While Donald Trump gears up for a high-budget, star-spangled military birthday bash in Washington, D.C. this Saturday — activists from coast to coast have other plans: a massive, decentralized protest movement called “No Kings Day.”
Led by political organizer Ezra Levin, the movement is a bold, peaceful stand against what they call growing authoritarianism in the U.S., timed to coincide with Trump’s 79th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army.
“This isn’t a monarchy. He’s not a king,” Levin told TMZ Live, emphasizing that Saturday’s message is about people-powered democracy — not fireworks and tanks.
A New Kind of Birthday Party: No Cakes, Just Constitution
The “No Kings” initiative is built around the idea that power should flow from the people, not be concentrated in one man. And while Trump is planning a military parade with tanks, troops, and pyrotechnics, Levin and his team are planning marches in small towns and big cities alike, from red states to blue.
“We’re not giving him a crackdown moment,” Levin said, referencing past violent clashes at centralized protests.
“Instead, we’re spreading the resistance everywhere — peacefully.”
Philly Takes the Spotlight: 80,000 Expected
Levin will be leading one of the largest marches in Philadelphia — fitting, given it’s the birthplace of American democracy and the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
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He expects up to 80,000 peaceful demonstrators to take to the streets in a “joyful, nonviolent show of resistance.” His team has been training volunteers in de-escalation tactics and preparing for a unified front of calm in the face of potential confrontations.
“It’s a reminder to every elected official — including Trump — that Americans believe in the Constitution, not coronations.”
???????? The Military Parade: Symbol or Spectacle?
Meanwhile, Trump is leaning heavily into the optics of power. His birthday bash in D.C. is being held in conjunction with a military parade marking the Army’s 250th anniversary.
The celebration will feature:
- Dozens of military tanks
- Hundreds of uniformed troops
- Fireworks and flyovers
Critics argue the parade is less about patriotism and more about showmanship, with activists saying it mimics dictatorial displays of power rather than the democratic values the Army was founded to protect.
ICE Raids, Marines in L.A., and a Nation on Edge
Protests have already erupted nationwide in response to ICE raids and the federal deployment of troops. In Los Angeles, Trump federalized California’s National Guard and dispatched 700 Marines to guard federal buildings — sparking outrage from Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass, who both opposed the move.
Levin calls it a “dress rehearsal for Trump’s authoritarian dreams”, warning that what’s happening in L.A. could soon unfold in other cities.
Voices from the Movement
Social media is buzzing with rallying cries for “No Kings Day”:
- ???? “We don’t need tanks. We need accountability.”
- ???? “Democracy isn’t a parade. It’s people standing up.”
- ???? “This is how you celebrate freedom — not with fireworks, but with your voice.”
Final Word: “Peace Is Power”
As the nation gears up for a pivotal day — one filled with symbolism, spectacle, and strong resistance — Ezra Levin wants Americans to remember one thing:
“This isn’t about Trump’s birthday. It’s about our future. It’s about reminding each other that in America, we don’t bow to kings — we elect leaders. And when they forget that, we show up.”
???? Are you marching on No Kings Day? Let us know in the comments — and follow for real-time updates from protest sites across the country.
