Capital region gears up for protests during military parade

(The Center Square) – As Washington, D.C., gears up for an historic military parade coinciding with Flag Day and President Donald Trump’s birthday, with projected costs between $25 million and $45 million, the capital region is also mobilizing a protest response.

There are dozens of locations in Northern Virginia and Maryland within an hour’s drive of Washington where protesters can gather as part of the official nationwide ‘No Kings’ Day of Defiance.

No Kings is a movement supported by more than 100 partner organizations opposing what they say are Trump’s “authoritarian overreach” and gathering in “[defense] of democracy.”

There are over 2,000 cities and towns hosting No Kings events Saturday, where in some cases local or state leaders will speak, and “millions” that have RSVP’d, according to event communications. 

Some events in the capital region were at capacity as of Friday evening. One event in Kingstowne, Va., was expecting 250 people, according to an email from an organizer.

The group is not holding a protest in the district itself, however. 

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“Real power isn’t staged in Washington. It rises up everywhere else,” its website reads. “Instead of allowing this birthday parade to be the center of gravity, we will make action everywhere else the story of America that day.”

However, the district is also in a state of heightened security, as the parade has been designated a National Special Security Event by the Department of Homeland Security. Extra security measures were installed throughout the week leading up to the event and some will be in place through the days immediately following the event, as well. The president also told reporters that any protests in D.C. during the parade would be met with “very big force.”

No Kings says it is committed to nonviolence.

“A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events,” its website says. 

The flagship event will be held in Philadelphia.