"No Kings": Millions of Americans (and Teens) Protest Trump’s Immigration Crackdown

John Lewis said that “if you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, do something. We cannot afford to be quiet”. This was put into practice on June 14^th, during a nationwide protest called “No Kings”. It happened during a military parade that was organized by President Trump to celebrate his 79^th birthday and the 250^th year anniversary of the United States Military. The name refers to views about Trump’s policies going against democratic values and several instances where the president has referred to himself as a “king” on social media.  

Magpieturtle on Wikimedia Commons

Ever since Trump took office, there has been heightened scrutiny of his immigration policies, which are harsher than the previous administration.  Earlier this year in January, Trump ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to carry out the “single largest Mass Deportation Program in History”. This caused an uproar of protest, as the public used media to display the lack of due process and emotional caused by reaching the White House’s harsh goal of three thousand deportations per day.  

These announcements were met with protests and clashes with police and ICE that often turned violent. On June 6^th, the people of Los Angelos, one of the cities targeted by Trump in his list of cities with “illegal aliens”, were protesting federal raids but were quickly met with retaliation from law enforcement. USA Today shared reports of “hitting protesters with batons and firing tear gas”. These confrontations and the controversial announcement of Trump’s controversial military parade on his birthday were the setup for the No Kings protest. 

This message was clearly heard as protesters gathered at 2100 sites with a total attendance nearing an almost record-breaking 5 million protestors across the United States. Cities like New York, Los Angelos, and Chicago saw tens of thousands of protesters marching through their streets, with Philadelphia reaching 100,000 protestors marching through the streets. Pictures on the news and social media show the powerful image of huge crowds of people waving the American flag, emphasizing the importance of democracy in the United States.  

In some places, protestors were met with retaliation. Police used tear gas against protestors in LA and Seattle, and there were many isolated attempts by civilians to harm protestors with vehicles and weapons. However, these were miniscule compared to the sheer volume of peaceful and disciplined marchers.  

Myotus on Wikimedia Commons

What does this mean for students? These types of gatherings are powerful and heard across the nation, but there are other forms of protest that aren’t as publicized. Starting a conversation in the classroom or at home about what you know about US immigration policy is an understated way to engage with your community, while sharing different perspectives. Productive conversations where respect and empathy are maintained create the opportunity for sharing opinions and engaging in discussions about legislation. You might be surprised by what you’ll learn about American immigration and how it impacts people in your community.  

As the United States evolves as a nation, one constant remains: Americans will continue to use their voice and the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment to drive national policies and interests, and to uphold what it means to be in a democracy.