Indivisible Grand Junction, which now has its own website, has announced a No Kings protest at Canyon View Park in Grand Junction at 10:00 a.m. on June 14, to coincide with the day convicted felon, adjudicated sexual abuser and President Trump is throwing himself a $45+ million birthday military parade.

America typically doesn’t have military parades. They are a tactic typically used by insecure authoritarian leaders as a chest-thumping show of strength. Such parades are common in dictatorships like North Korea, Russia and Iran, but are rare in the U.S. because American presidents normally seek to distance themselves from the totalitarian optics of such a spectacle. Such a parade could be widely considered to be the kickoff to fascism in the United States. Heavy military equipment also tears up asphalt, and such parades require streets to be re-paved afterwards.

The cost of the parade will be borne by U.S. taxpayers. The funds will come out of individual Army units, which could potentially impact funds used for training.

From the NoKings.org Toolkit for Hosts, here the reasons for the event:

WHAT IS “NO KINGS”?

NO KINGS is a national day of action and mass mobilization in response to the increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption of the Trump administration. We’ve watched as they’ve cracked down on free speech, detained people for their political positions, threatened to deport American citizens, and defied the courts. They’ve done this all while continuing to serve and enrich their billionaire allies. They think they rule—but we are bigger than even their worst aspirations.

• Donald Trump is planning a military parade in Washington, D.C. on June 14. This display of might is intended to intimidate opponents and solidify his image as a strongman on our dime—we won’t stand by while that happens.
• Instead of allowing this military parade to be the center of gravity, we will make action everywhere else the story of America that day: people coming together in communities across the country to reject strongman politics and corruption.
• Alongside local organizers, partners, and leaders from across the pro-democracy & pro-worker movement, we will demonstrate organized people power that outpaces any authoritarian aspirations.

NO KINGS events should be additive and congruent with adjacent mobilizations and recognitions, including Veterans celebrations, Pride events, and Juneteenth on 6/19.

WHY WE’RE MOBILIZING JUNE 14: 

Donald Trump thinks his rule is absolute, but in America, we don’t do “kings.” Since the inauguration, the Trump administration and its enablers have operated as though they have a mandate—but they don’t, and never did. They are going to extremes to empower Trump and enrich themselves, while cutting jobs and services for the rest of us. Now, they’re turning Flag Day into a celebration of Trump.

💰 He’s using OUR tax dollars to pay for HIS party: Donald Trump’s birthday celebration is expected to cost millions of our tax dollars, all while Republicans claim there’s no money for Social Security, SNAP, or Medicaid.

👑 We are united against kings: Trump has already indicated that he’s aiming for at least a third term, and now he’s planning a self-aggrandizing military parade in D.C But the American people don’t put up with kings. Together, we will mobilize in huge numbers to reject this corruption and abuse of power—it’s in our DNA as a country.

✋ They’ve gone too far: This is bigger than political disagreement. They’ve defied our courts, deported American citizens, disappeared people off the streets, and slashed our services—all while orchestrating a massive giveaway to their billionaire allies. Enough is enough. For anyone who thinks he’s gone too far, this movement is for you.

We’re standing together against the abuses of power, cruelty, and corruption. On June 14, we gather to remind Trump and his enablers: America has No King!

Whether you’re outraged by attacks on civil rights, skyrocketing costs, abductions and disappearances, the gutting of essential services, or the assault on free speech—this moment is for you. Whether you’ve been in the fight for years or you’re just fed up and ready to take action—this moment is for you.

🛑 We need to build a massive, visible, national rejection of this crisis. On June 14, we will see events across the country, in major cities and small towns in every state. Our goal is to show that the people—the majority—are taking action to stop the corruption and power grab. 

The event in Grand Junction is one of over 700 similar events planned nationwide.