By Mark Gruenberg
WASHINGTON: In the aftermath of the Los Angeles immigration raids of the last several days, organizers expect the nationwide “No Kings Day” protests on June 14 to be massive, and they are doing everything in their power to ensure the demonstrations are peaceful and that the Trump administration is not able to derail them.
Trump’s tactics in L.A.—first sending in masked and anonymous ICE agents to conduct immigration raids and then illegally deploying both the National Guard and U.S. Marines against mostly peaceful protesters—have prompted the June 14 organizers to adjust their plans. They’re implementing more intense training for local leaders and potential participants when it comes to safety and security measures as they get ready for at least 1,900 marches and rallies expected across the country.
Using recommendations from handbooks and toolkits from the American Civil Liberties Union, Project 50501, Greenpeace, MoveOn, and others, the organizers teach and preach de-escalation, avoiding confrontations with law enforcement, how to react when approached or arrested, and preventive measures crafted in advance, such as scoping out exit routes.
They’re also teaching protective procedures marchers can take to guard the most-vulnerable among their participants, including Black and brown and marchers and people who are LGBTQ.
ICE’s violence in Los Angeles and Trump’s deployment of armed soldiers—over the objections of both L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and California Gov. Gavin Newsom—were on the minds of Leah Greenberg, co-founder of Indivisible, which put together No Kings Day, and Teachers/AFT President Randi Weingarten.
Both hosted a massive AFT Zoom town hall on June 10 on the real physical threat from Trump’s troops and the constitutional threat behind it. The Rev. Al Sharpton and Gov. Andy Beshear (D), the sole progressive bulwark in deep-red Kentucky, joined the two as panelists. AFT and Sharpton’s National Action Network are two of the co-sponsors of No Kings Day.
“Our founders said ‘No kings, no kings here!’” Weingarten declared at the start of the hour-and-a-half session. “We have the idea that the power of the government derives from the people, not from one man and not from one party.
“There’s one thing that has been an enduring quality” of the U.S., she added. “We are not ruled by the military. We are ruled by laws and by the separation of powers,” said the New York City civics teacher, who also holds a law degree.
And that’s an ideal Weingarten claimed that every one of every class, colour, religion, sexual orientation, and political leaning—including Trump’s right-wingers—believes.
The marches planned for the 14th may provide evidence of whether she’s right or not. That day, Trump plans a huge military parade, complete with tanks and troops, through downtown D.C. It’ll officially mark the U.S. Army’s anniversary, but even more, glorify Trump himself on his birthday. Trump says he’s aiming for 200,000 people to attend.
But with the No Kings Day calendar showing up to 1,900 events around the country so far, organizers are aiming for ten times that number nationally: Two million.
The ICE raids in Los Angeles are galvanizing even more people to sign up for No Kings Day, said Greenberg. The cause went viral on social media after ICE injured and arrested California Service Employees (SEIU) President David Huerta, a U.S. citizen who was peacefully observing—and speaking out against—a raid on a restaurant in L.A.
Huerta was injured, dragged into an ICE van, deposited at a hospital overnight for observation of his injuries, and later indicted on felony charges of obstructing government. He pled not guilty at a June 9 hearing and was released to his family.
Video went viral a second time when law-enforcement personnel unleashed tear gas and rubber bullets at a follow-up protest in L.A. on June 9. One of the bullets wounded an Australian TV reporter in her left leg as she was doing a stand-up broadcast midday. And ICE’s brutal beating of an elderly male protester in Santa Ana, Calif., also went viral on social media.
Huerta’s treatment hit home for Weingarten, Greenberg, Sharpton, and other backers of No Kings Day. “People are saying ‘What can I do? What can I do?’” Weingarten reported.
Huerta’s arrest and the ICE violence against him “is part of a bigger strategy” by Trump and his allies, Greenberg explained. It’s “escalating brutality and terrorizing people” so they become afraid to exercise their rights, especially the right of dissent. “They’re trying to create an illusion of inevitability—but it is only an illusion.
“Donald Trump is pulling pages right out of the authoritarian playbook, pushing the limits of power and pushing folks into obeying him in advance or he would hurt and disable them. So it is absolutely crucial to have a reaction,” she urged. But it must be a peaceful one.
“We need to show him [Trump] that power is not about these fascistic practices but from the people and our communities. We can hold that up as joyful, peaceful defiance” to take the nation back. “But is vital to everyone to see the opposition is big and bold and powerful.”
Trump is “an abrasive person who is unashamedly saying he is going to break down every democratic principle,” Sharpton added. “They’re moving towards a time where our voices and our votes won’t even matter.”
No Kings Day sponsors also provide resources for marchers to call if ICE and other Trump military forces start shooting tear gas and rubber bullets or harassing, tackling, and arresting people. All the information can be found on the movement’s website. Its key advice: “Make sure you’re prepared by brushing up on your rights before heading out into the streets.”
While marches are now planned in every state, there may be one exception: D.C. itself. No Kings Day’s website tells D.C.-area residents to stay out of the District and away from Trump’s triumphal parade, festooned with tanks and marching troops.
Unions are among those who will not be glorifying, or genuflecting, to the White House occupant when he puts on his dictatorial-type show of military might. Though the AFL-CIO hasn’t formally endorsed No Kings Day, at least two of its constituency groups, the Union Veterans Council and Pride@Work, have.
So have the Teachers/AFT, their New Haven, Conn., local, their United University Professors local, and a sector of Chicago Local 1, which represents community college faculty.
Other unions and labour-allied groups backing the event include the Government Employees (AFGE)—whose members have been the main Trump downsizing victims so far—the Communications Workers, the Postal Workers, the Cross-Union Retirees Organizing Committee of New York City’s AFSCME District Council 37, the Federal Unionists Network, Federal Workers Against DOGE, the Labour Campaign for Single Payer, and the United Electrical Workers. (IPA Service)
Courtesy: People’s World
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