‘No Kings’ anti-Trump protests across US ahead of his military parade

Thousands of people have gathered in cities across the US to join protests against President Donald Trump, hours ahead of his military parade in Washington DC.

The demonstrations organised by a group called “No Kings” was billed as a nationwide day of defiance at his policies.

Lawmakers, union leaders, and activists gave speeches in cities like New York, Philadelphia and Houston to crowds waving American flags and signs critical of Trump.

The military parade, scheduled for Saturday evening, is timed to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US Army and it is also Trump’s birthday.

In Philadelphia, crowds gathered in Love Park. “I just feel like we need to defend our democracy,” Karen Van Trieste, a 61-year-old nurse, told the Associated Press. She said Trump’s staffing cuts to the Centers for Disease Control, a major public health agency, worried her.

One of the largest crowds was expected in Los Angeles where leaders and law enforcement remained on high alert after a week of protests against a series of immigration raids sparked protests across the city.

They were largely peaceful but some became violent, with cars set on fire. Trump sent in the state’s National Guard contingent against the wishes of Governor Gavin Newsom.

He has warned that protesters who demonstrate at the military parade would be “met with very big force”.

Some politicians and former military leaders have criticised the event as a politicisation of the US military.

The “No Kings” group takes its name from a criticism that Trump has overstepped the limits of presidential power in second term.

Protesters named issues from immigration to the effectiveness of the federal government as reasons for coming out to march.

In Los Angeles, thousands more people took to the streets.

Elidia Buenrostro, 29, told the Los Angeles Times she marched on behalf of undocumented family members living in the country. She and her daughter held a sign that said “families belong together.

In other protests across the US, some dressed up as characters from popular culture as commentary for the political moment they saw themselves in.

Jaqueline Sacrona told the New York Times that she and her daughters had dressed as characters from Margaret Atwood’s novel The Handmaid’s Tale for a local Michigan protest, to channel her concerns about reproductive rights.

A man named Dennis Hannan in Philadelphia costumed himself as Elvis Pressley. Clad in a bedazzled suit and holding a flag, he told CNN that the late rock n’ roll icon was “the only American King.”

“We’re here to downplay any other kings,” he told CNN.

Demonstrations in the state of Minnesota were cancelled by organisers after some had already started, after attacks on two state politicians on Saturday.

One lawmaker was killed, along with her husband, and another was injured in the shootings.

Governor Tim Walz urged people not to attend protests until the suspect had been arrested, and organisers followed up with a statement saying they were following his recommendation.