Communities across Mid-Michigan are preparing to take part in a national protest movement this Saturday, June 14, as part of “No Kings,” a coordinated day of demonstrations aimed at rejecting authoritarianism.
More than 1,500 rallies are planned nationwide in all 50 states, including dozens across Michigan. Events in Mount Pleasant, Midland, Bay City and Chesaning are among those set to take place in central Michigan.
The protests coincide with both Flag Day and President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday, the date of a planned multimillion-dollar military parade in Washington, D.C.
Organizers of the No Kings movement say the June 14 demonstrations are intentionally set to counter that parade, which will also mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army.
“President Trump wants tanks in the street and a made-for-TV display of dominance for his birthday,” the No Kings website says. “A spectacle meant to look like strength. But real power isn’t staged in Washington. It rises up everywhere else.”
According to organizers, the movement is a decentralized response to actions they say have undermined civil rights, democratic norms and government accountability under Trump and his allies.
“They’ve defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights and slashed our services,” the No Kings website says. “The corruption has gone too far. No thrones. No crowns. No kings.”
In Mt. Pleasant, protestors will gather from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. outside Meijer on Mission Street for a peaceful rally. A Chesaning event is scheduled from 12 to 2 p.m. at Cole Park, encouraging participants to bring posters and stand in solidarity.
The “No Kings” rally in Midland is hosted by the Women of Michigan Action Network (WOMAN) and the Midland County Democratic Party. That event begins at 3 p.m. at Grove Park, where demonstrators will march 0.7 miles to the Central Park Bandshell. Those unable to walk the route are encouraged to go directly to the bandshell for the 4 p.m. rally.
The program will feature drag emcees, informational booths, a bounce house and kids’ crafts, as well as speeches from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, State Board of Education President Dr. Pamela Pugh and Brandell Williams, chair of the Saginaw County Democratic Party.
Later in the day, a Bay City protest will begin at 5 p.m. outside City Hall on Washington Avenue. Protestors plan to peacefully occupy all four corners of the intersection at McKinley and Washington in a high-visibility demonstration.
Across all events, organizers emphasize nonviolence, accessibility and inclusion.
A full national map of events is available on the No Kings website.
“On June 14th, we’re showing up everywhere he isn’t—to say no thrones, no crowns, no kings,” the No Kings website says.
