Tens of Thousands March in ‘No Kings’ Protests in NYC

Tens of thousands flooded the streets of Manhattan on June 14 in a “No Kings” protest over Donald Trump’s 79th birthday, a day that also marked a planned big military parade in Washington, DC, marking the 250th anniversary of the US Army.

”Today in DC, Donald Trump is throwing himself a birthday parade that he thinks makes him look strong and powerful, but real power is this—you and me showing up here,” said Hannah Stoss, an organizer with 50501 New York, a grassroots campaign for democracy and against what the organizers called the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration. “Real power is showing up even when our brains try to convince us we’re not courageous or qualified. This is what power actually looks like. We’re fighting to stop executive overreach and the terrorizing of our communities nationwide. There are over 1,800 events happening across the country.”

Billed as a New Orleans–style funeral march against authoritarianism, the demonstration stretched from Bryant Park to Madison Square Park in a display of resistance to what organizers dubbed “presidential monarchism.” Though vivacious in framing, the tone on the ground was sharply focused and the crowd notably lacked Black representation. It did have a larger showing of young college age students than earlier anti-Trump rallies.

The loudest and most visible voices instead came from Hispanic, Palestinian, and LGBTQ+ activists, who were pushing numerous agendas under the broad “No Kings” umbrella.

For some Black observers, the low turnout echoed an anomaly in the promise of solidarity. Social media posts said calls for Black and brown unity often read more like short-term tactics than sustained partnerships.

Throughout the five boroughs and nearby suburbs, “No Kings” rallies emerged from Columbia University to Forest Hills, from Prospect Park West to Yonkers and Port Washington.

The Manhattan march, however, drew the largest crowd, which some reports placed at around 50,000 people.

Marchers carried banners, beat drums, and chanted through steady rain. Despite the advertised theme, few leaned fully into the New Orleans funeral motif.

A handful of horns, maracas, and tambourines appeared, but the prevailing tone stayed grounded in protest rather than pageantry.

Exceptions included a brief catharsis of a conga line and a lively Mexican dance circle near the end.

The demonstration remained peaceful throughout, despite scattered downpours and a strong police presence.

No arrests were reported.

Protesters paused at key points along the route, including outside the David Glasgow Farragut statue in Madison Square Park, where speeches and poetry fiercely criticized Trump’s immigration stances and US backing of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

One speaker, who chose to remain anonymous and appeared to be trans, electrified the crowd with a charged declaration.

“I’m against ICE deportations—and I’m also against the genocide being carried out right now in Palestine with our tax dollars. So we say: Free Palestine! Free, free Palestine!”

They continued:

“Some will say we don’t need to fight—that we can just rely on the courts or vote our way out. But that’s not true. The courts and the Democratic party won’t save us. What’s happening right now—in Los Angeles, in New York, across the country—that’s what gives us hope. Let’s not forget: Joe Biden helped pave the way for this most recent phase of brutal genocide in Gaza. The Democrats are not the solution. The solution is right here—in the streets, in our workplaces, in our communities.”

The crowd responded with thunderous cheers.

Other demonstrators directed anger at establishment Democrats, including former Governor Andrew Cuomo and President Biden, accusing them of supporting the very policies progressives now seek to dismantle.

Some carried signs supporting progressive Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and denouncing Cuomo in the Democratic primary for mayor. Early primary voting kicked off June 14.

Still, the dearth of Black participation, especially in a city where Black communities have historically anchored protest movements, was hard to miss.

Unlike previous uprisings, where Black New Yorkers stood visibly and symbolically at the center, they were largely aloof at the supposed Southern-jazzy event.

Some Black users on social media expressed frustration with what they see as a recurring pattern: Unity is invoked in politically expedient moments, only to dissipate when Black voices seek meaningful roles or equitable leadership.

Though it projected a collective purpose, the protest also exposed internal contradictions within the progressive movement.

The day raised unresolved questions about the depth and durability of multicultural alliances.

As the crowd dispersed and what little music faded, rain-soaked banners were left behind in the Flatiron District.