As President Donald Trump’s military parade kicks off in Washington to commemorate the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army on Saturday, governors in several states are also on high alert for violence at demonstrations opposing the parade and expressing anger that it is a way to celebrate the president’s 79th birthday. A loose network of counterprotests, organized as the ‘No Kings’ movement, are expected to take place across the country in smaller cities, particularly in red states like Shepherdstown, West Virginia; Valdosta, Georgia; and Austin, Texas.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey warned of several planned ‘No Kings’ demonstrations in the Mountain State. ‘I support the constitutional right to free speech and assembly, but West Virginia will uphold law and order,’ Morrisey said in a statement. State police are being deployed to respond to any actions that cross the line.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin added that he has integrated the Virginia National Guard with the Virginia State Police to protect life, property, and egress along the Commonwealth’s roadways. ‘We cannot allow people to put lives in jeopardy by disrupting traffic or anything along those lines,’ he said, adding, ‘If you break the law, you’re going to get arrested.’ The state is also experiencing increased law enforcement activity due to its significant number of ICE-related illegal immigrant arrests in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp confirmed his preparedness for potential protests in the Peach State, stating that his office is ready to take any necessary action to safeguard communities without compromising constitutional rights.
In Pennsylvania, a ‘No Kings’ protest gathered thousands of demonstrators, including 83-year-old Rev. Jesse Jackson being pushed in a wheelchair at the front of the procession in the Art Museum, the site of Sylvester Stallone’s iconic ‘Rocky’ scenes. Gov. Josh Shapiro assured that the city would ensure a peaceful day, warning that ‘violence is not an answer’ and would not be tolerated.
As of Saturday afternoon, protests had already emerged in Hampton Roads, Virginia, and other locations ahead of the parade, with some groups vowing to challenge the legitimacy of the event. Walmart also faced boycott threats after a relative of its founder, Chrissy Walton, publicly endorsed the protests, though the company issued a statement distancing itself from any support for the demonstrations.