Tips for the June 14 NO KINGS Protest

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, and July 2026 will mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The United States of America is not unusual in honoring the day of its founding or celebrating independence from a monarchy. What is unusual is our country having a president who acts like a king and an administration taking away our rights. The United States was founded to be a NO KINGS country, and it is our inalienable right to peacefully protest to protect our country and its inhabitants.

When is the NO KINGS Protest?

Saturday, June 14, 2025, is Flag Day as well as the U.S. Army’s birthday — a day that marks when Americans first organized to stand up to a king.  This makes June 14 an appropriate date for the NO KINGS 50 State Nationwide Protest. Instead of focusing on the multi-million-dollar military parade scheduled that day, let us truly celebrate what makes America great by coming together for marches, rallies, and demonstrations to reject the corrupt and authoritarian politics happening in our United States.

Where is the NO KINGS Protest Taking Place?

The last two major protests were nationwide, with the largest gathering taking place in Washington, D.C. However, the June 14th NO KINGS event is focusing on gathering in your community, with the largest crowd in Philadelphia, considered the birthplace of America, where the Declaration of Independence was drafted. In fact, the NO KINGS event is strongly urging folks to NOT be in Washington, D.C. on June 14th.

Across the country, neighborhood protests are being shared on Mobilize; you can search by zip code to find an event near you and get full details about time and location from a vetted website.

Who Organized the NO KINGS Protest?

With these events, is understandable to question who is organizing and whether it is authorized and well planned. The NO KINGS protest official partners are 50501, American Federation of Teachers, Black Voters Matter, CommonDefense.us, Declaration for American Democracy, Face the Music Collective, Fix Democracy First, Free Speech For People, Indivisible, National Action Network, People Power United, Public Citizen, Social Security Works, Stand Up America, The Beacon, Transformative Justice Coalition, and Vote Save America.

What type of event is the NO KINGS Protest?

Because I live in the Washington, D.C. metro area, there are a lot of highways, parkways, and major roads with overpasses. Several cities in the DMV (District, Maryland, and Virginia) are protesting by holding up signs on those overpasses and major intersections and being a positive and peaceful presence with chants, waves, and song.

I love these kinds of protests as they are far more accessible and a great way to connect with like-minded people in your community. However, they can be dangerous, as those who do not support your views can attack and get away very quickly, thanks to being in a moving vehicle. Gatherings in popular public spaces can be interrupted by counterprotesters. It is important to be smart and safe at these events.

A core principle behind all NO KINGS events is a commitment to nonviolent action. All participants are expected to de-escalate any potential confrontations and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought. Leave your egos, aggression, and easily-pushed buttons at home along with anything that could possibly be deemed as a weapon (personally, my signs aren't even on sticks because of this).

What Should One Wear and Pack for the NO KINGS Protest?

How you prepare for the NO KINGS event really depends on where you live, what type of event it is, and where the event is located. I recommend everyone wear comfortable and supportive shoes, plenty of sunscreen even if it's cloudy, consider a hat and sunglasses, a water bottle, and a hands-free bag.

A face mask is a great addition to protect immunocompromised neighbors, but also to protect your identity if there is pushback from those who disagree, or if news crews film the event. At least tuck a cheerfully colored bandana into your bag that can multitask to protect your décolletage from the sun, mop your brow of sweat, and be a face mask in a pinch.

Speaking of cheerful colors, these are not events to dress all in black or as though you're ready to join a militia. NO KINGS is a peaceful event, and by wearing neutral or cheery colors, it conveys we are organizing peacefully. This is a great time to wear those political t-shirts you've gathered over the years, add pins to your bag or jacket, rock a statement hat, or DIY some meaningful attire.

Signs are good, and when it comes to signs, know quantity means more than quality. So what if your kid's science project is on the other side, or it's made from a Grove Collaborative cardboard box. If you're creative, go on with your fabulous self. But if not, or you're short on time and funds, open social and check hashtags like #50501 to get some slogan inspiration or a simple word or phrase like RESIST, NO KINGS IN AMERICA (or NO KINGS), or HANDS OFF. Signs and a mix of colored clothing make a crowd look even larger.

If you are looking to get attention when on an overpass or street corner, consider cheerful noisemakers. Drums, tambourines, cowbells, and maracas are all great choices. If you know easy chants or songs, consider printing out a few copies of the lyrics to pass around and encourage folks to say them in unison.

If you are gathering in an area that has not proven supportive of past protests, you especially need to be safe. Throw in your bag a pair of protective goggles, work gloves, an extra bottle of water; you may not need them and they don't weigh much. Please know that there is no evidence showing baking soda or milk help eyes better than cool water when in contact with tear gas or other irritants.

Consider a long-sleeved top layer and full-length pants to protect from the sun and anything else. Put your phone in airplane mode and turn off your Face ID before heading (this will save your battery and help you focus on the event), and consider using a Sharpie to write a contact # on your forearm hoping the only result is a lot of scrubbing to remove it that evening when you're home taking a shower.

Update: Lisa in the comments shared a pack of baby wipes are great for wiping off Sharpie, staying fresh, and can help in a pinch with a grody porta-potty.

For those who are attending other types of protests, I have different advice for you. Check out my article on what to wear to a protest march, which is based on what was learned from previous protests and marches over the years I and community members have attended. Please check out the comments, which are a wealth of information!

Why Should One Participate in the NO KINGS Protest?

These types of protests are shorter, about two hours, and there's no need to be exactly on time or stay for the whole duration. The point is being there, being counted, and showing that those who disagree with the current administration are a larger percentage than the media they watch may lead them to believe.

As a producer of digital media, I can tell you algorithms are extremely powerful, more powerful than FOX News. What you see as you scroll on various apps is not the same thing seen by that person in line behind you at the grocery store. We have all been influenced by something we've seen online, and it can color our reality. Peacefully protesting shows IRL how many of us there are, how we really feel, and how we're not responding with aggression or fear.

The flag doesn’t belong to any one person or any one party. Our flag belongs to all of us. This country was founded on the principle of no kings, and this Saturday we will celebrate that, rather than what is happening in D.C. I hope to see you out there; if you attend and share on Instagram Stories or feed, tag me and I will re-share to show my audience that the media may not be accurately portraying. Be safe, have fun, connect with your community, resist and persist!