As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary and President Donald Trump prepares to celebrate his 80th birthday, left-wing activists have announced plans for nationwide protests on June 14.
The “No Kings” movement has stated that the next 250 years of American history will be defined by whether the nation lets strongman politics and corruption dominate or instead unites its people across race, background, identity, belief, and community to defend rights and build a future rooted in collective power. On June 14, the movement pledges to “rise up, sing out, and keep organizing.”
A central event for the movement is a 90-minute concert titled “Rise Up, Sing Out” set for The Town Hall in midtown Manhattan on June 14. Performers include Sasha Allen, Bette Midler, Patti Smith, Rufus Wainwright, actor Jane Fonda, and liberal commentator Joy Reid. Organizers have also coordinated similar events across the United States on the same date, emphasizing nonviolent participation. Social media has noted the involvement of high-profile figures in what some describe as a “retread protest” amid growing attention to competing American anniversaries and performer lineups for the nation’s 250th celebration.
