Thousands converged on downtown Alexandria, Virginia, to protest President Donald Trump and the parade celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, while security kept things under wraps across the river in the District of Columbia ahead of the parade.
The loosely constructed No Kings The movement, notably supported by Walmart heiress Christy Walton, planned to hold dozens of protests across the country. And, so far, the protest just out of sight of the White House appeared to be generating a lot of interest.
Reports of crowds ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 people gathered in Market Square in Alexandria, Virginia, to protest the idea that Trump would hold a military parade on what is also his 79th birthday, according to X accounts.
Independent Women's Forum official Julie Gunlock shared an accounting of events Saturday, posting a collage on X that featured people waving signs that said "I like my ICE crushed," "King of Farts," and "Happy Obama Appreciation Day."
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Another snippet showed a growing crowd in Market Square as the closing bars of the "Star-Spangled Banner" played from a boombox. One protester noted that Alexandria, Virginia, is where Vice President JD Vance's The recent private residence was.
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With US Highway 1 divided into the major north-south streets "Patrick" and "Henry" through downtown and its history as the closest city to George Washington's Mount Vernon estate, references made online described how Alexandria was a fitting place to oppose a supposed king.
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Accounts described the crowd as largely "elderly," while others contended there were attendees of all ages.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin warned potential troublemakers statewide On Friday, he had "integrated" the Virginia National Guard with the Virginia State Police to protect life, property, and egress on the Commonwealth’s roadways.
"We cannot allow people to put people's lives in jeopardy by disrupting traffic or anything along those lines," Youngkin told reporters.
"And so, if you break the law, you're going to get arrested," he said. "I will protect everybody's constitutional right, but if you break the law, you're going to get arrested."
Protests also cropped up Saturday afternoon in Hampton Roads, Virginia, as Trump’s parade took shape just across the Potomac River from another counterprotest scheduled in the wealthy liberal enclave of Falls Church, Virginia.
The co-organizer of the Norfolk, Virginia, "No Kings" protest said of Trump, "This is not his kingdom. We are not his subjects," in comments. to The Virginian-Pilot .
"This isn’t about politics. This is about honor," another demonstrator told the paper.
In Washington, thousands also converged ahead of the parade, wearing patriotic or pro-Trump gear and MAGA hats.
Parade-goers who spoke to Fox News Digital overwhelmingly reported that they did not expect violence in Washington on Saturday, citing the tight security.
There’s security everywhere," one attendee said. "I would say, you know, it's a big event with everything that's been going on.
"I haven't seen many protesters, but I've seen a couple of signs."
Another attendee in Washington said the event felt "family-oriented" and safe.
Security Saturday included the Secret Service, police officers, and military members stationed along entry checkpoints and walking among the throngs of paradegoers. Trump's parade kicked off early, just before 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, with law enforcement vetting attendees with metal detectors and pat-downs.
The streets surrounding historic sites near the parade route, such as the White House and Washington Monument, were closed off and barricaded to enhance security.
Fox News Digital noticed a few protesters holding signs condemning Trump as a dictator, along with Black Lives Matter signs and other messages advocating for equality. However, the crowds near the entrances to the parade were mainly made up of Trump supporters, veterans, families, and others who had come out for the patriotic parade.
Officials from Walmart reportedly said that advertisements from Walton are "in no way connected to or endorsed by Walmart."
Original article source: Thousands converge on Alexandria 'No Kings' protest against Trump and Army parade; nearby DC is quiet
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