Military Parade in Washington, D.C. Sparks Division and Protests Across the Nation
In a display of military might and controversy, Washington, D.C. became the epicenter of a divisive event on Saturday. The U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary parade, coinciding with President Trump’s birthday, transformed the capital into a stage for tanks and armored vehicles, while sparking protests nationwide.
The parade, organized by the Trump administration, featured a procession of military hardware through the nation’s streets. Meanwhile, dissenters in numerous cities labeled the event a politicization of the armed forces, branding their movement “No Kings.”
The journey from a protest in Annapolis to the parade in Washington was symbolic of the stark divide in perceptions. In Annapolis, demonstrators gathered at the Maryland State House, bearing signs with messages like “RESISTING THE CROWN SINCE 1776.” The protest was a response to allegations against Trump for disparaging American war casualties, which he has denied as “a total lie” (NPR Report).
Among the Annapolis speakers was John Wells, a retired federal economist, who criticized the parade’s expense, saying, “It’s outrageous. We’re not in Russia or North Korea … or China. That’s the thing they do” (Frank Langfitt/NPR). The event’s cost ranged from $25 million to $45 million, sparking debate over its necessity.
A George Washington reenactor, Randy Goldberg, delivered a historic speech from 1783, highlighting Washington’s voluntary relinquishment of power. Protesters contrasted this with what they viewed as an autocratic display in D.C.
In Washington, President Trump dismissed the criticism, stating, “Every other country celebrates their victories. It’s about time that America did, too.” However, the event was not a victory celebration but an Army birthday commemoration, reminiscent of a similar parade after the First Gulf War in 1991.
Protesters in Annapolis argued their patriotism, with Donna Edwards of the Maryland & DC AFL-CIO proclaiming, “We have to own the flag. No one can tell us that we’re not patriots.” The attendees in Washington mirrored this sentiment, donning patriotic attire and including families from diverse backgrounds.
The capital’s event resembled a blend of military festival and recruitment campaign, with corporate sponsors like Lockheed Martin and Palantir, which holds a $30 million contract with ICE. Tanks lined the grandstand, underscoring Trump’s desired strongman image.
Despite the authoritarian accusations, some attendees, including Dennis Connelly, 19, rejected such claims, describing Trump as “acting completely [within] the law.” Connelly, aspiring to join the Marines, viewed Trump’s leadership style as necessary for pushing boundaries.
As the parade concluded, attendees encountered No Kings protesters along Constitution Avenue, merging two conflicting narratives into one divided scene near the White House.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
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