By Ysabella Rongo
Millions across 2,000+ cities rallied to call out President Trump’s multimillion taxpayer-funded parade and his administration’s assault on democracy and working people
Cottonwood, AZ — A peaceful crowd of over 1,200 people gathered in Cottonwood on Saturday, June 14th, joining millions across the country for the nationwide No Kings day of defiance. Marchers from throughout the Verde Valley came together to exercise their First Amendment right and speak out against gross governmental abuses of power, calling for a government that serves the people – not the powerful.
Participants carried signs and flags as they marched through Cottonwood, culminating in a community rally at the Kids Park, where local leaders addressed the crowd. The event was part of a nationwide mobilization in response to President Trump’s extravagant, taxpayer-funded birthday celebration – held while Americans are told there’s no money to fully fund Social Security, SNAP, Medicaid, or public schools. Attendees expressed shock and horror over the way the current administration has been abusing their power acting outside the law to reach their deportation quotas.
The No Kings movement, spanning all 50 states, calls attention to the erosion of democratic institutions and the growing consolidation of power under a single individual. Protesters in Cottonwood joined voices with communities nationwide demanding transparency, accountability, and leadership that works for everyone—not just the wealthy and well-connected.
Speakers included Dr. Christine Dargon and Reverend Gordon Burton, both of whom spoke passionately about protecting civil rights, defending the Constitution, and staying grounded in moral clarity and community values.
Local groups supporting the Cottonwood action included: After the March Indivisible, Camp Verde Indivisible, Democrats of the Red Rocks, Indivisible Cottonwood/Cornville/
All participants adhered to the No Kings commitment to peaceful, nonviolent protest. Organizers were trained in de-escalation and worked with local partners to ensure a safe and powerful action for all.
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26 Comments
The right calls this hate because they dislike hearing the truth. The reality is the exact opposite. These are protests against hate and haters by Democracy loving Americans.
San Diego police praise crowd as tens of thousands pack streets for ‘No Kings’ Day
https://apple.news/Ai8LsXJCrTCqdKCN_uIBQsQ
And to hear MAGA folks tell it, there was Kaos and Violence everywhere! The City was razed to the ground by marauding heavily armed MS-13 gangsters! Just like Trump’s claims to have turned on a fictitious water spout that allegedly saved California from itself and LA being under “all out assault by radical left wing socialist communist anarchist” blah blah blah. His message of boogeymen and fear are what dives MAGA supporters into supporting their King of hate! And they believe every lie he tells them.
Get a life
That’s what we’re all attempting to do without all the fascist MAGA bullshit and corruption.
@Jill, mayby Trump can offer you a discount on Bibles, gold shoes, some crypto?
And coming soon your very own cell phone with a contract?
No thanks I’ll get mine from legitimate non grifting sources. Thanks though 😜
Trump’s denial of US involvement in the war between Iran and Israel/US forces is laughably tragic. The US has had troops in the region to help protect Israel for decades and decades. We have sold Trillions of dollars worth of high tech military hardware to Israel every year for decades and decades as well. To say the US isn’t involved is a bold faced LIE! Our aircraft are actively patrolling the skies in and around Israel and Iran and we have Patriot and HIMAR missile battery’s supplementing their Iron Dome (Another example of why Trump’s Golden Dome (Not to be confused with his melon head) will not work for the Defense of our Airspace which is 240+ times larger than Israel’s). He and our MAGA Military Leadership think Iran will capitulate because King Don Don tells them to “surrender unconditionally” ! Ha they obviously haven’t followed their military and clandestine histories or capabilities. They play the long game and eventually avenge each and every attempt upon them. They also have one of the largest militaries on the planet and are aligned with Trump’s pals Xi, Un and Putin (who he wants involved despite already being so). Most of their populace are Ali Khamenei loyalists and will fight to their last breath. America doesn’t have the stomach for such a war. It never has. I’ve personally seen their Revolutionary Guard Forces in Somalia and Bosnia who were there to defend Muslim populations as well as study US and NATO military tactics to use against us. They have No problem killing for whatever they believe in. They know where our troops are and how to put a hurt upon them like they did when they gave “headaches” to a bunch of our troops during Trump’s first reign as King by having proxy Militia units to launch missile and mortar barrages upon our bases in Iraq and Syria. They blew up the USS Cole, numerous American Embassies from Beirut to Kenya. They actively hunted down and assassinated family members of the deposed Shah right here on US soil by impersonating UPS delivery drivers and utility workers to gain access to them and shoot them dead.
MAGA professes America First and No Wars under Trump but the reality is we are already at war and have been for decades. Question is how the “military GenieASS” is going to deal with the hornets nest he allowed Israel to kick? I’m guessing we will see limited Nuclear Strikes hypocritically made in an effort to prevent one? Should that happen nothing will matter to the despots of the world and shit will most definitely hit the fan on a global scale!
Protesters peacefully set cars on fire. Peacefully looted stores and peacefully assaulted law enforcement officers. That was the “peaceful” protest in LA and several other cities. Protest yes, but this kind of violence cannot be tolerated and will never change any ones mind.
“Protesters peacefully set cars on fire. Peacefully looted stores and peacefully assaulted law enforcement officers. That was the “peaceful” protest in LA and several other cities. Protest yes, but this kind of violence cannot be tolerated and will never change any ones mind”
Yes the sort of violence we all witnessed happen on January 6th 2021 should never be permissible especially when directed by a sitting US President in attempt to overthrow a free and fair election.
Nobody should anyone assault Law Enforcement Officers (doing their jobs). But when Law Enforcement breaks the laws as they did when they murdered George Floyd and numerous others they did not and do not have to use physical force upon then those officers are criminals and should face justice. Not be pardoned by a President who enjoys Police Brutality.
Protesters unknown set WAMO driverless vehicles on fire and do all over the US all the time protesting driverless vehicles. In this case they just happen to be convoying through a protest area for reasons unknown? Doesn’t make it right but it is coincidental that they happened to drive into a protest area in a city they are highly disliked because they don’t drive like vehicles operated by people and can become a nuisance even a danger to pedestrians and others on the road. Certainly as a MAGA climate change denier you don’t have a problem with a handful of EV’s being destroyed now do you?
The problem with actual Peaceful Protests is that there are always outside agitators like Kyle Rittenhouse, Anarchist (who hate ALL forms of Government left, right and center), White Supremacist, Proud Boys, Oath Keepers and others who enjoy violence, creating chaos and destruction everywhere they go who commit crimes of violence and destruction in the midst of those peacefully protesting to make it appear like the entire protest was violent when it simply was not. BLM was a group started to protest unlawful police brutality and murders of innocent civilians at the hands of corrupt Cops. Antifa is NOT an Anarchistic organization they are Anti Fascist and show up whenever and wherever White Supremacist do to do battle with them. Their MO is not property destruction but are violent when combatting violent fascist extremist.
Violence is never the answer and should never ever be condoned especially by a sitting US President who instigates violence against others. When we get all of that under control then Americans can begin to have constructive dialogue with one another. But you can’t be like BK and have it Your Way and expect others not too as well.
Everyone has the right to protest peacefully just as 5+ million did during Trump’s stoopid waste of money dictator’s special military parade, while protesting No Kings just like our forefathers and mothers did with King Georgie Porgie during our Revolutionary War and War of Independence. They didn’t attack the Capitol, kill 4 cops and 3 violent rioters, attempt to kidnap and kill a States Governor, drive around in a I Love Trump van while conducting bomb threats around the country, shoot and kill State and Federal Politicians by pretending to be a cop and hunt them down in their homes, assault family members of politicians with hammers after breaking into their home to kill their politician spouse, round up White people in their homes and workplaces and deport them for being white without the writ of Habeas Corpus or any number of the violent crimes you fail to note in your one sided complaint against protests and protesters.
MAGA claims to be for Law and Order but only as an excuse for them to break the very laws they claim need enforcement because they feel they are above the law. Especially after having avoided some major time for major crimes committed by themselves only because they have a POTUS who is then first POTUS in history to be granted complete immunity for his many Crimes!
Funny how a violent MAGA Mob Insurrection that resulted in hundreds of Law Enforcement Officers severely wounded and a small handful of people dead, a plot to Kidnap and Kill a State’s Governor is OK but if anyone else protests anything or anyone then it’s the worse case of Mob Violence ever. Really makes one wonder where you have been and where you get your news from?
You’re about as brilliant as the Criminal Insurrectionist you worship-
Donald Trump mocked for bizarre claim about the Civil War
https://www.al.com/politics/2025/06/donald-trump-mocked-for-bizarre-claim-about-the-civil-war.html
President Trump Said Revolutionary War Troops ‘Took Over the Airports’ in His Fourth of July Speech
https://time.com/5620936/donald-trump-revolutionary-war-airports/
Sound more like the 1/6 riots at the capitol?
Wow, didnt hear about any problems, in Cottonwood, Flagstaff, or Sedona?
You know well over 5 million marched?
I hope they come for you next, we will sit back and say, “so sorry”!
I really dont understand why people cant see through all of this? Your media you digest? Ignorance? Stupidity? Lack of empathy? Or you just dont care as long it hasnt effected you?………………………………..yet
First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me
Gas prices could jump 30 cents a gallon by July Fourth, analysts say https://www.azfamily.com/2025/06/18/gas-prices-could-jump-30-cents-gallon-by-july-fourth-analysts-say/
Guess I’m gonna have to make a bunch of stupid stickers to put on gas pumps I don’t own like MAGA did when gas prices went up during Biden’s administration. Presidents don’t control gas and oil prices OPEC and big Petroleum companies do but I thought that I’d make light of those facts?
How Trump Twisted the Law to Protect White Men From Discrimination
“Protected class” began as an aid to the disadvantaged. Now, it is a tool for the oppressor.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/05/protected-class-keyword-eeoc-trump-law-firm/
Of course those of us who knew this was the case long before now are hateful people for opposing such nonsense. Trump plays chess with marbles not multi dimensional ones either.
Senator Slams Trump: A Man With No Combat Experience Is ‘The First Person To Want To Drop A Bomb’
Sen. Mark Kelly also admitted what his “big fear right now” is.
https://apple.news/A8dturrdFTf2FhgyXujAaew
Trump did absolutely nothing except authorize our military to do their jobs. Doesn’t make him a tactician by any stretch of his imagination. It does make him a “war time POTUS” in his mind which he mistakenly equates to being a warrior which he as a privileged Draft Dodger most definitely is not! So much for the lie of NO Wars under Trump! He’s in two of them currently. One with our Allies and Trade Partners and another with Iran and Islam. We’ve seen his inability to negotiate peace deals with Ukraine/Russia and Israel/Gaza as he professed only he and he alone could solve and do so in 24-48 hours. Good luck negotiating with one of our staunchest enemies and one of the oldest civilizations on earth who also has one of the largest militaries!
“Delay, Interfere, Undermine:” How El Salvador’s Government Impeded a U.S. Probe of MS-13
President Donald Trump has praised Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele as a crime fighter, but new reporting based on interviews and documents reveals how senior Salvadoran officials have impeded a U.S. investigation of the MS-13 gang.
https://apple.news/A390hx2nCRlCU0nRSznC5CQ
Why is it that MAGA and the GOP have allied themselves with such criminal thuggery? They have consistently done so –
Nazi War Criminals: The CIA and other US intelligence agencies established relationships with former Nazi war criminals after World War II, employing them for Cold War intelligence gathering. Some, like Emil Augsburg and Wilhelm Hoettl, who were involved in war crimes, worked for US intelligence agencies.
Dictatorships and Authoritarian Regimes: The U.S. has a history of supporting authoritarian and dictatorial regimes in various regions, often prioritizing stability and alignment with US interests over democratic values or human rights.
Chilean Military Dictatorship: The CIA played a role in the coup that overthrew the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende in Chile in 1973 and supported the subsequent military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, despite evidence of human rights abuses.
Mobutu Sese Seko in Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo): The CIA was involved in the assassination of Patrice Lumumba and provided support to Mobutu Sese Seko, a brutal dictator who ruled Zaire for decades.
Hissène Habré in Chad: The US government, including the CIA, provided support to Hissène Habré’s regime in Chad, despite being aware of its widespread human rights abuses.
South American Dictatorships: The CIA provided encryption machines to South American dictatorships, secretly monitoring their communications while being aware of their human rights abuses.
Other Examples: Other examples of authoritarian leaders and regimes the US has supported include the Shah of Iran, Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines, the Somoza dynasty of Nicaragua, Fulgencio Batista of Cuba, and Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq War.
Important Considerations:
Cold War Context: Many of these instances of US support for authoritarian regimes occurred during the Cold War, where containing communism was a primary foreign policy objective, sometimes leading to alliances with unsavory characters.
Intelligence Gathering Justification: The CIA often justified its involvement with these individuals and regimes by claiming it was necessary for intelligence gathering and national security.
Human Rights Concerns: Despite the focus on anti-communism, there was often awareness and debate within the US government regarding the human rights abuses perpetrated by these supported regimes.
Shifting Policies: While the US historically supported many authoritarian regimes, there have been shifts in policy, particularly in later years, to promote democracy and human rights.
Controversies and Criticisms: The US relationship with these leaders and the CIA’s involvement in related activities have been subjects of considerable controversy and criticism.
They left out H W Bush’s former Pal and Nemesis Manuel Noriega. The guy who used to work with the CIA and DEA only to go to war with us during Operation Just Cause in 1989-
United States invasion of Panama
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_invasion_of_Panama
No wonder they elected a WAR/No WAR POTUS.
Budget bill cuts food stamp benefits as Arizona school lunch prices rise https://www.azfamily.com/2025/06/24/budget-bill-cuts-food-stamp-benefits-arizona-school-lunch-prices-rise/
Of course it does! And who is it intended to hurt? People of lower income and people of color. Pretty damned un American hurting our most vulnerable on purpose!
And these Criminal GI & Veteran haters call journalists who question the veracity of our strikes upon Irans Uranium Enrichment Facilities having allegedly “obliterated” by calling them GI haters as if the journalists were questioning the GI’s that carried them out, which they absolutely were NOT! They were questioning the claims made by two very well known Liars- Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth.
Senators Demand Investigation Into Canceled VA Contracts, Citing “Damning Reporting From ProPublica”
The senators are calling for a federal watchdog to investigate the Trump administration’s killing of hundreds of VA contracts. Among their concerns: ProPublica revealed DOGE used artificial intelligence to mark contracts as “munchable.”
https://apple.news/AVV8YLyFiT7-rPgiMr2kX9A
They’ve taken away thousands of alternative treatments and programs such as the Suicide Hotline, Acupuncture, Equine Therapy that have proven to help many veterans suffering from battlefield injuries including PTSD/PTS. And they are secretly shutting down specialty clinics such as women’s clinics where women veterans can be seen by female physicians and nurses in an all women environment.
Proves beyond a shadow of a doubt how much Trump despises us and that his Dictator Parade was in fact about him not the Army and its birthday. Despicable cowards! Thank goodness for historical records, memories and karma!
“Thank goodness for historical records, memories and karma!”
JB those are the very things Trump and MAGA are destroying and eliminating through media bans, media/book banning and burning, alternative facts and the daily lies and propaganda they defecate multiple times a day. It’s why they are silencing networks whose journalists question them, suing Judges who rule against them and generally threaten anyone who questions their integrity with lawsuits, imprisonment and even Capital punishment for so called “Treason” which is absolutely rich coming from a POTUS and Party full of law breakers and insurrectionist!
I know Mary, Susan, Anne, Mike- I’m a hateful person for telling it like it is right?
WITH THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL, YOU CAN NOW SPONSOR A BILLIONAIRE OF YOUR CHOOSING
Remember the Adopt a Highway program? This is like that, except not really.
https://apple.news/ALwgkXr3TT0G-LeFEuMDGOA
Let’s all adopt our local millionaire billionaire MAGA donors!
As ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ opens, detention centers quietly expand across the US
https://apple.news/AvjZ51aDrRuyACXj8MsbkWg
Looky there, the Trump/DeDumbass bromance is on again! What do they have in common? The joy of cruelty and being A-holes to people who can’t afford to fight their status as “deportees” and wouldn’t be allowed too if they could. Unlike Mr “Witch Hunt” “Fake News” “delay delay” “judge slandering” Trump who has used billions in campaign contributions to illegally fund his legal representation for his numerous felony crimes he very much committed. Talk about a two tiered justice system! When is Trump getting deported for the violent sexual crimes and financial crimes he stands convicted of? MAGA says “the law is the law” so when are they going to abide by them?
AH, EXACTLY WHAT THE FOUNDERS WANTED!
“Understandably, after almost 250 years, the legislature is tired of being a coequal branch of government and wants to take a nap.”
https://apple.news/Aj2vplmGZQ7KGzKirq-Csvw
Too bad MAGA doesn’t care what happens to our Government, Democracy or Country so long as they make Bigly profits, live in gated communities of McMansions and they don’t have to see or deal with brown and black people, gays, homeless M’erican’s in any way shape or form other than to have them at whim provide services for a fraction of what they would expect to be making if they actually worked for a living. Just like the good ol’ days of….. Slavery, Segregation and complete moronic ignorance. Where pollution was king and workplace safety an insult to the working class ( not the millionaires and billionaires the Big Beautiful Grift of America calls working class, no not those perfumed princesses-the actual workers).
I cannot wait until the Primaries where every time a MAGA Politician Sycophant attempts to campaign they have to answer to pissed off constituents. It’s a gonna get a messy 😂 and they’ve done it to their greedy ignorant selves.
Also looking forward to the investigation into the actual status of our military weapons stockpiles that supposedly are running so low we once again cannot help Ukraine while the Orange Criminal buys time for his bestie Vladimir!
100% JB-
Pete Hegseth refuses to send Ukraine aid despite reports of no impact on US readiness
Pete Hegseth refused to send aid to Ukraine, halting a shipment of munitions despite reports indicating the delivery would not impact U.S. military readiness.
https://www.the-express.com/news/politics/176565/pete-hegseth-ukraine-aid-refusal
Cowards!
DHS & ICE are deporting “all anti semites” who are of color. The white ones especially the current POTUS get a pass because they are wealthy and white anti semite morons.
Trump says he didn’t know an offensive term he used in speech is considered antisemitic https://www.azfamily.com/2025/07/05/trump-says-he-didnt-know-an-offensive-term-he-used-speech-is-considered-antisemitic/
So let’s follow the law MAGA and deport the white anti semite violent sex offender insurrectionist convicted felon POTUS! The law is the law or so MAGA loves to say until it come for them!
Texas Officials Slam Trump’s National Weather Service for Botched Forecast
https://www.thedailybeast.com/texas-officials-slam-donald-trumps-national-weather-service-for-bad-forecast/
This is the exact reason Trump should never have been allowed to run for political office. His spiteful ignorance is literally killing people albeit in San Antonio Tejas, Gaza, Ukraine or Rwanda South Africa and will surely kill many many more people to include Americans who voted for the Corrupt Criminal. He’s shut down every single form of protectional surveillance and disaster response we have at the Federal level in order for King Trump to keep his subjects in line and in the dark when it comes to reality. He’s shut down the Agencies responsible for tracking severe weather and climate change, he’s shutting down FEMA, he shut down VOA and RFL, shut down ALL Agencies tasked with surveilling and tracking Domestic and International Terror Threats, all Intelligence Agencies responsible for tracking threats from Russia have also been shuttered. So when is MAGA going to have an insurrection against the real threat to America- Donald J Trump? The answer is never because in their simplest minds he can do no wrong even when he does do wrong and frequently does so! They don’t care what crimes he may commit so long as he purges the country of the black, brown, Asian and homeless people living in our country.
The flooding in San Antonio is another example of the Climate Change reality that MAGA denies exists so that they can “drill baby drill” without the guilty conscience’s they should have. Sure glad that the sale of Federal Lands for purposes of devastating it forever for profit failed to get on the King’s BBB. Let’s hope it stays that way!
‘JESUS, GUNS & BABIES’
MAGA Congressional Candidate Calls Texas Floods ‘Fake’: It’s ‘Murder’
Kandiss Taylor, who is running for Congress in 2026, insists that someone manipulated the weather.
https://apple.news/A_BiJN_G8TqOSUPhV8EuN5w
This is what you get when you have a government based upon lies, conspiracy, corruption and propaganda. She’s as sick in the head as Majorie “Jewish Space Laser” Trailer Trash Greene. Also reminds me of someone on here who was dead serious when she claimed Chinese Military Battalions were secretly based here inside the US of A awaiting Joe Biden’s loss so they could enact Marshal law on his behalf. As well as those who continue to parrot absurd lies and disinformation about CA or any other Blue/Purple state as if it somehow degrades the truth which has been posted numerous times on here and is easily found with a simpleton Google search. But they refuse and instead except the lies and propaganda being fed them via their foreign backed propaganda apps and podcasts. Very frightening to know that some 50% of Americans believe complete and utter nonsense just because their criminal idol tells them it is so.
‘JESUS, GUNS & BABIES’
MAGA Congressional Candidate Calls Texas Floods ‘Fake’: It’s ‘Murder’
Kandiss Taylor, who is running for Congress in 2026, insists that someone manipulated the weather.