Photo courtesy of Rep. Don Beyer
A huge crowd turned out Saturday for the No Kings Rally in Alexandria.
Raising American flags and homemade signs against President Trump, Elon Musk, ICE and more, Alexandrians turned out en masse Saturday afternoon, June 14, on a hot and humid day for the planned "No Kings" rally demonstration in Old Town Alexandria's Market Square.
The protest, one of about 2,000 planned Saturday across the country, was a counterpoint to President Trump's military parade planned across the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. on the same day as the president's birthday.
The demonstrations, organized by an extensive list of progressive organizations including the ACLU, Indivisible and the Service Employees International Union, are dubbed “No Kings” protests, aiming to highlight Americans’ resistance to the Trump administration, Politico reported.
Image from video posted by Patty Nice via X.
A crowd gathers Saturday at Market Square in Alexandria, Va.
Rep. Don Beyer, who represents Alexandria in Congress, said on X, formerly Twitter: “To those of you across the country that are exercising your first amendment rights this weekend, be safe out there. Take care of each other, drink water and remember: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
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“Trump is acting like a king who uses the military as his palace guard," Virginia Sen. Kaine posted to social media. "I will challenge this in the Senate — will a single Republican stand up against politicization of the military?”
The day was also a time to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, an Old Town Alexandria resident, posted video on his social media Saturday: “Today, we celebrate and honor 250 years of the U.S. Army — the strongest in the world. Thank you to all who have served and sacrificed so much for our nation.”
“Great to be with some of the people making their voices heard across the country today! We will keep peacefully protesting this administration’s unlawful actions!”
Image courtesy of Sen. Mark Warner via X
Sen. Mark Warner stops to meet with constituents who are taking part in a No Kings Rally Saturday in Fairfax County.
Speaking on X, formerly Twitter, from his car, Warner said:
“I was coming up Braddock Road here in Fairfax County headed back to Alexandria and stopped the car and got out and got with folks spending a hot Saturday afternoon standing up for American democracy. When we all stand up and we all speak out, we make a difference.
Coming back from a great town hall in Charlottesville, we’ve seen a number of the No Kings rallies, saying in America, we honor the constitution, not any president.”
The rallies and military parade capped off a week of unrest — including ICE raids and the National Guard being deployed to Los Angeles — that included the fatal shooting in the early morning hours Saturday of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband. Another state lawmaker and his spouse were also shot and wounded.
Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, a resident of Alexandria in Fairfax County, issued a statement about the shooting on Saturday:
"I am horrified by the senseless acts of political violence that claimed the life of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and left State Senator John Hoffman and his wife fighting for their lives. These attacks strike at the heart of our democracy itself.
None of us who run for public office sign up for this. We sign up to serve our communities, to debate policy, and to work on behalf of our constituents – not to have our lives and our families threatened by political extremists. Representative Hortman dedicated over two decades to public service, and her loss is felt by all who believe in the power of democracy.
Political violence has no place in America. When elected officials are targeted simply for doing their jobs, it threatens every person who chooses to serve and undermines the peaceful democratic process that defines our nation.
As the manhunt continues, I commend Minnesota law enforcement and federal authorities for their swift response. The Virginia Senate stands in solidarity with our Minnesota colleagues and commits to supporting efforts to protect all elected officials from political violence.
We cannot allow acts of terrorism to weaken our resolve. We will continue serving our constituents with courage, even as we take necessary precautions for our safety and that of our families.
It's also critical that leaders at all levels tone down their rhetoric. The heated, divisive language that has become too common in our political discourse contributes to an environment where violence seems acceptable to some. We must all do better. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Hortman and Hoffman families during this unimaginably difficult time.”
