Quick Take
Another round of "No Kings" events is set for Sunday, counterprogramming to a mixed martial arts event on the White House lawn that coincides with President Donald Trump's birthday. Grassroots group Indivisible is encouraging local chapters to gather for a concert livestream, and there will be a Flag Day rally in Felton.
On President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday, millions of people nationwide took to the streets for “No Kings” marches, and June 14, 2025, became one of the largest single days of protest in U.S. history.
Now, a year later, many organizing groups are looking toward smaller, more localized community-building events as a form of protest.
Trump’s birthday falls on Flag Day, and this year in Washington, D.C., there will be simultaneous celebrations of his 80th birthday and the nation’s 250th anniversary in a big bash called UFC Freedom 250. Alongside brand partner Crypto.com, the White House will host mixed martial arts fights this Sunday on the South Lawn.
Since Trump announced his celebratory plans last July, watchdog groups have filed lawsuits attempting to halt the event, citing illegal use of public parkland and a lack of required environmental reviews. Despite this, both the UFC and the Trump administration have continued preparations, and the bouts are slated to go on.
Ezra Levin from the nonprofit organization Indivisible said Trump’s plans are meant to draw attention to himself and away from widespread political dissent.
“But we are not going to give him that birthday present, we’re not going to give him the attention he craves,” Levin said on a Facebook post.
In response, Indivisible and No Kings have teamed up with Jane Fonda and the Committee for the First Amendment for a night of localized organizing throughout the country, calling it a “night to build community.” Sunday’s 90-minute concert event will take place in New York City from 4 to 6 p.m. PDT, and will feature singers such as Rufus Wainwright and Bette Midler.
Local groups are encouraged to watch the event’s livestream and hold watch parties or rallies. Kelly Menehan from Indivisible Santa Cruz County (ISSC) said that although she has not heard of any public watch parties, the chapter is encouraging its members to have gatherings with friends and neighbors.
However, not all Santa Cruz County advocacy groups are choosing to commemorate No Kings in a more intimate fashion. In Felton, Scotts Valley Democracy, Bonny Doon Resist and San Lorenzo Valley Voices of Democracy are banding together to hold a Flag Day rally from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Holley McConnell and Jessica Florence, mothers from Scotts Valley, led the organizing for the rally.
Julia Monahan, a team leader with ISSC, which is supporting the rally, said that it’s meant to be another option for people who want to peacefully protest outside instead of just watching a livestream. She did say, however, that the event is ending before the concert begins, so participants can still watch it if they so choose.
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