SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 14: Protesters attend the 'No Kings' rally in San Diego, California on Saturday, June 14, 2025, on the same day as President Trump's military parade in Washington, DC. In response to the military parade celebrating the 250th anniversary of the US Army but also coinciding with Trump's 79th birthday, a 'No Kings' movement has sprung up promising to stage protests in more than 2,000 places across the country. In San Diego County, California the police estimate that over 20,000 people marched in protest of Trump. (Photo by Carlos A. Moreno/Anadolu via Getty Images)
San Diego, California – More than a dozen “No Kings” protests are set to take place across San Diego County on Saturday, joining a nationwide wave of demonstrations expected to draw millions. Organizers say the movement is a defense of democracy and free speech. Critics — including several conservative lawmakers — have denounced it as “anti-American.”
The largest gatherings are expected downtown, where three events are planned between 9:30 a.m. and noon. The two main marches will start at Civic Center Plaza and Waterfront Park, eventually converging for a two-mile loop along North Harbor Drive to West Harbor Drive before returning to Waterfront Park at Ash Street.
Organizers told NBC News they expect national turnout to exceed the estimated five million demonstrators who joined June’s “No Kings” marches — events that coincided with President Donald Trump’s birthday and a military parade in Washington, D.C.
Saturday’s protests come amid heightened tensions between the White House and demonstrators in several cities. Since June, Trump has deployed National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., and Memphis, while efforts to send forces to Chicago and Portland have been blocked by federal courts.
Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will be at Camp Pendleton for a separate event commemorating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps, adding a layer of political symbolism to a weekend already defined by competing visions of patriotism.
“No Kings” organizers have described the protests as a rejection of authoritarianism — and of the idea that political loyalty should center on any one leader. In the weeks leading up to the marches, they’ve held virtual safety trainings in partnership with the American Civil Liberties Union, which is listed as an official partner on the group’s website. Each protest site has its own safety plan, including designated medics and emergency meeting points.
The last round of “No Kings” demonstrations drew tens of thousands to downtown San Diego. Crowds reportedly reached 60,000 people when marches converged in front of the county administration building at Waterfront Park.
Police and city officials are warning drivers to expect road closures downtown but say the smaller neighborhood protests — in places like La Jolla, Chula Vista, Mira Mesa, and Rancho Bernardo — are planned for sidewalks and parks.
While the movement’s tone has varied from celebratory to defiant, the message remains consistent: dissent, its leaders argue, is not unpatriotic.
