On Tuesday, Donald Trump issued a strong warning about the protest plans surrounding a military parade he organized for Saturday in Washington, meant to mark the Army’s 250th anniversary.
He gave no separation between peaceful gatherings and acts of violence, stating that protesters would face what he described as “very big force.”
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Speaking from the Oval Office before traveling to North Carolina for events at Fort Bragg, Trump praised what he described as a spectacular celebration and immediately followed that with a warning. He said anyone planning to protest during the parade would be handled with strict force.
President Issues Threat Against Protesters
In his words, Trump claimed, “For those people that want to protest, they’re going to be met with very big force.” He added that he hadn’t received reports about any upcoming protests yet.
Still, he labeled those who might demonstrate as individuals who hate the country, and insisted they would be handled with severe force.
These statements followed several minutes where he had spoken positively about the large presence of National Guard troops and Marines his administration sent in response to protests that took place in Los Angeles over the weekend. Those protests came after wide-ranging immigration raids launched by federal officials.
Clashes in Los Angeles Draw National Attention
The events in California featured incidents such as cars being set on fire, objects thrown at law enforcement, and thefts from shops, including an Apple store.
Although these events were used by Trump and his team to justify strong military responses, people who supported the protests said most of the actions were peaceful. They argued that violent moments were exaggerated by those aligned with the administration to justify more force.
While addressing the press from the Oval Office, Trump pointed to some of these violent episodes. He then went further by accusing protesters of being “paid insurrectionists,” although he offered no proof.
He also claimed that Los Angeles was “under siege” until federal troops arrived. State officials, many of whom have already spoken against acts of violence, believe Trump’s actions only made the situation more tense.
Peaceful Assembly Blurred with Violence
While speaking about the upcoming parade, Trump did not mention the right to peaceful protest guaranteed by the First Amendment. His comments made no difference between those exercising that right and those who might commit crimes like vandalism.
Across the country, groups have already announced plans to demonstrate on the same day as the parade. That date also happens to be Trump’s 79th birthday.
Progressive organizations are preparing what they’ve called the NO KINGS Nationwide Day of Defiance. Their goal is to change attention away from Trump and speak out against what they describe as corruption and authoritarian-style politics.
