Anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ rally in Merced draws largest protest crowd in decades
Hundreds of people lined both sides of M Street for four blocks, taking part in the largest protest gathering in Merced in decades for Saturday’s anti-Trump “No Kings” protest.
The peaceful crowd stretched from 19th Street to the Merced County Administration Building with many protesters raising signs and reacting when vehicles honked as they passed.
“It’s very encouraging, democracy is not a spectator sport,” said Henry Ildefonzo of Merced. “You have to be involved, it’s our civic duty. To see this today is pretty awesome. People are standing up for themselves and others. We all should because if it’s affecting one of us, it’s affecting all of us.”
The “No Kings” demonstration was one of many held at cities across California and the United States on Saturday to protest President Donald Trump and his administration’s policies.
The protests took place on the same day that Trump’s administration staged a massive military parade in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday. The lavish event coincides with Trump’s 79th birthday.
The U.S. Army’s Grand Military Parade featured approximately 6,600 soldiers, 150 military vehicles and 50 helicopters, The Associated Press reported.
Critics have questioned Trump’s decision to throw an expensive military parade at a time when service members, veterans and their families are being affected by cuts to federal programs and services.
Organizers describe No Kings as a “nationwide day of defiance.”
“On June 14—Flag Day—President Trump wants tanks in the street and a made-for-TV display of dominance for his birthday,” organizers wrote at nokings.org. “A spectacle meant to look like strength. But real power isn’t staged in Washington. It rises up everywhere else.”
Some of the signs held during the protest in Merced read:
▪ “The constitution is not a suggestion”
▪ “Make America Sane Again”
▪ “Orange lies matter”
▪ “Not a paid protester. I hate Trump for free.”
Many people waved American, Mexican, Rainbow and California flags..
“If the Republicans in Congress would stand up for the Constitution and not be afraid of losing their power this would all be over,” said Merced resident Harlan Dake. “I was interested to see how many people are truly interested in this and are really concerned about what’s going on. The military swears allegiance to the Constitution and not to the president of the United States, and the president, he swore allegiance to the Constitution. Is he following the Constitution? ... He surely is not.”
There were chants of “Impeach Trump” and “No Kings” throughout the protest, which started just before 10 a.m. and lasted a few hours.
Members of the group Indivisible Merced were on hand to help organize the protest.
“I feel a lot of people feel concerned about the direction of our country,” said Ron Cook, who is an Indivisible Merced member. “The United States is a democracy based upon a constitution. Since the revolution we have not been ruled by kings and presidential proclamations are not laws.”
There was an inflatable Trump pinata hanging from a tree in the Courthouse Park.
There were a few Trump supporters who drove by waving an “Make America Great Again” sign. One Trump supporter walked among the crowd with a sign that read, “Trump Loves American. Ice, Ice, baby.”
However, there didn’t appear to be any incidents during the protests. The crowd didn’t block traffic on M Street, only as some protesters crossed the street. City of Merced spokesperson Jennifer Flachman said the Merced Police Department reported the protest was “all peaceful.”
There were no issues or arrests and the crowd had mostly dispersed by 2 p.m.
“I felt it was important to come out today because there are so many people that are unable to speak out and they are in fear and terror,” said Camilla, a protester who didn’t want to give her last name. “This is how us as youth can bring awareness, because we’re the future of this country.”
This story was originally published June 14, 2025 at 3:05 PM.
