(Editor’s note: This story was updated June 11 with protest events that occurred this week and information on the U.S. Army celebration being held here.)
This Saturday, Philadelphia will host one of the largest anti-Trump protests in the country as part of the “No Kings” project, with hundreds of protests expected nationwide.
The events will occur on the same day that President Trump and Washington, D.C., will be hosting a huge military parade to celebrate the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary. Saturday is also the President’s 79th birthday and Flag Day.
The event appeared likely to be the largest protest action of President Trump’s second term even before the calling up of National Guard forces and U.S. Marines to quell protests in Los Angeles ratcheted up tensions.
Where will the protest happen? How long will it last? How will it affect travel around town? Good questions. Here’s what we know now. The situation is fluid, and Billy Penn will update the information here as more is known.
Who is organizing the ‘No Kings’ protests?
The “No Kings” pro-democracy movement is built around the idea that there are no unilateral “kings” in America, and the schedule of protests are the result of more than 100 organizations representing political activists, human rights groups, teachers, unions and others.
Among the contributors: Indivisible, American Federation of Teachers, American Civil Liberties Union, Public Citizen, MoveOn, 50501, Stand Up America, Common Defense, Human Rights Campaign, League of Conservation Voters, and many others. As of Tuesday afternoon, the organizers claimed that there would be more than 1,800 actions across the country on June 14.
When will the ‘No Kings’ rally occur?
The protest is scheduled to begin at noon at LOVE Park in JFK Plaza and will run until 3 p.m. At 12:30 p.m., the group will march down Ben Franklin Parkway toward the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Once there, speakers will address the crowd and rally support.
Organized by Indivisible and other activist groups, the June 14 Philadelphia protest takes exception with what the group calls “increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption” by the Trump Administration.
There will not be a “No Kings” event in D.C. Instead, organizers are encouraging protesters to go to Philly for a “major flagship” of the nationwide movement. That is expected to swell the crowd here. For context, the 2017 Women’s March in Philadelphia drew an estimated 50,000 marchers.
What’s being done to keep the event safe?
Organizers of the event have said nonviolent protest is core to their mission. They and faith leaders have been calling all week for participants to engage peacefully.
Mayor Cherelle Parker spoke Thursday at City Hall, emphasizing that the city was prepared for the event, which organizers say could approach 100,000 participants.
“We respect everyone’s First Amendment rights to protest and free speech,” she said, “but we want to be equally clear: The Philadelphia Police Department will maintain public safety and order in our streets and our neighborhoods because that’s their mission.”
The event comes after a week with several gatherings across the city, mostly in protest of immigration policy, including one Tuesday evening that ended in an altercation between police and protesters. In the end, 15 protesters were arrested and four people — two protesters and two police officers suffered injuries.
Ever since President Trump ordered California National Guard and U.S. Marines to support police efforts in Los Angeles earlier this week, there had been some concern that he might do the same in Philadelphia, as organizers of the event have termed this the “flagship” event nationally.
Trump’s order has been the subject of several court rulings this week, and he has not issued orders to send troops to any other cities or states. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has said he will take the administration to court if it were to do something similar in Pennsylvania.
What roads will be closed for the protest?
According to the City of Philadelphia, Eakins Oval and Kelly Drive (inbound from Fairmount Avenue) will be closed to traffic starting at 3 a.m. Saturday. The current expectation is that these roads will reopen by 5 p.m. that day.
By noon, marchers will begin gathering near LOVE Park, and the nearby area will be shut down between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Once the march kicks off around 12:30 p.m., the entire length of Ben Franklin Parkway from 18th Street to Eakins Oval will be closed to traffic. All cross streets along the route will also be closed through at least 2:30 p.m.
The rally at the art museum will result in additional road closures in the surrounding area depending on crowd size.
The Ben Franklin Parkway, portions of Spring Garden Street, Kelly Drive and the inbound Spring Garden Street Bridge will be closed from 11:30 a.m. to at least 5 p.m.
Drivers should expect additional closures or delays throughout the day depending on turnout and public safety needs. Streets will reopen as the crowd disperses and city crews clear the area.
How will SEPTA be affected?
While avoiding the traffic by using public transportation may sound convenient, it may be more difficult than it sounds Saturday.
SEPTA bus routes traveling through the Museum of Art area will be detoured starting at 3 a.m. Saturday.
Changes to train, subway and trolley schedules have not been posted; however, any updates will be posted on SEPTA’s System Status Page and @SEPTA on X.
And while we have your attention, SEPTA’s summer schedule kicks in on Sunday, June 15, and includes changes to how it identifies many bus and rail lines.
What might the protest look like?
While the protest follows a week of anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles that were followed by Trump deploying U.S. Marines and National Guard troops to L.A., organizers say that a foundation of the protest is a commitment to nonviolence. Past protests by the same organizers in Philadelphia, some during the first Trump Administration, have been peaceful.
Once protesters arrive at the PMA, speeches will be given by community leaders and organizers, including:
- Bishop William J. Barber, Co-Chair, Poor People’s Campaign
- Leah Greenberg & Ezra Levin, the co-executive directors of Indivisible
- Martin Luther King III
- Representative Jamie Raskin (MD-8)
- Mike Lee, President, American Civil Liberties Union PA
- Anu Joshi, Campaigns Director, American Civil Liberties Union
- Rob Weissman and Lisa Gilbert, Co-Presidents, Public Citizen
- Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers
- Lorella Praeli, Co-President, Community Change
- Ruwa Romman, Georgia House of Representatives
- Art Steinberg, President, Philadelphia Federation of Teachers
- Wendy Strout, Deputy Director, Human Rights Campaign
June 14’s program will start for some with protest “pre-games” at SEPTA rail stations in Lansdale and Norristown, in Montgomery County. Those events will begin at 9:30 a.m. and run until 10:30 a.m., when groups plan to depart for the protest.
Have there been other protests in Philly?
The past week has seen an increase in protests of a variety of issues related to the Trump Administration’s actions here in Philadelphia.
On Monday, members of Philly’s labor unions gathered in front of Independence Hall to protest raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the recent arrest of union leader David Huerta.
On Tuesday, 15 protesters were arrested and four people were treated for minor injuries in clashes with police during a march on Market Street. That group of about 200 people were protesting Trump’s immigration policy and demanding the release of detainees. They had started their protest at the Federal Department of Corrections at 7th and Arch streets.
What’s this about an Army celebration in Philly? I thought it was a D.C. thing?
The largest event is in Washington, D.C., but Philadelphia is hosting a three-day celebration to mark the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army as well. The events will run June 13–15 in and around Independence Mall. The free festivities are organized by the Penn & Franklin Chapter of the Association of the United States Army and will include public ceremonies, exhibits and performances.
Expect street closures and traffic disruptions, especially over the weekend. Key road closures begin Thursday for setup, and expand Saturday and Sunday.
The following streets will be closed beginning at 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Saturday:
- Market Street between 4th Street and 6th Street
- Chestnut Street between 5th Street and 6th Street
- Arch Street between 4th Street and 6th Street
- Ranstead Street between 4th Street and 5th Street
- 6th Street between Race Street and Chestnut Street
- 5th Street between Race Street and Chestnut Street
These streets will be closed beginning at 6 a.m. until about 2 p.m. on Sunday:
- 2nd Street between Filbert Street and Chestnut Street
- 5th Street between Chestnut Street and Walnut Street
- 6th Street between Chestnut Street and Spruce Street
- Chestnut Street between 2nd Street and 6th Street
- Walnut Street between 5th Street and 6th Street
Parking restrictions will be enforced, and vehicles in “No Parking” zones will be towed.
SEPTA buses in the area will be detoured starting early Saturday morning. Riders can check detour info at septa.org or @SEPTA on X.
Police and emergency services will be on-site throughout the weekend. Attendees are encouraged to plan ahead, travel by transit, dress for the weather, and avoid bringing large bags. For more details and the full event schedule, visit ausa.org/goarmy250.
To get traffic and safety updates by text, sign up by texting ReadyPhila to 888-777.
