By Elijah Qualls
AFRO Intern
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is preparating for protests set to take place across the country on June 14, the same day as the 47th president’s military parade. Despite facing significant pushback from veterans and citizens alike, the parade, which coincides with the president’s birthday, will travel along the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
AFT held a webinar on June 10, led by the union’s president, Randi Weingarten, where she shared about their “No Kings Day” mass protest. Many prolific figures were guest speakers at the webinar such as civil rights and social justice activist, Rev. Al Sharpton, and Co-executive Director of grassroots movement, Indivisible, Leah Greenberg. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear also spoke. The three, alongside Weingarten, explained why all Americans should be concerned about what is being called Trump’s “birthday parade.”
“This country is about the people—not about kings. The power derives from us,” Weingarten said in her opening remarks. “Democracy is not a crown handed down from above, but a collective project that we all share responsibility for.”
The name of their nationwide protest, “No Kings Day” is a direct message to Trump: the nation will not sit idly by while he dismantles fundamental federal agencies and institutions, targets certain communities with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and rolls back equity, diversity and inclusion efforts.The movement was reported on June 10 by Greenberg to have over 1,800 different protest locations, but the number is expected to climb to 1,900 by June 14.
Rev. Al Sharpton used his time to emphasize that Americans must put their distinctions aside because differences are what the current presidential administration is using to pit like minded individuals against one another.
“The threat to democracy is a threat to all of us,” he said, during the stream. “It’s important that we embrace publicly that we don’t have to agree on everything…we agree on democracy.”
The speakers also iterated that peaceful protest is imperative. A nonviolent movement has the heaviest impact when done as a united front. Violent actions will only be reciprocated. Peace and restraint indicate that the masses are not okay with the status quo, and they will not stand for blatant violations of their rights afforded to them by the Constitution.
“Their power is much more brittle than they would like you to believe,” Leah Greenberg said. “If we collectively expose that lie for what it is, then we’re going to be in a completely different position and they are not going to be able to get away with the things that they are trying to do.”
AFT is having more informational sessions about safe and efficient mobilization, and even a special session informing veterans and military families about their important role on June 14. Information about their future sessions and mobilization proceedings can be found on their website.