🏜️ No Kings Day: Rising Up Against Authoritarianism in the Borderlands
From Reid Park to Oro Valley, Southern Arizona says ¡Ya basta! to authoritarianism
😽 Keepin’ It Simple Summary for Younger Readers
👧🏾✊🏾👦🏾
Tomorrow, thousands of people across the country are gathering for peaceful protests called "No Kings Day" because they're worried about President Trump acting like he has too much power, kind of like a king 👑 instead of an elected leader.
Here in Tucson, three different groups are organizing rallies and marches to remind everyone that in America, the people are supposed to be in charge of the government, not the other way around.
The protests are happening on the same day as Trump's big military parade 🎖️ in Washington D.C., and organizers want to show that democracy belongs to everyone, not just one person. People are bringing signs, wearing crowns as symbols 👑, and working together to protect the freedoms that make America special 🇺🇸.
🗝️ Takeaways
🏛️ Nearly 2,000 "No Kings Day" protests planned nationwide on June 14th to counter Trump's military parade
🌵 Three major events are scheduled across the Tucson area, including family-friendly rallies and motor marches
⚔️ Protests target authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics, militarization, and civil liberties erosion
🛡️ Safety protocols emphasized for participants, including buddy systems and legal observer contacts
🗳️ Movement aims to reclaim the American flag and democratic values from concentrated power
💪 Borderlands communities drawing on generational resistance experience to fight democratic backsliding
📱 Modern resistance combines digital organizing with traditional protest tactics
🌱 Focus on building sustained movement infrastructure beyond single-day events
No Kings Day: Rising Up Against Authoritarianism in the Borderlands
The saguaros have stood sentinel in this desert for centuries, watching empires rise and fall, witnessing the ebb and flow of power across these ancient lands.
Tomorrow, June 14, 2025, they'll witness something else: thousands of people across the country gathering to tell a would-be king that we don't bow to anyone in this land.
Saturday marks Flag Day, Trump's birthday, and what organizers are calling "No Kings Day"—a perfect storm of symbolism that would make my abuela shake her head and mutter about men who mistake themselves for gods.
How fitting that the man who's turned our democracy into his personal power trip gets to celebrate another year while we gather to remind him that crowns don't belong in republics.
From my home here in the Sonoran Desert borderlands, where the saguaros stand taller than any wannabe dictator's ego, I'm watching as our communities prepare for something that shouldn't have to exist: protests against our own government's slide into authoritarianism.
But here we are, ¿verdad?
The Crown That Never Fit
What's happening tomorrow?
While Trump stages his military parade in D.C.—complete with tanks rolling down Pennsylvania Avenue like some third-world strongman's wet dream—nearly 2,000 protests are planned across the country, everywhere except the nation's capital. The symbolism isn't lost on those of us who've been watching this slow-motion coup unfold since January 20th.
Here in Tucson, three major events are planned, and I'll be honest—part of me is proud as hell that our desert community is stepping up, while another part of me is heartbroken that we have to.
What's Happening in Tucson Tomorrow
Reid Park Bandshell Protest (8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.) The morning kicks off at the Georges DeMeester Performance Center, where families are encouraged to bring signs and wear crowns as symbols of protest. Qué ironía—wearing crowns to protest against a king. The event promises to be family-friendly, which means my sobrina can learn about democracy while Trump learns about resistance.
No Kings Day Motor March (2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.) Starting at Reid Park again, Indivisible and Democracy Unites Us are organizing a caravan-style march through our city. Because sometimes you have to make noise to be heard over the sound of democracy crumbling.
Oro Valley Rally (8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.) Up in Oro Valley, Progressive Democrats of America are hosting a rally at Oracle Road and 1st Avenue. Even our more conservative neighboring communities are saying ¡basta!
Why We March: Understanding the Stakes
The organizers are clear about their goals: reject authoritarianism, oppose billionaire-first politics, resist militarization, defend civil liberties, and reclaim the American flag. But let me translate that into Borderlands Spanish for you:
¡Ya basta!
We're protesting because this administration has been defying court orders, deporting Americans, disappearing people, attacking civil rights, and slashing public services.
Sound familiar? It should—because those of us from families who've lived under authoritarian regimes recognize the playbook.
Our abuelas used to tell stories about strongmen who wrapped themselves in flags while trampling on the people those flags were supposed to represent. She'd shake her head and say, "Mijo, when someone has to tell you how patriotic they are, they're usually the least patriotic person in the room."
The Military Parade: Democracy's Funeral March
Tomorrow's military parade isn't just about celebrating the Army's 250th anniversary—it's about Trump's ego and the dangerous militarization of American democracy. The timing is no coincidence: Flag Day, his birthday, and a massive show of military force all rolled into one narcosugar birthday cake.
This is the same administration that has deployed National Guard and Marines to manage protests, turning our military against our own people. Here in the borderlands, we've seen this movie before—militarization never ends well for communities like ours.
The Borderlands Perspective: We've Seen This Before
Living here in Southern Arizona, where the Tohono O'odham Nation's ancestral lands were carved up by an imaginary line called the U.S.-Mexico border, we have a unique perspective on authoritarianism. We've watched as militarization has turned our sacred desert into a war zone, where Border Patrol agents act like occupying forces in Indigenous communities.
We've seen how "law and order" rhetoric gets weaponized against people who look like us, speak like us, and love this land like us. We know what happens when democratic norms get bulldozed in the name of "national security"—because it's been happening to our communities for generations.
But here's what Trump and his compadres don't understand: resistance is encoded in our DNA. From the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 to the Chicano Movement of the 1960s, from the Indigenous Water Protectors at Standing Rock to the Dreamers defending DACA, we know how to fight back without losing our humanity.
Safety in Solidarity: Protecting Each Other
If you plan to participate tomorrow, please prioritize your safety. Go with people you trust, use the buddy system, and let someone know your plans. Write an emergency contact number on your arm in permanent marker—preferably the local National Lawyers Guild.
Charge your phone fully, turn off face and fingerprint unlock, and use encrypted messaging apps like Signal to communicate. Pack water, snacks, a mask, and any necessary medications. Wear comfortable shoes and stay on the edges of crowds to maintain exit routes.
Most importantly: remain nonviolent and never physically resist police. If approached by law enforcement, keep your hands visible, state clearly that you wish to remain silent, and ask for a lawyer. Document badge numbers and patrol car numbers if it's safe to do so.
The Psychology of Resistance
What I find fascinating—and deeply encouraging—is how this movement is structured. By organizing protests everywhere except Washington D.C., organizers are making a brilliant strategic choice. They're refusing to feed Trump's narcissistic need for attention while demonstrating that democracy doesn't emanate from one man or one city.
The slogan "no thrones, no crowns, no kings" resonates because it taps into something fundamentally American—our rejection of monarchy and hereditary power. But it also resonates with those of us from Indigenous and Chicano communities because we remember what life was like before colonizers brought their kings to our lands.
The Environmental Justice Connection
What often gets overlooked in these discussions is how authoritarianism and environmental destruction go hand in hand. Here in the borderlands, we've watched as this administration has fast-tracked mining permits, rolled back water protections, and prioritized corporate profits over the health of communities like ours.
When power is concentrated in the hands of a few, environmental justice becomes impossible. Kings don't worry about clean water or breathable air for their subjects—they worry about maintaining power and enriching their allies. That's why tomorrow's protests aren't just about democracy; they're about survival.
Digital Age Resistance
In 2025, resistance looks different than it did in my abuelo's time. We're using encrypted apps, livestreaming police misconduct, and coordinating across time zones in real-time. But the fundamentals remain the same: organize, educate, and never give up.
The organizers expect this to be one of the largest coordinated protest actions in recent years, with live coverage starting at 10 a.m. ET. Social media will be flooded with images of ordinary Americans saying "¡Ya basta!" to authoritarianism.
Looking Forward: The Long Game
Here's what gives me hope: tomorrow's protests aren't just about expressing anger—they're about building sustained resistance. The organizations coordinating these events—Indivisible, Democracy Unites Us, Progressive Democrats of America—aren't going anywhere after June 15th.
They're building infrastructure for the long fight ahead. Because let's be honest: this isn't ending with one day of protests. Authoritarianism is like quelite—you have to keep pulling it up by the roots or it spreads everywhere.
The Power of Showing Up
In Indigenous traditions, showing up is a sacred act. When we gather in ceremony, we're not just going through motions—we're affirming our connections to each other and to the land. Tomorrow's protests have that same sacred quality. We're not just holding signs; we're holding space for democracy.
Every person who shows up tomorrow is saying that our democracy—flawed as it is—is worth fighting for. Every family that brings their children is planting seeds of resistance that will bloom for generations. Every elder who shares their wisdom is passing down the tools we'll need for the battles ahead.
Hope in the Resistance
Órale, I won't lie to you—sometimes the weight of this moment feels overwhelming. But then I remember that resistance is as old as oppression, and hope is as persistent as desert wildflowers after rain.
Tomorrow, when thousands of us gather across the country, we'll be part of a tradition that stretches back to the first people who looked at power and said "no." We'll be connected to the water protectors, the farmworkers, the dreamers, and all the people who understood that democracy isn't a spectator sport.
How to Get Involved Beyond Tomorrow
Showing up tomorrow is just the beginning. Here's how to stay engaged:
Connect with local organizations: Indivisible Tucson, Democracy Unites Us, and Progressive Democrats of America are always looking for volunteers
Support independent media: Subscribe to progressive outlets that tell the stories mainstream media ignores
Stay informed: Follow Three Sonorans Substack for ongoing coverage of resistance in the borderlands and beyond
Practice community care: Check on your neighbors, especially those most vulnerable to authoritarian policies
Vote in every election: From school board to city council to Congress—every election matters
Share your story: Your voice and experience matter in this fight
The path forward isn't easy, but it's clear: we organize, we resist, and we never stop believing that another world is possible. Tomorrow, we remind a would-be king that this land belongs to all of us—from the Tohono O'odham Nation to the newest Americans still learning English, from the farmworkers in our fields to the students in our universities.
¡Sí se puede! Yes, we can build the democracy we deserve. Yes, we can resist authoritarianism. And yes, we can do it while keeping our humanity intact.
See you in the streets, hermanos y hermanas. See you in the resistance.
Three Sonorans is an independent voice from the borderlands of Southern Arizona, covering the intersection of Indigenous rights, environmental justice, and democratic resistance. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our Substack and help us continue telling the stories that matter.
What did you think of this piece? Drop a comment below and let me know:
What does democracy mean to you in your daily life?
How can we build sustained resistance in our communities beyond single protest events?
Have a scoop or a story you want us to follow up on? Send us a message!
Tomorrow we rise up! Ya basta! We expect 1500-2000 in our little town of 7,000. April 5 we had nearly 1500; tomorrow we’ll beat that! Thank you for this super informative and inspiring post, Three Sonorans.💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾✌️🫶🏽
Thank you for this helpful overview