OPINION: No Kings Protest Spotlights Democracy
Marchers brave summer heat in downtown Joshua Tree to make good trouble
It felt like a festival spread along the four corners of Hwy 62 and Park Boulevard in Joshua Tree on Saturday. Around 500 peaceful and impassioned protesters showed up (it was hard to keep count because people milled around so much) with funny, irreverent, and profane signs to take part part in a nationwide “No Kings” protest organized by the 50501 Movement. The protests coincided with the administration’s planned military parade in Washington, D.C., celebrating the Army’s 250th anniversary and the president’s birthday.
“No Kings” aimed to shift the spotlight from what organizers call a “wasteful, un-American birthday parade” to the power of everyday citizens. With protests in nearly 2,000 communities nationwide—though none in D.C.—the flagship rally in Philadelphia underscored a message many here in the Basin echoed: America is not a monarchy, and democracy demands participation.
The Desert Trumpet spoke to U.S. Army veteran Bob C., who said he served in Vietnam. “I was Infantry. I did not fight so Trump could pull this shit. Things have gotten a lot harder at the VA for me this year.”
Protest signs from the street. (Video: Kat Talley-Jones)
When sharing the Desert Trumpet video of the protest on Blue Sky, T. Guzman wrote, “Joshua Tree is very much in the heart of Trump Country. So the turn out today is really something.” And, contrary to suspicions highlighted on local social media, none of the dancers, singers, kids spraying hot folks with water bottles, or giant papier-mâché pig carriers the Desert Trumpet spoke to reported having been paid to be there.
Why Now?
Although the June 14 protest has been in the works for months, recent immigration raids, mass arrests, and federal military deployment in Los Angeles gave urgency to the protest. Despite the “go back to LA” slogan seen locally on bumper stickers and T-shirts, many Morongo Basin residents have strong ties to the LA area: many of us grew up there, work remotely for LA businesses, and have friends and family throughout the region.
On Monday, June 9, locals captured videos of Marines from 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division in Twentynine Palms base to protect "federal personnel and federal property." They have been trained in "de-escalation, crowd control and standing rules for the use of force," the Northern Command said in a statement. Reports say that they are in place around the federal building in Westwood.
Marine Corps veteran Tanya S., who served in Afghanistan, said she showed up because “I am beyond angry that Marines were deployed in America, in Los Angeles. The military shouldn’t be used to celebrate the president’s birthday or on city streets. I’m furious.”
Demonstrators in Los Angeles faced tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bangs as ICE agents, backed by federal troops, detained dozens—including Service Employees International Union (SEIU) leader David Huerta—and separated families. Many Californian’s reacted in shock as U.S. Senator Alex Padilla was assaulted by FBI agents present at a press conference held by Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem.
In Joshua Tree, people gathered from across the Morongo Basin to make their voices heard. They met friends, made new friends—and shared tips for staying cool in the 90+ degree heat, spraying each other with misters and giving away water bottles and salty snacks. They met candidates who hope to unseat Congressional Jay Obernolte and mourned state representatives slain in Minnesota. And once the thermometer on the library hit 96 degrees around 11 am, they left to cool off and take naps or for the many other musical, art and community activities taking place across the Basin—including the Juneteenth celebration in Twentynine Palms.
Something lingered in the air besides heat: a shared sense of purpose. The No Kings action was more than a reaction to distant headlines; it was a reminder that this desert outpost is part of a much larger story. Whether folks came to make noise, bear witness, or just be in community, they left knowing they were not alone. In the Morongo Basin, resistance wears many hats—sometimes straw ones—and it knows how to pass the chips, refill the water jug, and still hold the line.
What’s Next?
Protests like the No Kings march may seem like one-off feelgood events, but they give heart to the marchers gathered with people like—and unlike—themselves to take further civic action. They give courage to local, state, and national legislators to stand up and push back. And they remind those in opposition that there are hundreds, thousands, and millions of people in their communities who will speak their truths. As writer and activist Rebecca Solnit said of the No Kings marches nationwide: “The right of the people peaceably to assemble was beautifully exercised across the land.”
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Thanks for this coverage. I am so proud to be a part of the Joshua Tree resistance!
Thank you for the thoughtful and complete summary of this memorable day in our community.