Tag: political messaging

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, UNITED STATES – JUNE 14: Thousands of demonstrators gathered at Daley Plaza, holding up signs and vocalizing slogans as they participated in a large march across downtown Chicago on June 14 to voice their opposition to the policies of President Donald Trump’s administration on ‘No Kings’ Day national protest.(Photo by Jacek Boczarski /Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) (Photo by Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Today, June 14, 2025, marks a symbolic and deeply contested moment in American political life. What should have been a celebration of national unity and civic pride—the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and Flag Day—has instead become a flashpoint for ideological division and widespread protest. In Washington, D.C., former President Donald Trump presided over a lavish and heavily militarized parade, coinciding with his 79th birthday, a convergence of personal and national milestones that critics say dangerously conflates the state with one man’s cult of personality (Wise and Lonsdorf 2025).

The military parade included over 7,000 troops, armored tanks, fighter jets, and even vintage WWII aircraft rumbling down Constitution Avenue, where an 18-mile security perimeter cordoned off large swaths of the city (Associated Press, 2025; Times of India, 2025). The estimated cost of the spectacle—between $25 and $45 million—was shouldered by a combination of government funds and undisclosed private donations (The Sun, 2025). Trump’s speech delivered at the opening of the parade was infused with nationalist rhetoric, invoking military obedience, patriotism, and “loyalty above politics.” Conspicuously absent was any mention of democratic norms, freedom of the press, or checks and balances. In this omission, critics say, lies the deeper threat of the parade: not simply the flaunting of military might, but the implicit message that personal rule and military force are superior to democratic deliberation.

This view has been sharply contested across the nation today through an estimated 2,000 protests organized under the banner of “No Kings Day” (Archie, 2025). These grassroots actions, held in nearly every state, serve as a counter-narrative to the parade’s pageantry. Demonstrators gathered in city parks, college campuses, public squares, and outside federal buildings to denounce what they see as a creeping authoritarianism that seeks to replace public service with personal loyalty, and democratic power with centralized control. As one protest sign read in Boston, “Democracy doesn’t need tanks. It needs voters.”

According to NPR’s reporting, “No Kings Day” is more than a single-day action—it is part of an ongoing movement rooted in civic resistance to the iconography of authoritarianism (Wise and Lonsdorf 2025). Protestors cite not only the militarization of public spaces, but also the Trump-era erosion of institutional norms: court-stacking, attacks on journalists, politicization of the Department of Justice, and the increasing normalization of dehumanizing rhetoric toward immigrants and political opponents. As one organizer in Chicago explained, “This is not about left or right. It’s about the line between democracy and dictatorship.”

In Seattle, protestors formed a human chain around the local federal courthouse. In Austin, a group of veterans read aloud passages from the Constitution in front of the state capitol. In New York, an interfaith coalition gathered at Riverside Church to pray for the resilience of American democracy. Many rallies included signs bearing slogans like “No Throne in the White House” and “The Republic, Not the Emperor.”

The irony of staging a military parade ostensibly to celebrate freedom while thousands gather to protest against perceived tyranny was not lost on foreign observers. Le Monde in France called the day “a surreal juxtaposition of liberty and submission.” German outlets compared the parade to historical shows of power under monarchies and fascist regimes. And in Canada, the phrase “No Kings” trended across social media, boosted by solidarity rallies in Toronto and Vancouver.

The optics of the parade—and its timing—are particularly provocative. According to NPR (Wise and Lonsdorf 2025), the event was initially pitched by Trump’s advisors as a “celebration of American greatness,” but it quickly evolved into what one anonymous source described as “theatrical power projection.” Though the Army’s 250th anniversary offers a legitimate historical milestone, critics argue that wrapping it around Trump’s personal brand diminishes the institution’s apolitical legacy. “This isn’t about honoring the military,” said Dr. Nathaniel Cortez, a historian of civil-military relations. “It’s about co-opting the military to serve political theater.”

In the past, presidential celebrations of the military have been framed by humility and respect for civilian oversight. Trump’s approach, however, recalls more disturbing precedents: Charles de Gaulle’s Bastille Day parade in 1968 during a political crisis, or the Soviet-style parades of Red Square. Such displays function as political pageants designed to link the identity of the leader to the strength of the state. That is precisely what many Americans protested against today.

Moreover, the fusion of military ritual with personal celebration—Trump’s birthday being the secondary justification for the date—signals a transformation of public commemoration into an extension of personal mythology. The implication is subtle but sinister: that the nation’s power flows not from the people but from the person who commands the spectacle. As NPR (Wise and Lonsdorf 2025) noted, the parade’s symbolism mirrors that of dynastic traditions where leaders mark their rule not through elections, but through choreographed shows of loyalty and grandeur.

Even Trump’s defenders have struggled to explain why a peacetime display of this magnitude is necessary, especially given its cost. Some Republican lawmakers voiced quiet discomfort but avoided public criticism. Others leaned into the cultural symbolism, echoing Trump’s call for “patriotic renewal.” In contrast, Democratic leaders have been blunt in their condemnation. Senator Ayanna Hartsfield (D-MA) called the parade “an absurd coronation fantasy that has no place in a constitutional republic.”

In this broader context, “No Kings Day” is not simply a reaction to a parade. It is a demand for clarity about what kind of country the United States aspires to be. The protestors are asking fundamental questions: Does patriotism require submission to military power, or is it best expressed through dissent? Is democracy sustained by displays of force, or by critical, engaged citizenship? Who ultimately holds the power—the people or the personalities?

By evening, as the sun set over the National Mall and the last aircraft flew over the Lincoln Memorial, the contrast between the military’s rumble and the people’s chants could not have been more distinct. One was loud, orchestrated, and state-sanctioned. The other was messy, diverse, and democratic.

It is easy to become desensitized to the spectacle. But moments like this one call for vigilance. Authoritarianism rarely arrives at once. It comes in increments—in normalization, in silence, in distraction. Today, many Americans refused to be silent or distracted. Instead, they marched, spoke, resisted, and insisted: there are no kings here.

References

Archie, A. (2025, June 14). ‘No Kings’ protests against Trump planned nationwide to coincide with military parade. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2025/06/14/nx-s1-5432708/no-kings-protests-military-parade

Associated Press. (2025, June 14). The Army is set to celebrate 250 years with a parade that coincides with Trump’s birthday. https://apnews.com/article/4cca4da0e89908d39c820240744375a1

Bauer, J. (2025, June 13). Major ‘No Kings Day’ protest brewing. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2025/06/13/major-no-kings-day-protest-brewing-amid-military-parade-plans/

The Cut. (2025, June 14). What to Know About ‘No Kings Day’. https://www.thecut.com/article/no-kings-day-protests-what-to-know.html

The Sun. (2025, June 14). Trump parade LIVE: Crowds begin to gather in Washington DC. https://www.the-sun.com/news/14479749/donald-trump-us-army-parade-birthday-live/

Times of India. (2025, June 14). Donald Trump’s 79th birthday: Washington to host US Army parade and celebrations on June 14. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/donald-trumps-79th-birthday-washington-to-host-us-army-parade-and-celebrations-on-june-14/articleshow/110044218.cms

Washington Post. (2025, June 13). ‘No Kings’ protests nationwide to push back on Trump’s ‘overreach’. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/06/13/no-kings-protest-anti-trump-army-parade/

Wise, A. & Lonsdorf, K. (2025, June 14). Trump marks Army anniversary and birthday with military parade in D.C. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2025/06/14/nx-s1-5429660/military-parade-trump-army-anniversary-birthday

The History of the Word “Woke” and Its Evolution in Modern Discourse

By Katherine Walter

On November 27, 2024

In BIPOC rights

The term “woke” has undergone significant transformation over time, evolving from a phrase in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) to a charged political label. While its origins in Black activism symbolized awareness of racial and social injustice, the term has been redefined and weaponized in contemporary discourse. From its early roots to its current political implications, the history of “woke” reveals much about the changing landscape of social justice movements and the polarized debates surrounding them.

Origins: The Emergence of “Woke” in Black Activism

“Woke” originally emerged within African American Vernacular English (AAVE), where it referred to being awake or aware, particularly regarding social and racial issues. The term dates back to the 1940s, with early uses such as in the 1942 New York Times article that advised readers to “stay woke” in reference to racial inequalities (NPR, 2024). The phrase’s true significance, however, began to take root during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s when Black activists embraced the term as part of their struggle for racial justice.

To be “woke” was to be conscious of the societal forces that perpetuated racial oppression, and it was a call to action for those who sought to dismantle these systems. It wasn’t merely about awareness but also about staying vigilant in the fight against injustice, whether it was through activism, community engagement, or policy reform.

The Expansion of “Woke” in the 21st Century

The term gained broader recognition in the early 2000s, especially with the rise of social media and its role in organizing movements like Black Lives Matter (BLM). As movements addressing racial inequality, police violence, and systemic oppression grew in prominence, “woke” became synonymous with activism and social consciousness in progressive circles.

“Woke” signified a heightened awareness of not just racial inequality but also other social justice issues such as gender inequality, LGBTQ+ rights, and economic injustice. In this context, the term emphasized a holistic understanding of oppression, recognizing that issues like class, race, and gender were interconnected and demanded intersectional approaches (NPR, 2023). Progressives began using “woke” to encourage others to be conscious of these societal issues and to fight for equality and justice.

Political Weaponization of “Woke”

As “woke” entered the political mainstream, it began to take on a more contentious meaning. Conservative figures began using the term pejoratively to criticize what they viewed as overreach by progressive movements. This shift was particularly evident in the rhetoric of politicians like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who criticized the rise of “woke” ideologies in his campaign against “woke culture” (NPR, 2023). DeSantis, in particular, has positioned himself as a champion against what he frames as the excesses of “wokeism,” often linking it to a supposed threat to traditional values, free speech, and American institutions (Mother Jones, 2023).

The term “woke” was increasingly used by the right to describe policies and initiatives promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in public institutions, particularly in government and the military (NPR, 2024). In this context, conservatives, including figures like Pete Hegseth, argued that such initiatives were an unnecessary imposition on American values, framing “woke” as an unwelcome force in sectors like the Department of Defense (NPR, 2024).

Conservative critiques of “woke” culture have often focused on identity politics, claiming that it fosters division and undermines meritocracy. They argue that “woke” politics prioritizes group identities over individual achievement and promotes a divisive narrative that stifles free expression. For many on the right, “woke” culture represents an attack on traditional institutions and the cultural norms that underpin American society (Mother Jones, 2023).

The Persistence of “Woke” in Progressive Movements

Despite the right-wing backlash, the term “woke” remains a central component of progressive activism. To be woke today is still to be aware of and engaged with the systems of oppression that continue to shape society. It signifies an awareness of the structural inequalities that affect marginalized communities, including those based on race, gender, sexual orientation, and economic status.

For progressives, the label “woke” remains an important symbol of resistance and a commitment to fighting for a more inclusive and just society. It reflects the idea that addressing inequality requires constant vigilance and a willingness to confront injustice wherever it exists. Far from being a negative force, being woke is about staying informed, compassionate, and active in the struggle for social justice.

The use of “woke” by progressives today extends beyond its original association with race. It now encompasses broader struggles for equity and justice, from climate action to LGBTQ+ rights, labor rights, and the fight against voter suppression. “Woke” culture is, in essence, a reminder that the work for justice is far from finished, and that all individuals must remain alert to the ways in which systems of power shape society.

Conclusion: “Woke” as a Reflection of Societal Struggles

The evolution of the term “woke” from a call for racial justice to a politicized label reflects broader societal struggles over the direction of social and cultural change. Initially a term used by Black activists to signify awareness of racial oppression, “woke” has grown into a symbol of resistance to systemic injustice in all its forms. While it has been politicized and weaponized by conservative forces, for progressives, it remains a term that signifies a commitment to confronting inequality and working toward a more just world.

As debates over “woke” culture continue to intensify, it is clear that the term will remain a flashpoint in the ongoing culture wars. For those committed to social justice, “woke” is more than just a label—it is a call to remain engaged in the fight for a world that is equitable, inclusive, and free from discrimination.