A woman waves a upside down American flag while other attendees hold up signs and cheer at the "No Kings" protest at the Statehouse on June 14, 2025.

COLUMBIA — Hundreds gathered at the Statehouse on June 14 for a “No Kings” protest aimed at criticizing President Donald Trump and his administration.

Many attendees held signs calling Trump's actions undemocratic, opposing the president's push for more U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and denouncing his policies on immigration.

Attendees of the "No Kings" protest hold up signs and wave flags on June 14, 2025.

The protest was part of a nationwide mobilization that coincided with Flag Day and Trump’s birthday, as well as a major military parade in Washington, D.C., to honor the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army.

It also comes after a man who authorities say posed as a police officer fatally shot a Democratic Minnesota lawmaker and her husband early Saturday morning. Another Democratic lawmaker and his wife were injured in a separate but thought to be related shooting nearby. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called the lawmaker's death “a politically motivated assassination.”

A crowd of people gather on the steps of the Statehouse during the "no Kings" protest on June 14, 2025.

Chris Himsl, a retired army colonel and one of the first speakers at the demonstration, mirrored other speakers in criticizing Trump for overstepping his authority and comparing him to King George III, the king of England during the Revolutionary War.

"Donald J. Trump is nothing if not an evil man. We must not let an evil man burn our Constitution, our republic or our country to the ground," Himsl said to the crowd. "No kings, no dictators, not even for one day."

Chloe Henderson, who attended with her mom Michelle, held a sign reading "Migrants ain't going nowhere" with the acronym "MAGA." The pair said they hope the demonstration will get the attention of community members and officials.

"People deserve rights. No matter who you are, what color you are, what sex you are, who you love," Michelle Henderson said. "You deserve to be here if you want to be."

Stephanie Marrone holds a signs during the "No Kings" protest at the statehouse on June 14, 2025. Marrone said she made the sign in reference to the politicians calling the protest un-American. "All I see is a bunch of American flags and proud Americans," Marrone said.

The scene at the Statehouse

Prior to the event, S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson issued a statement about the South Carolina protests' potential to "disrupt public spaces, and provoke confrontation with law enforcement," but in Columbia, the crowds were peaceful with a little over a dozen police officers spread out on the grounds and only a few isolated counter-protestors.

Attendees generally gathered to listen to the event's lineup of speakers near the Statehouse stairs, lined up along Gervais Street to hold up signs and cheer as cars passed by or sat in the shade.

Many protestors waved American flags and some waved rainbow flags, a nod to pride month and Columbia's Outfest happening down the street in the Vista.

A attendee of the "No Kings" protest waves an American flag and a rainbow flag while listening to people talk on the steps of the Statehouse.

Doug Clarkson, who attended the event with his queer daughters, said he was happy the protest could happen on the same day as Columbia's pride event and unite so many like-minded people.

He said he hopes the message reaches beyond the people who gathered at the Statehouse.

"What I really hope is that it touches the people that don't believe these same things, and that they see that something is broken with the way America is being led," Clarkson said. "It's not American. And I hope that this joined together with all the other no kings protests across the country will speak to our lawmakers."