On Saturday, June 14, a crowd of approximately 8,000 people braved the afternoon heat at Mariposa Basin Park to participate in a “No Kings” protest, organized by local groups including Albuquerque Indivisible and Third Act NM. The protest was part of a national movement of over 2,000 planned protests with over 5 million participants across the country, according to NPR .

The protesters aimed to oppose what they see as an authoritarian turn by the Trump administration. The event occurred on the same day as a military parade in Washington, D.C., which celebrated the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and coincided with Trump’s 79th birthday.

The protest included music, poetry and multiple speeches, which crowds listened to before commencing in a march around the park. Rep. Melanie Stansbury and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller delivered keynote addresses.

“We speak up because we know — when any one of us is a target, we are all at risk,” Keller said. “And no matter who we are, it’s just a question of when we will be next.”

Keller led the crowd in chants of “No Kings” before continuing to speak on the topic of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests within Albuquerque.

“We have this administration that's trying to change the constitution unilaterally, without including other branches of government,” Jon Nez, an attendee of the rally, said. “And I think that's pretty significant given where we are today and I hope more Americans consider that.”

Protesters of all ages attended the demonstration, which was promoted on social media as a “peaceful civic action.”

“I'm definitely encouraged and very proud to see how there's so many youth leaders out here, but then also elders. They're the ones that lay the path for us to follow, and it's us that will continue that path,” Noheya Begay, an attendee, said.

The protest was mostly contained to the park, but chants of “no thrones, no crowns, no kings” could be heard in surrounding areas as protesters began to disperse.

“I'm very happy to see that there's so many people here in support of just standing in solidarity with one another,” Begay said. “And to just continue to fight this and to continue to fight what's happening within your administration, it makes me really happy to see that there is hope for the future.”

The event also fell on Flag Day, and many were flown in the park — LGBTQ+, Palestinian and Mexican flags all appeared alongside American flags, many of which were flown upside down.

“I think it helps to be in a community of people who are like-minded and kind of feel the same way, you feel really isolated,” Samantha Parker-Zillich, another attendee, said. “I think, being not around a lot of people. So I think it's really powerful to be around this many people, seeing all the signs and all the support.”