Ndamukong Suh, NFL, Finance Podcast, SIAC, brawl

by Daniel Johnson

June 15, 2025

Shannon Harris Becomes First HBCU Alum To Coach Pro Football Team To U.S. Championship Victory

The win caps an impressive season for Harris, who in the week leading up to the game was given the USL's Buddy Teevens Coach of the Year award.

On June 14, as the final whistle blew in the UFL championship game, DC Defenders head coach Shannon Harris made it into the history books—becoming the first HBCU alumnus to win a professional football championship in the U.S. The moment was all the more triumphant as his team cruised past the Michigan Panthers in a lopsided 58-34 victory.

According to Sports Illustrated, Jordan Ta’amu, a former career NFL backup and the 2023 UFL Offensive Player of the Year, was named the MVP of the game after completing 21 of 28 passes, throwing for 390 yards, four touchdowns, and adding seven carries for 29 yards and one rushing touchdown. The win caps an impressive season for Harris, who in the week leading up to the game was given the USL’s Buddy Teevens Coach of the Year award after he guided the Defenders to the championship in an interim capacity after the team’s former head coach, Reggie Barlow, agreed to replace Eddie George as the head coach of Tennessee State University.

“It’d be hard to leave these guys.”

I asked Shannon Harris if tonight’s championship win would be his last game with the Defenders.

His longtime mentor Reggie Barlow accepted the HC job at Tennessee St. earlier this year, and said his staff would join him after the UFL season. pic.twitter.com/cYguk2DZKo
— Matty Fresh (@MattyFreshTV) June 15, 2025

The UFL has named @XFLDefenders HC Shannon Harris Coach of the Year.

Harris led the Defenders to a 6-4 regular-season record, earning a berth in the XFL Conference Championship Game. Under his leadership, DC earned seven All-UFL selections, which was tied for most in the league.… pic.twitter.com/O0IAd5OFBJ
— HBCUGO.TV (@HBCUGoTV) June 13, 2025

The clock was already ticking when he took over.

Coach Harris never blinked. Instead, he built an empire along the way.

Your 2025 UFL Buddy Teevens Coach of the Year – Shannon Harris! pic.twitter.com/JPzlRKoz3W
— United Football League (@TheUFL) June 12, 2025

After the game ended, Harris was incredibly grateful for his journey, telling Sports Illustrated, “Yeah, to God be the glory. And I’d say these guys here, man, the coaching staff, support staff, I mean, everybody’s been on the same page since day one, since taking over, and, again, we just rattle it around each other, and it continues to just be us, we, and ours, so these guys, I mean, I can’t thank them enough for the effort they put into this, the resiliency that we had throughout the course of the year. We have some great fans back in D.C., we want to do it for them as well, and God is amazing, man, God is amazing, and I’m very grateful.”

Harris, also an alum of Tennessee State University, is a former quarterback who once outdueled Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo when he was the quarterback at Eastern Illinois in a thrilling shootout that Romo’s team won 52-49. In that game, Harris went 29 of 43 for 382 yards, throwing five touchdowns and one interception; Romo wasn’t bad either, completing 21 of his 36 passes for 381 yards and three touchdowns while also throwing one interception.

Per the UFL’s announcement of Harris’ Coach of the Year award win, the strong play of the Defenders has positioned Ta’amu as a finalist for his first MVP award, the quarterback led the UFL in passing yards (2,294) and passing touchdowns (17) while ranking No. 2 in total yards (2,333) as he led the league’s most prolific offense, the Defenders ranked first in total yards, posting 3,454 yards in that category.

According to the announcement, “Harris led DC to a 6-4 regular-season record, earning a berth in the XFL Conference Championship Game. His Defenders defeated the St. Louis Battlehawks 36-18 Sunday to advance to the 2025 UFL Championship Game. Under Harris’ leadership, DC earned seven All-UFL selections, which was tied for most in the league.”

Although Harris could potentially join Barlow’s staff at Tennessee State University after the conclusion of the UFL season, as Harris basked in the glow of his victory during the post-game press conference, he told reporters that “That’s yet to be determined and we still have a lot of meetings to go and we still have things to talk over, so that’s still yet to be determined.”

He paused and glanced over at Ta’amu and another player opposite the quarterback, before closing his remarks. “These guys here, man, it’d be hard to leave these guys here.”

For now, at least, Harris can bask in the glow of his accomplishments during the course of the UFL season and his place in history as the first HBCU alumnus to win a professional football championship in the United States as he weighs his next move during the UFL’s off-season.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

June 15, 2025

Swizz Beatz Join Forces With ‘Godfather of Harlem’ Showrunner For Creative Partnership

The duo will produce a new gang drama on MGM+.

Swizz Beatz has joined forces with “Godfather of Harlem” creator and showrunner Chris Brancato for a creative partnership.

The duo got their start with the Forest Whitaker-led series on Epix, where Beatz serves as the executive music producer. Now, they are taking their creative projects to the next level, with a new streamer. The partners already premiered “Hotel Cocaine” on MGM+ last year, but have new plans in development for another series called “The Westies.”

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the gang drama will see Brancato as showrunner for their third collaborative feature. The news has also solidified the two as a team in the entertainment industry. Despite the joint venture becoming official, no name for their newly established company has been shared yet.

However, the two shared their excitement about exploring new projects as an official entity. They plan to “intertwine compelling narratives with rich cultural elements, reflecting their commitment to storytelling that resonates with diverse audiences.”

Brancato already has roots as a seasoned television writer and showrunner. The “Narcos” creator spoke about the “creative rhythm” he shares with Beatz.

“Working with Swizz has been inspiring and energizing,” Brancato told THR. “We’ve found a creative rhythm that feels rare. Continuing to build with him and his team, Grady Spivey and Monique Blake, to bring untold stories to life in bold, cinematic ways is something I’m very excited about.”

Beatz, whose real name is Kasseem Dean, has already forged himself as a household name in the music industry. Now, the 46-year-old hopes to further his place in film and television with “The Westies”, serving as consulting producer.

“Working with Chris? It’s been epic! After four successful seasons of ‘Godfather of Harlem’ — a true cultural phenomenon — moving into producing and creating new shows with him felt incredibly natural and organic,” explained Beatz. “That’s our vibe, our inclusive chemistry, fueling and driving each other to spark fresh creative ideas. That’s exactly what this partnership will deliver.”

“The Westies” will focus on the eponymous Irish gang that dominated New York City during the 1960s and ’80s. Production will start this July.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

June 15, 2025

Rep. Ilhan Omar, AG Keith Ellison Among Democrats Reportedly Targeted By Minnesota Gunman Who Killed State Official And Her Husband

The gunman allegedly had many pro-choice lawmakers and activists on his target list.

More insight into the Minnesota gunman’s targeted shootings reveals major Democratic figures like Rep. Ilhan Omar and Attorney General Keith Ellison on his hit list.

The list was uncovered after the suspected gunman shot and killed Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, also wounding State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife on June 14. According to ABC News, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called the back-to-back shootings an “act of targeted political violence.”

The suspect, identified as Vance Luther Boelter, disguised himself as a police officer to enter the lawmakers’ homes. Walz referred to the shootings as “politically motivated assassination,” but assured his constituents that he remains “cautiously optimistic” of Hoffman and his wife’s survival.

A deeper investigation revealed that Boelter had compiled a target list that included multiple state Democrats, including Walz. U.S. Rep Ilhan Omar, a progressive and the first Somali and Muslim woman to serve in Congress, was a confirmed name. Another progressive and Muslim political leader, Attorney General Keith Ellison, was a target as well. The list also included pro-choice activists and supporters within the state government, even including abortion providers.

Although it is unconfirmed if Boelter knew his first victims, the apparent family man worked in a leadership role at a private security firm near the area. The 57-year-old also reportedly had security and military training in his prior experience.

Boelter reportedly wore a realistic latex mask when he appeared at the homes early Saturday morning. He shot the couples within hours as their homes sat just a few miles away from one another. After trying to leave Hortman’s home, Boelter fired at police arriving to check in on the slain lawmaker. He escaped the scene on foot.

While Boelter remains on the run, security resources have been sent to those on the hit list. The Minnesota public has been urged to remain cautious of any lone police officers.

Meanwhile, the state and national community have begun to mourn the loss of Hoffman and her husband. Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin emphasized how the current political division and strife led to this act of violence. He called his friend’s death a “reflection of the extremism and political violence.”

“This senseless violence must end,” expressed Martin. “Today, we recommit ourselves to fight harder for the values that Melissa and Mark embodied — building a kinder, more just, and loving world. If this murderer thinks we will be silenced, he’s wrong.”

RELATED CONTENT: Rep. Ilhan Omar: ‘Trump is a Racist Tyrant’

by Daniel Johnson

June 15, 2025

Jackson State University To Receive $1.3M For AI Development

According to Dr. Denise Gregory Jones, JSU's interim president, the grant represents a step forward in their attempts to serve students and the broader Jackson community.

As part of Mississippi’s $9.1 million investment in higher education to strengthen the state’s future workforce and economic competitiveness, Jackson State University has been awarded a $1.3 million grant to expand education, workforce development, and entrepreneurship in artificial intelligence. The funding comes through Gov. Tate Reeves’ newly launched Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Talent Accelerator Program (MAI-TAP).

According to Dr. Denise Jones Gregory, JSU’s interim president, the grant represents a step forward in their attempts to serve students at the university and the broader Jackson community. “We are grateful for this investment in Jackson State University’s mission to expand access to emerging fields,” Jones Gregory said in the press release. “This grant affirms the quality of our faculty and programs and allows us to give students the knowledge and experience to navigate and contribute to the world they are entering. It’s another step forward in our work to serve students and communities through innovation and opportunity.”

Likewise, Dr. Almesha L. Campbell, the vice president for research and economic development, praised the investment in the university in her own statement.

“We are excited to lead this initiative that will empower Mississippi students, teachers, and entrepreneurs to engage in meaningful learning experiences around artificial intelligence,” Campbell said. “This project supports our strategic focus on innovation, workforce development, and academic prominence. Through this grant, Jackson State will collaborate with partners to build a model that prepares learners at every level to understand, apply, and shape the future of AI.”

Dr. Lisa Mosley, Senior Director of AI Initiatives at Jackson State University, joins the conversation to break down Mississippi’s new $9 million AI Talent Accelerator Program. pic.twitter.com/7qCaXYzlmJ
— SuperTalk Mississippi (@supertalk) June 13, 2025

We’ve officially launched the Mississippi AI Talent Accelerator Program (MAI-TAP)! It’s a new initiative that fosters the development of AI, machine learning, and related technical capacities across the state’s institutions of higher learning to support the expansion of @awscloud… pic.twitter.com/zc6vXtaoJ3
— Governor Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) June 12, 2025

According to the press release, Mississippi’s strategy for its AI development centers around five basic principles: investment in human capital infrastructure, building AI and machine learning literacy for citizens of Mississippi, enhancing and upskilling skills for people who are creating new tools and technologies, and supporting AI/machine learning innovation and technology advancement.

According to Action News 5, Reeves previously signed an executive order in January aimed at harnessing AI in Mississippi and issued a statement declaring his intentions that Mississippi would emerge as a leader in the field of artificial intelligence.

Despite these actions, however, as Jason Ludwig argued in a 2024 op-ed for Public Books that parts of this platform, particularly the focus on upskilling, can put Black people and other working-class people in a race against each other to learn new skills, when instead people should demand that any new technological innovations be used for the benefit of society at large and not the cottage industries spawned by innovations created for the benefit of capitalism.

Mississippi has been focused on creating a task force for artificial intelligence, which would, in part, advance AI initiatives without “red tape,” which usually means without any meaningful regulation of artificial intelligence.

In an op-ed for Supertalk FM, Rep. Jill Ford said little about making sure the state’s AI initiatives would safeguard citizens through regulations, but seemed disinterested in the idea altogether, instead arguing that the state needs growth, investment, and policies that strengthen Mississippi’s economy, more than AI needs regulation.

Brookings Senior Fellow Darrell M. West pointed out that ignoring the need for significant AI regulation doesn’t mean it doesn’t need to happen, particularly given the penchant for current AI systems to reinforce racist attitudes or make up false and misleading content.

“None of these issues will disappear simply because the current political leadership or Big Tech CEOs say they are not a concern. Ignoring widespread public doubts and documented abuses does not make the problems go away. Magic may be entertaining on stage, but disappearing acts don’t work in real life,” West wrote.

by Kandiss Edwards

June 15, 2025

New Survey: Black Americans Say The American Dream Was Never Theirs

Many respondents had similar sentiment: The American Dream never existed and Black Americans need to build their own dream.

America is rolling back the progress Black people have diligently fought for. In anticipation of Juneteenth, the day the last enslaved people got word of their freedom, two years after emancipation, BET asked Black Americans if the American Dream still existed.

The overwhelming majority of respondents were clear. The answer is no, the American Dream never existed.

“There is no dream for Black people,” one person said. “This country wasn’t built for us—it was built by us, for others.”

Another person made clear that it was Black Americans’ responsibility to build their own dream.

“We had to make our own version,” one person said. “Their dream was never ours to begin with.” They added, “If they don’t have a seat for us at the table, we bring our own chair—or build a whole new table.”

Disheartening Data On Progress

Unfortunately, multiple data points support the notion that Black Americans are not keeping pace with their counterparts. The rollback of DEI initiatives that strove to provide equity in corporate America is a clear attack on progress. Affirmative action’s dismantling by the Supreme Court is affecting Black students in higher education.

BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported on declining student acceptance rates in American colleges.

“Data released in August 2024 showed that close to 5% of MIT’s incoming class of 2028 was Black, in comparison to its average of 13%. The neighboring school of Amherst College saw a significant drop from Black students making up 11 % of the class of 2027 to only 3% for the class of 2028.”

Yet, despite these roadblocks, Black folks are making progress in today’s America, however slowly.

According to the Center for Economic and Policy Research, “Median Black wealth or net worth (assets minus debts) has reached a new high. In 2022, median Black household wealth reached nearly $45,000, more than double the post-Great Recession low of about $17,000 seen in 2013.”

Still, it is not enough. The financial gains of Black households are still woefully low in comparison to those of white Americans. Black Americans are unemployed 1.7 times more than others. If the current trend continues, the Center for Economic and Policy Research states that it could take 500 years to bridge the gap between economic inequality.

by Ahsan Washington

June 15, 2025

6 Black-Owned Ice Cream Shops To Get Your Summer Sweet

These shops are crafting tasty, ice cream goodness.

Summer is a perfect excuse to check out some amazing Black-owned ice cream spots. These shops craft tasty, ice cream goodness, keep culture alive, and build community with every scoop. BLACK ENTERPRISE has curated six spots where you can satisfy your sweet tooth while supporting businesses that mean something. Trust me, these aren’t your average ice cream shops; each spoonful comes with a story.

Goodies Frozen Custard & Treats – Alexandria, VA

Goodies is where Brandon Byrd serves up some really good frozen custard—from a vintage 1950s bus in an old bank vault in Alexandria, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C. The vibe is retro heaven. Byrd is passionate about bringing back classic American desserts with his own soulful spin. Do yourself a favor and try their chocolate custard with a warm brownie sundae. It’s an absolute game-changer.

Sugar Hill Creamery – Harlem, New York

Sugar Hill Creamery is run by husband-wife duo Petrushka and Nick Larsen. They’ve mixed their Caribbean and Midwest roots to create some seriously good small-batch ice cream. Their “A$AP Rocky Road” is a chocolate flavor loaded with toasted hazelnuts, marshmallows, and graham crackers.

Kaye’s Pints and Scoops – Memphis, Tennessee

Kaye’s Pints and Scoops is a small creamery that popped up in Memphis during the COVID-19 pandemic. The owner, Kiamesha Wilson, knows her ice cream. If you’re into local ingredients and handmade ice cream, you’ve gotta check it out. Kaye’s Pints and Scoops is always switching up their chocolate flavors; the Chocolate Fudge Swirl is lit, and so is the Triple Chocolate Chip.

Cloud Cups – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Galen Thomas runs this sweet spot in Philly called Cloud Cups. It’s the place to hit up if you’re craving something sweet. Cloud Cups is all about great gelato and sorbet with flavors that will blow customers’ minds. The establishment is always switching things up to keep it interesting. Their dark chocolate gelato is rich and smooth.

Sweet Dreams Ice Cream – Decatur, Georgia

Tucked away in Decatur, Georgia, Sweet Dreams Ice Cream is a cute little spot run by Cyntauria Jones and Len Davidson. It’s ice cream heaven. They’ve got tons of creamy flavors that’ll make your taste buds dance. Locals can’t get enough of this place.

Shawn Michelle’s Homemade Ice Cream – Chicago, Illinois

Shawn Michelle’s is a Chicago treasure. Yahya and Nataki Muhammad run a spot that patrons will enjoy. The ice cream hits different: My Momma’s Famous Slap Yo Son, Banana Pudding Ice Cream. Every bite is like a homemade throwback. If you’re in Chicago and need a sugar fix, you gotta swing by Shawn Michelle’s Homemade Ice Cream. It’s worth every calorie.

St. Louis Organization, Black Fathers Reclaim Their D

by Daniel Johnson

June 15, 2025

Black Fathers Rock! Celebrates Black Fathers, Fights Against Stereotypes

Today, on the cusp of another celebration of Father's Day, the organization continues to envision a future where Black fathers are celebrated.

Ryan Jor El, a Charlotte-based professional wardrobe consultant, author, speaker, and event host, founded Black Fathers Rock! (BFR), in 2017. Inspired by Black Girls Rock!, he created the organization to challenge negative stereotypes about Black fathers and provide them with the resources needed to support and empower their families.

Today, on the cusp of another celebration of Father’s Day, the organization continues to envision a future where Black fathers—no matter their vocation or station in society—are celebrated.

According to WCNC, this celebration, which will be held on June 14, takes the form of an awards ceremony held at BFR’s new event venue, Event Masterz, which will celebrate Black fathers and award them in several categories including: Father of the Year, Activist of the Year, Dapper Dad of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, and Comeback Father of the Year.

Honorees at the awards ceremony will also be afforded an opportunity to mix and mingle with some of Charlotte’s best and brightest after accepting their awards.

As Jor El told the outlet, core to BFR is the idea of reshaping the narratives concerning Black fathers, “Celebrating other Black men who are doing things in their community and in their home, is my way of changing the narrative. Not all of us are absent, not all of us are in jail,” he remarked.

He continued, “All dads need to be celebrated, especially the ones who are unmarried and are great fathers; it’s important to change narratives and ugly stereotypes.”

As The Charlotte Post reports, originally, BFR was conceptualized as an awards show, but three months after its debut, Jor El, who was also inspired to create the organization after experiencing a fatherless childhood, recognized the potential for a larger impact within the Charlotte community, and turned it into a nonprofit organization.

Although the organization’s title is Black Fathers Rock!, similarly to how the Black community celebrates mothers who have mothered without giving birth, the fathers Jor El’s organization wants to honor don’t necessarily have to be biological fathers either.

As he told the outlet, “I typically say the thing you lack in your childhood you tend to overcompensate for in your adulthood,” he said. “And so now, I went from having an absentee father to being an active, present father and honoring active and present fathers. Hearing stories of people over the eight years or seeing somebody with a T-shirt on in another country, you’re like ‘Wow, that is super cool,’” Jor El told the Charlotte Post. “People get really excited about this movement because we really don’t have many things like this, so I’ve heard a lot of great stories.”

One of those great stories involves Desmond Wiggan, who won BFR’s 2025 Father of the Year award. Wiggan told the outlet that dealing with the pandemic helped him see that he, as a father, needed to give his children more grace as they all navigated uncharted waters. The children, in particular, leaned on digital devices to connect with family members.

“My son didn’t see or touch his grandparents for six weeks,” Wiggan said. “They weren’t there in the trenches or in the spaces, building relationships and learning how to communicate with people.”

He continued, “If you think about clay, pottery, and stuff, we can just mold and develop the minds and emotions of our kids, it’s just that we want to be constructive and steer in the right direction. Having grace on [children] is also important, and when they fail, instead of just feeling like you got to yell and just punish them, allow it to be a conversation, so that they can really learn.”

Ricky Singh, an artist and the executive director of My Brother’s Keeper Charlotte, who was awarded Activist Father of the Year in 2024, agrees with Wiggan’s assessment that communication, not necessarily punishment, is an important piece of a Black father’s toolkit for connecting with their children, and that connection is part of a lifelong relationship between father figure and child.

“We have to find moments where we can laugh and find joy, even in the smallest things. There’s a beauty and a struggle there,” Singh told the outlet. “Fatherhood is beyond just providing for kids and families. It’s the experiences, so I encourage those to find moments and pause during the experiences and soak it up, because when your kids get grown, fatherhood doesn’t end, it evolves. But it’s different.”

by Daniel Johnson

June 14, 2025

New Plaque In Boston Honors MLK’s Alpha Phi Alpha Brotherhood

Martin Luther King Jr. joined the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity in 1952 while attending Boston University.

A little-known chapter of Martin Luther King Jr.’s story will come to light on June 18 with the unveiling of a plaque commemorating his decision to join the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity in 1952 while attending Boston University. This tribute highlights King’s journey to becoming an Alpha Man and aims to shed light on his time in Boston and honor the lasting legacy of the city’s historic Grove Hall neighborhood.

According to The Boston Globe, Clennon L. King, a Georgia-based documentary filmmaker and the historian responsible for Boston’s Martin and Coretta Love Story Trail, believes it is up to Black people to keep histories that would be otherwise forgotten alive.

“It’s our jobs as Black folk to chronicle our history,” Clennon King said. “If we don’t mark our history, we’re condemned to repeat it.”

The date of the unveiling also coincides with the 72nd wedding anniversary of Martin and Coretta Scott King, following Clennon King’s efforts in 2024 to get a headstone placed for Mary Louise Powell, the New England Conservatory of Music student who was responsible for introducing Martin and Coretta to each other.

Their interaction on their blind date, initiated by Powell, was recreated by National Geographic’s critically acclaimed “Genius: MLK/X.” Though a fictional, dramatized account, according to Clennon King’s account of their love story for Boston Magazine, it captured the spirit of King’s ability to turn on his charm.

Clennon King, who is unrelated to Martin and Coretta, told the outlet that the memorial would bring King’s legacy back to its roots, back to Boston’s Black neighborhoods that accepted him as their own when he first arrived in the city.

Lauren B. Martin, whose father, Judge Baron H. Martin, took the photo of King and the other Alphas who crossed in 1952, also represents Boston’s history, as the site of the photo is her father’s house, which carries the distinction as one of the first owned by Black people in the predominantly Jewish neighborhood.

King gravitated to the Black community, notably Roxbury and the South End of Boston, when he first arrived in Boston in 1951 after leaving Atlanta. According to Jason Asirifi, the district director and the president of the Organization of New England Chapters of Alpha (ONECA), the plaque also tells the story of the importance of the Divine Nine in shaping leaders of the civil rights movement.

King, Asirifi noted, wanted the “betterment of humanity and the Black experience” that Alphas and other Divine Nine members also sought. He continued, “Everything [King] did was to leave a legacy for his children and the people around him. You don’t seek an organization like Alpha if you don’t want to be a part of a larger community.”

That larger community Asirifi spoke of was in many ways encapsulated by King’s line brothers, like Herman Hemingway, the founding director of Boston’s Office of Human Rights, who died in 2020, and was honored with his own memorial as part of the 1965 Freedom Plaza.

According to Hemingway’s daughter, Myra, “He really loved his fraternity and the support they gave him through the brotherhood over the years meant so much to him. It’s hard that he’s not here, but in spirit, I know he’s looking down and smiling.”

Martin, meanwhile, believes that despite the changing demographics of the neighborhood of Grove Hall, the plaque could still remind people of King’s belief in the “Beloved Community” and of the people who once called the neighborhood their home.

“Things are going to change, people are going to change neighborhoods,” Martin told the Globe. “But hopefully these markers gives the new neighborhood a reference and an understanding of how we’re all related.”

Trump, Venezuela, President Nicolás Maduro, oil

by Daniel Johnson

June 14, 2025

No Kings, No Crowns: Coast-To-Coast Anti-Trump Protests Planned Over Militarized Parade

Organizers say that more than 2,000 protests will occur in all 50 states.

Timed with Donald Trump’s planned military parade in Washington, D.C., thousands are set to take part in “No Kings Day of Defiance” protests across the country, denouncing both the spectacle and what they see as Trump’s push toward American authoritarianism.

According to CNN, the organizers of the more than 2,000 protests, which will occur in all 50 states, say that the protests are a rejection of “authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics, and the militarization of our democracy,” all of which have been epitomized by the second Trump administration. There are also numerous protests planned in other countries.

As more attention has been given to Trump’s actions in Los Angeles, where he has deployed both the National Guard and the Marines, more momentum against the mass arrests and increasingly indiscriminate and clandestine actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has picked up.

The actions in Los Angeles have led to protests in New York, Seattle, Chicago, Austin, Las Vegas, and Washington, where, in addition to Trump’s potentially unconstitutional and controversial use of the National Guard and the Marines to quell protests, governors like Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe, respectively, deployed and activated their state’s National Guard troops, characterizing their moves as reactions to unrest.

Ezra Levin, the co-executive director of Indivisible, one of the organizations behind the No Kings protests, described the number of people protesting as a historic mobilization.

“Even conservative estimates say that 3.5 million people turned out for the Hands Off mobilization in April. That’s already 1% of the population of the US,” Levin told CNN. “No Kings is on track to exceed that by millions more. This is historic.”

Although political protest has proven fundamental to securing the rights and freedoms of Americans, Trump has taken a hard line, promising to deliver “heavy force” to “any” protestors at the military parade in Washington, D.C. In his comments, Trump also cast protestors of his immigration policy as un-American and people who hate the country.

An assertion that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was left to clarify during a June 10 briefing, saying that Trump was in support of peaceful protest.

“The president supports peaceful protests. He supports the First Amendment. He supports the right of Americans to make their voices heard,” Leavitt responded after being questioned about Trump’s planned restrictions at the parade, following his use of military force against immigration policy protests in Los Angeles. “He does not support violence of any kind. He does not support assaulting law enforcement officers who are simply trying to do their job.”

Military parades are uncommon in America, and as former Army officer Brandon Friedman argued in an op-ed for MSNBC, the one Trump has orchestrated marks a clear line in the sand for military officers and political figures.

“President Trump’s military parade is, of course, troubling for its similarity to those that often take place in other countries like North Korea or Russia. In rare cases, such as France’s Bastille Day parade, they are something of a celebration of democracy. But far more frequently, they are shows of force and expressions of belligerence. It’s arguable that they’re signs of deep-seated insecurity on the part of weak autocrats who demand them. What is inarguable is that an endless parade of tanks and missiles is often the calling card of fascists,” Friedman wrote.

That “calling card,” as he describes it, underscores the urgency behind the latest round of protests against the Trump administration’s increasing hostility to opposition, which the No Kings movement says has galvanized its resistance on its website.

“They’ve defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights, and slashed our services,” the group wrote on its website. “They’ve done this all while continuing to serve and enrich their billionaire allies. The flag doesn’t belong to President Trump. It belongs to us. On June 14th, we’re showing up everywhere he isn’t — to say no thrones, no crowns, no kings.”

Mamdani, Barack Obama, protest, New York City

by Kandiss Edwards

June 14, 2025

Digital Protest Aims To Hijack Trump’s Military Parade With ‘Barack Obama Appreciation Day’ Campaign

The goal is to drown out coverage of Trump's military display in favor of honoring the previous leader.

Protestors of President Donald Trump’s military parade want to move Barack Obama Day to the news forefront on June 14.

This year, the date conspicuously aligns with the military’s 250th anniversary, Donald Trump’s 79th birthday, and Flag Day. Multiple social media users have rallied to facilitate a digital protest. The goal is to drown out coverage of the administration’s display in favor of honoring the previous leader.

The original date of Barack Obama Day coincides with the 44th president’s birthday, Aug. 4. Though the day is not an official national holiday, many Americans outside of Illinois celebrate the beloved former president. Bill SB0055 was passed to commemorate the former Illinois Senator.

https://twitter.com/rosepet19239091/status/1933859630771486822

Pushback

Celebrating the strength and longevity of the nation’s military is not an uncommon act, but not to the massive extent that Trump has planned. Still, many politicians have admonished the current administration.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom called out Trump in a press conference, saying his actions were a “display of weakness.” Furthermore, Newsom compared the “vulgar display” to those of other world dictators.

“It’s a vulgar display. It’s the kind of thing you see with Kim Jong Un, you see it with Putin, you see it with dictators around the world that are weak…Weakness masquerading as strength…that’s about as small as it gets…that’s Donald,” Newsom stated.

The military parade celebration is projected to host 200,000 attendees and involve over 6,000 active military personnel.

USA Today reported on the opulent display that will cost taxpayers $40 million, which critics say is quite a price tag for an administration whose goal is to eliminate waste and maximize efficiency. Along with thousands of marching soldiers, tanks, and armored vehicles, additional theatrics will be present at the celebration.

“Helicopters and World War II-era warplanes will fly overhead and Army parachutists will soar down to the White House’s ellipse, where Trump will preside over the parade from a presidential booth,” the outlet reported.

Trump’s official parade will take place June 14, 6:30 p.m. ET. The digital protest can be found on social media by typing “Barack Obama Appreciation Day.”