Violent acts and threats at some ‘No Kings’ protests around the US
A man intentionally drove an SUV into a crowd of protesters in Culpepper, Virginia, on Saturday, striking at least one person, according to Washington DC’s Fox affiliate.
The man, identified by authorities as Joseph R Checklick Jr, was arrested and charged with reckless driving. Checklick was held without bail at the county jail, the news outlet said.
Authorities alleged that Checklick knowingly accelerated into a group of “No Kings” protest attendees. Organizers reportedly said that more than 600 attended the event, with 200 on Main Street and 400 along James Madison Highway.
As hundreds of thousands took to the streets to protest Trump’s military parade and his policies, violence has cast a shadow over demonstrations.
In San Francisco, a car hit at least four “No Kings” protesters in what authorities are investigating as a “possible intentional act”.
Texas authorities closed the state capitol grounds following a “credible threat” toward lawmakers planning to attend a protest.
Early Saturday, Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed. State senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were also shot, but are expected to survive.
Minnesota officials said the incidents appeared to be politically motivated attacks.
Key events
This blog has now closed. You can read our full report on the ‘“No Kings” demonstrations here and our report on Trump’s military parade here.
This blog has now closed. You can read our full report on the ‘“No Kings” demonstrations here and our report on Trump’s military parade here.
End-of-day summary
The Guardian’s live coverage of today’s protests is pausing for now. Here are the key events since noon:
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Law enforcement agents in Los Angeles, Seattle, and Portland have deployed teargas against protesters at some demonstration sites.
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There are multiple estimates for how many protesters demonstrated across the US today in “No Kings” gatherings and similar events. The American Civil Liberties Union provided a sizable approximation: more than 5m protesters, at 2100 events, nationwide.
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Trump’s controversial military parade unfolded without incident, though it was pushed up due to weather concerns.
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The manhunt continues for Vance Boelter, who stands accused of shooting two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses, killing one legislator and her husband.
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According to reports, Boelter’s writings suggest that he might have been targeting pro-choice lawmakers.
Federal agents in Portland, Oregon have deployed what appears to be tear gas outside an ICE facility where hundreds of protesters have gathered, according to the local CBS affiliate.
Some demonstrators “appeared to breach the door” of this building, KOIN 6 reports.
In Los Angeles, authorities reportedly deployed tear gas after declaring an “unlawful assembly” downtown.
CA: Happening now: Unlawful assembly declared at 2nd and Main in downtown Los Angeles—Tear gas deployed—Crowd ran down the road: pic.twitter.com/ujrPmG0ZEQ
— Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) June 15, 2025
Police use teargas against protesters in Los Angeles and Seattle:
The suspect accused of shooting two Minnesota lawmakers, killing one legislator and her husband, and gravely injuring the other politician and his wife, had a list of 70 potential targets, according to The New York Times.
Vance Boelter, 57, remains at large and is thought to still be in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. Officials have been contacting the potential targets on this list.
Police reportedly said that this list was recovered in Boelter’s car, in addition to a manifesto. Those targeted on the list include politicians, physicians, Planned Parenthood locations, among others, per The Times.
One of Boelter’s friends reportedly said that he opposed abortion and supported Trump in the 2024 election.
There have been a wide array of attendance estimates for today’s nationwide protests against President Trump and his policies, but one civil rights organization puts the number in the millions.
The American Civil Liberties Union said in a statement Saturday night that there were more than 2100 protest events, with over 5m in attendance, at demonstrations across the US.
“Today’s protests are a resounding message that people across the nation will not be intimidated by President Trump’s fear tactics. Americans are brave, democracy loving people and will not sit idly by as the Trump administration feeds our Constitution into the shredder — nor will the ACLU,” Deirdre Schifeling, ACLU’s chief political & advocacy officer, said in a statement.
“In just five months, we have sued the administration dozens of times for their abuses of power, and we will continue to defend our rights. Protecting our democracy isn’t a partisan issue — it’s core to being American,” Schifeling said. “We will use every tool we can, from litigation to legislation to powerful protests in the streets, to stop the unconstitutional actions of this administration and protect our rights.”
More parade attendees spoke to The Guardian about what drew them to Trump’s military procession. One parade-goer told Tom Silverstone that they wanted to “witness what the energy is like here.”
Moments ago, Trump asked his wife, Melania, to join him at the podium.
Trump was just presented with an American flag flown over the US Capitol during the parade.
Chants of “USA! USA!” could be heard in the background.
Trump’s military procession has come to a close but festivities continue, now with an address from the president.
“We love you, we honor you, and we solute your noble service to our flag and our country,” Trump said.
“Today we commemorate an event that did not just change American history but changed the history of the entire world,” Trump said of the parade, which is taking place both on his birthday and the US Army’s 25oth Anniversary.
Tensions rise in LA as police fire teargas at protesters and charge at crowd on horseback
A once-peaceful demonstration in downtown Los Angeles reportedly descended into chaos Saturday afternoon.
According to the Associated Press:
Police on horseback charged at the crowd, striking some with wood rods and batons as they cleared the street in front of the federal building. Officers then fired teargas and crowd control projectiles at the large group, sending demonstrators, hotdog vendors and passing pedestrians fleeing through the street. Some have since regrouped, ignoring an LAPD dispersal order.
‘It was a total 100% over-reaction. We weren’t doing anything but standing around chanting peaceful protest,’ said Samantha Edgerton, a 37-year-old bartender.”
There have been several types of tanks along the military parade route. The presence of tanks on Washington DC’s roads has prompted concerns about road surfaces, as tanks are dramatically heavier than civilian vehicles.
“Much has been made of the fact that tanks and other sorts of armored vehicles are going down Constitution Avenue Northwest, which, like most Washington DC streets, is not designed to handle anything close to their weight,” the Guardian’s Chris Stein reports.
Stein didn’t see “any obvious damage to the roads” but did spot “the metal plates they put down in certain areas to protect the asphalt”
