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Yesterday (June 14), people from across the country took part in the nationwide \u201cNo Kings<\/a>\u201d protests that arose in response to Donald Trump<\/a>\u2019s birthday\/military parade in Washington, D.C. The protests occurred in several major cities \u2013 as well as online \u2013 and amongst the countless citizens participating were former Rage Against the Machine<\/a> guitarist Tom Morello<\/a> and Evanescence<\/a> vocalist Amy Lee<\/a>.<\/p>\n Morello \u2013 who recently spoke out against Trump for feuding with Bruce Springsteen<\/a> \u2013 was seen amongst the protesters in Los Angeles yesterday (June 14). As reported by NBC News<\/a>, he \u201caddressed a large crowd\u201d in the downtown area of the city sometime in the afternoon.<\/p>\n NBC News adds:<\/p>\n Standing on the bed of a truck surrounded by First Nation activists, Morello encouraged protesters to continue making their voices heard and said history is made by those who are willing to stand up for their beliefs. Trump, he said, made a huge miscalculation by picking on LA.<\/p>\n \u2018When the billionaires and when the oligarchs and when the racists decided that they were going to take over this country and they were going to start in Los Angeles, they picked the wrong motherf—— city,\u2019 he said. \u2018Nobody is coming to save us. We are the ones that are going to save us.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n According to one user on X (whose post you can see below), Morello \u201cpass[ed] by a federal building in a truck blasting music\u201d around 1:20 PM, with \u201cthe crowd danc[ing] as Marines look[ed] on.\u201d Various Instagram users also posted photos of Morello holding a sign that states (in all caps): \u201cDeport racists.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, a couple images of Lee at a protest in Nashville were shared on social media as well. In one, she\u2019s holding a sign that says \u201cNo Kings\u201d in all caps (and in red and blue) alongside a drawn version of the official No Kings logo<\/a>. In the other, she\u2019s pictured alongside husband Josh Hartzler; both of them are wearing \u201cNo Kings\u201d t-shirts, and Lee is holding a different sign that \u2013 in all caps \u2013 partially reads: \u201cJustice for all.\u201d<\/p>\n You can view various images and clips of Morello and Lee at the \u201cNo Kings\u201d protests below.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Soundgarden Share \u2018No Kings\u2019 Statement + \u2018Non-State Actor\u2019 Flag in Protest of Trump As Loudwire wrote earlier today<\/a>, the \u201cNo Kings\u201d website\/organizers clarify that they\u2019re motivated by various actions committed by Trump and his administration. Specifically, the explain:<\/p>\n As ICE raids escalate and Trump doubles down on authoritarian tactics\u2014including politicizing the military\u2014we\u2019re meeting the moment with action. The road ahead isn\u2019t just about one protest or one day. It\u2019s about building a movement powerful enough to win against authoritarian forces dead set on destroying our democracy.<\/p>\n We\u2019re inspired by the 3.5% principle: it only takes 3.5% of the population engaging in sustained, strategic protest against authoritarianism to achieve significant political change. Everything we do from here on out is grounded in three core commitments: staying in the fight, taking concrete action today, and investing in the long-term.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The website\/movement is also led by the following feeling: \u201cThey\u2019ve defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights, and slashed our services. The corruption has gone too. far. No thrones. No crowns. No kings.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n Seeing as how yesterday was both Trump\u2019s 79th birthday and the 250th<\/sup> anniversary of the United States Army, it\u2019s little wonder why the \u201cNo Kings\u201d protests took place when they did.<\/p>\n Per BBC News<\/a>, the rallies and marches were meant to distract from and rebel against \u201ca rare military parade hosted by Trump in Washington DC, and came after days of protests in Los\u00a0Angeles\u00a0and elsewhere over his immigration policies.\u201d Similarly, The New York Times<\/a><\/em> mentions that the protests involved innumerable people \u201cfill[ing] plazas, streets and parks across the country . . . mounting a mass mobilization that called for protecting American democracy from a president whom many opponents accused of overreaching the powers of his office.\u201d<\/p>\n The New York Times<\/em> elaborates:<\/p>\n The demonstrations set off in waves as the day progressed, in small towns and major cities, including New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles, the heart of a surging protest movement against President Trump. Some 2,000 events, organized under the slogan No Kings, were planned across all 50 states, animated by the Trump administration\u2019s immigration crackdown, federal spending cuts and Mr. Trump\u2019s military parade in Washington. . . . Many events nationwide drew large crowds with demonstrators striking patriotic themes, waving American flags or reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n You can see more photos from the event(s) via the Associated Press<\/a> and The Atlantic<\/a><\/em>, and read more about what happened via NBC News<\/a> and Newsweek<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n Last week, Loudwire reported<\/a> that ex-Evanescence<\/a> guitarist Jen Majura<\/a> has fully left the music industry. In her official statement, she explains:<\/p>\n After careful consideration, observing what is going on in this music industry, AI related developments and change in society I’ve come to the conclusion to step away. . . . Instead of wasting another year of my life constantly hoping for new energy, drive and creativity, I’ve reached a point in my life where I can confidently lean back in peace.<\/p>\n You can see her full statement below:<\/p>\n As for Morello, he\u2019s taking part in the \u201cDefend LA: A Show to Benefit the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights\u201d concert tomorrow night (June 16) at the Echoplex in Los Angeles, Calif. It will feature Cypress Hill<\/a>\u2019s B Real<\/a>, Pussy Riot<\/a>, and a host of other guests, too, and be hosted by comedian\/actor George Lopez<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cJoin us for a night of resistance, music, and solidarity,\u201d Morello wrote on social media, and given that he recently took part in anti-ICE protests in the city<\/a>, his involvement here isn\u2019t too surprising.<\/p>\n You can see Morello\u2019s post below:<\/p>\n Doors are set to open at 7:00 PM, with the show beginning at 7:50 PM, and you can still purchase tickets here<\/a> or here<\/a> (with proceeds going to the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, otherwise known as CHIRLA).<\/p>\n For more information on CHIRLA, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Outspoken artists championing causes!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Jordan Blum<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nMorello + Lee\u2019s Appearances<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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<\/a><\/u><\/strong>More About \u201cNo Kings\u201d Movement + Protests<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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