Suspect Photography

NYC does things big, and this march was no exception. The call was out on social media and being discussed, I actually heard about it while I was parking my Vespa on 35th street.

The “No Kings” march was a series of nationwide protests held on June 14, 2025, coinciding with a large military parade in Washington, D.C.

These protests aimed to voice opposition to the Trump administration’s policies and what they perceived as authoritarian tendencies. 

Organizers said the protests were a response to what they saw as an attempt by the Trump administration to project dominance and militarize the country. 

The protests drew large crowds in cities across the U.S. and even internationally, with organizers claiming millions participated in hundreds of events. Demonstrations took place in major cities like New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco, as well as smaller communities. 

The protests were generally peaceful, with a focus on expressing dissent and concerns about the direction of the country. 

While the protests were not explicitly anti-monarchy, the “No Kings” name was chosen to convey the message of rejecting authoritarianism and what organizers saw as an overreach of executive power under the Trump administration. 

The timing of the protests, alongside the military parade, was meant to create a contrast between the perceived militarization of the government and the public’s desire for a more democratic and inclusive society. 

Above is a one minute 38 second video of stills mixed in with audio I recorded on my iPhone. The video was edited in iMovie.

My feelings photographing this protest were one of duty and respect. As Americans, there is something sublime to exercising your first amendment rights. The key is peaceful, and this protest march was certainly peaceful. I witnessed no aggressive or destructive behavior from my walk of 42nd street to 23rd street. There were families and many other older New Yorkers on the periphery and no counter protesting. The rain was relentless and it did not dull the numbers. I estimate 50K showed up. It was a solid mass of marchers from 42nd to 23rd for well over an hour.

I used a Nikon Z9 with 14-24 2.8 and 24-120 4.0. I had originally planned on two bodies, but the rain was really coming down and I didn’t want the extra weight. At one point I was changing lenses under a scaffolding and was quite cautious in the operation! That’s the merit of two bodies- no lens switching. Noted for next time.

~David

“I have friends everywhere”