Shocked by the military parade in DC, veterans group will walk in Sarasota.
By Johannes Werner
Original Air Date: June 11, 2025
Host: The 50501 organizers are at it again this Saturday, Flag Day. This time, the nationwide protests are aiming at the military parade in Washington, and the theme is “No Kings.” We have the details on upcoming protests in Sarasota and Manatee.
Johannes Werner: “In America, we don’t do kings” is the rallying cry for the nationwide protests. Here in Sarasota, it’s particularly veterans—specifically a group called Florida Veterans for Common Sense—that are mobilized, because of the military parade in the streets of Washington.
The parade for the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday — the first in Washington since Operation Desert Storm in 1991 — happens to unfold during Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. The administration says that is coincidental. However, there currently are no similar plans to celebrate other branches of the armed forces.
Gene Jones
Gene Jones: We’re very concerned about the Trump regime parade that’s being scheduled on the same day. That parade is going to cost somewhere between $50 million and $100 million. It’s hard to say exactly how much, because there’s likely going to be damage to the streets from tanks rolling across. That money is just a waste of taxpayer dollars. $100 million, we could build thousands of housing units for homeless veterans, and instead of laying people off from the Veterans Administration, we could provide better health care for veterans. This is something you’d see in North Korea or the old Soviet Union—with Stalin standing up on the reviewing stand and there are troops marching by. This is an insult to the troops because the troops—and, as veterans, we swore an oath to the Constitution. Not to the king; not to the President; not to an individual. To the Constitution. That’s what’s important in our country.
JW: That was Gene Jones, president of Florida Veterans for Common Sense. He said his group contacted all Southwest Florida congresspeople to speak out against the parade, but no one responded.
GJ: They’re not saying anything. They’re just going along with whatever the king wants.
Florida Veterans for Common Sense
JW: The veterans will be joining the area’s most likely biggest demonstration in downtown Sarasota Saturday. It begins 5:30 p.m at the bayfront. There will be speakers, followed by the assembly of a 700-foot Pride flag, and it ends with a walk—carrying the Pride flag—across the Ringling Bridge at 7 p.m.
Julie Forestier represents the Democratic Women’s Club, the organizer of the protest in downtown Sarasota.
Julie Forestier: We are here to say, “enough.” On Flag Day, we are also using it as an opportunity to uplift the queer and trans community because it is Pride Month and it is Flag Day, and we are reclaiming the flag and saying that the flag needs to represent everybody.
We are not just standing up against fascism. We are standing for liberation. We are not just running away from authoritarianism. We are running towards a future where everyone is able to live joyful, liberated lives.
Julie Forestier
JW: The organizers of the downtown protest will also collect non-perishable food donations for Streets of Paradise, a support organization for homeless people. People can drop off donations at J.D. Hamel Park, where speakers will gather.
Local Democrats are also organizing a morning protest in Venice, 9 a.m, in Venice, at Biehl Park, near the Venice Theater.
Another morning protest is organized by the Indivisible chapter in Manatee. That one is also scheduled at 9 a.m, along the south side of University Parkway, between North Cattlemen Road, west to Honore Avenue.
Indivisible Manatee is also planning other rallies and car caravans this Saturday.
Reporting for WSLR News, Johannes Werner.
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