BRIDGEWATER - Braving the rain, patriotic Americans around the Garden State today in unison with nationwide protesters mobilized to reject President Donald J. Trump's authoritarianism and militarization of democracy.

In the largest-scale demonstration since Trump returned to office last November, people here peacefully protested against many forms of executive overreach, including the slashing of social services, ICE kidnappings, attacks against educational institutions, and the systemic defiance of court orders.

Protesters in towns across New Jersey, among them U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11), the Democratic nominee for governor, stood up to the Trump Administration's escalation of tensions and deploying of military force to suppress free speech and infringe on the constitutional rights of citizens.

Sherrill reminded a crowd in Montclair that the fight for America began here in New Jersey.

"We held the line," said the congresswoman. "George Washington crossed the Delaware and held the line here in New Jersey.

"We are not going to give up after 250 years on this ideal that everyone has a right to participate," Sherrill added. "You have a right as an American citizen to be a part of this democracy. We are facing an attack on those ideals from Washington and the Trump Administration and we are facing an attack on those ideals from [Republican nominee for Governor] Jack Ciattarelli, who will be in lockstep."

The “No Kings” mobilization occurred on the same day that Trump celebrated his birthday with a military parade in true totalitarian spirit, a Washington, D.C. event funded by taxpayers, while Medicaid and Medicare hang in the budgetary balance of his "big, beautiful bill."

Today's protests came on the heels of Trump calling National Guard members into federal service to quell protests in Los Angeles and authorizing the Secretary of Defense to employ federal troops, if necessary - a dangerous escalation after days of militarized crackdowns.

In addition, House Democratic-Farmer-Labor caucus leader Melissa Hortman died on Saturday morning after a man impersonating a police officer shot her in her Brooklyn Park home, Gov. Tim Walz said. Hortman’s husband was also shot and killed, the governor said.

Walz said they were killed in an apparent “politically motivated assassination.” “Our state lost a great leader, and I lost the dearest of friends,” Walz said. “(Hortman) was a formidable public servant, a fixture and a giant in Minnesota.”

Minnesota State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were also shot by the same individual, Walz said. They have undergone surgery and are alive, according to CNN.

Said Newark Mayor Ras Baraka:

“With the news today of the political assassination and attempted assassination of two Minnesotan state legislators, our country has now devolved into the worst level of horror imaginable.

“All of Newark grieves for the people of Minnesota at the death of Democratic state representative

Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark.  We stand with them in our hope for the complete recovery of Democratic state senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette who sustained multiple critical gunshot injuries."

The No Kings mobilizations came about "as a peaceful stand against authoritarian overreach and the gross abuse of power this Administration has shown," said event spokesperson Katie Garcia. "Now, this military escalation only confirms what we’ve known: this government wants to rule by force, not serve the people. From major cities to small towns, we’ll rise together and say: we reject political violence. We reject fear as governance. We reject the myth that only some deserve freedom.

“On Saturday, more than 1,800 rallies will take place across the country—peaceful, organized, and united. Join your community. Bring a sign. Make it clear: we don’t do kings in this country.”

As part of the protest movement, Grassroots members of Our Revolution, the nation’s largest progressive political organization, mobilize with a broad coalition of allies to deliver a clear and unified message: “America has no kings.”

AFT New Jersey and the American Federation of Government Employees also participated, rallying

citizens at the heart of New Jersey's battleground Congressional District 7.

“Congressman Tom Kean Jr. is one of the primary architects of H.R. 1, so he has made clear that he doesn’t care about meeting the country’s obligation to the veterans who have put their lives on the line to protect our country and our freedoms,” AFT New Jersey President Jennifer S. Higgins said. “His big bad bill will cause layoffs at the Lyons VA Medical Center, which just so happens to be in the congressional district he represents. If he did care, the bill would not make cuts to the Veterans Health Administration workforce; reducing the VA’s staff means cuts to veterans health care.”

In its current form, H.R. 1 (also known as The One Big Beautiful Bill Act) — which was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives in May — eliminates about 15 percent of the VA workforce. This possible loss of around 80,000 jobs would compound the current staff shortages at VA clinics and the increasing need for veterans’ health care services.

Meanwhile, a parade billed as a celebration of the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary (costing taxpayers an estimated $40 million) will take place in Washington, D.C., on June 14 — which happens to be Flag Day and also the birthday of President Donald Trump.

“While Trump strokes his ego celebrating his birthday with a military parade, needlessly spending millions in taxpayer money, veterans who have honorably fought and served are still homeless and hungry,” AFGE District 2 National Vice President David Gonzalez said.

“Trump’s parade does not honor the flag, does not honor our veterans, and does not honor the workers who care for our veterans,” AFGE Local 1012 President Adam Cartagena said.

The People's Organization for Progress (POP), led by Larry Hamm, participated. Hamm said the protests are being held not only to demonstrate opposition to Trump’s policies but also to his military parade.

“Donald Trump is trying to make himself a dictator. He wasn’t elected to be dictator or a king. He was elected to be president. We want democracy not dictatorship,” said Hamm. “What Trump has been doing since his return to office for the past six months is an extension of his attempted January 6, 2021 coup. We are marching on Saturday to oppose his anti-democratic, autocratic and fascist policies.

“Speaking for POP, we are marching against the Trump administrations draconian budget cuts to just about every federal program that benefits working people, poor people, and the middle class, while at the same time trying to give trillion of dollars of tax breaks to those who are already filthy rich.

“We are marching against Trump’s racist and anti-black policies. He has targeted the African American community in a particularly destructive way.

“His attacks on our civil rights and protections, constitutional rights, voting rights, human rights, civil liberties, educational institutions, affirmative action, DEI, Black History, and economic well-being is an attempt to drag us back to the 19th century."