A stone throw's away from the American embassy in Amsterdam this weekend was held a "No Kings" protest. Except it was dubbed "No Tyrants", as countries with constitutional monarchies sought to avoid confusion with anti-monarchic movements.
This was one among thousands of similar protests that occurred over the weekend, all with the aim to denounce Donald Trump’s overreach and to reject “authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics, and the militarization of (US) democracy.”
The rallies, which follow the Hands Off! protests and the marches triggered by Trump sending in the National Guard in LA, were also a direct response to a military parade rolling through Washington that celebrated the US Army’s 250th anniversary – and handily coincided with Trump’s 79th birthday.
The last US military parade was held by President George HW Bush in June 1991, celebrating the victory in the Gulf War.
More than 2,000 protests were scheduled across all 50 US states last Saturday and organizers estimate that more than five million people participated. Several European territories like Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Ireland, UK and Belgium saw protests organized by Democrats Abroad – and the Netherlands was no different.
Outside the US consulate in Amsterdam gathered a few hundred people, and it was inspiring to see this crowd mobilize and to witness their fighting spirit.
The speeches were short but passionate; the singing of ‘America (My Country ‘Tis of Thee)’ was heartwarming; and the megaphoned demand that demonstrators take six steps back to avoid being on the bike path was one of the perfect and Dutch-appropriate interjections I’ve ever heard.
The protest signs also showcased the creativity, humour and passion of those involved. Here are some of the best placards I saw at the Amsterdam's "No Tyrants" protest - and stay until the end for the cutest protestor ever:
