Away from today’s protests and there’ll be one eye on events in the Middle East as Israel and Iran continue to exchange fire following Israel’s attack on Friday.
Explosions have been reported in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Tehran today and Iran has warned the United States, United Kingdom and France that their bases and ships in the region will be targeted if they help stop Tehran’s strikes on Israel, Iran state media reported on Saturday.
The US has said it was not involved in the attack on Iran, describing the Israeli action as unilateral, and it warned Iran and its allies not to target US interests or personnel in the region.
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The weather is being closely monitored and taken into consideration ahead of today’s planned parade, but at this point nothing has changed, the Pentagon said yesterday.
The statement came in response to weather forecasts which appeared, on Friday at least, to show heavy rain and even thunderstorms heading forWashington DC.
This week, Trump has deployed national guard and US marine troops to Los Angeles to crack down on protesters who have demonstrated against his ramped-up deportations, defying state and local authorities in a show of military force that hasn’t been seen in the US since the civil rights era.
Texas governor Greg Abbott, a Republican,deployedhis state’s national guard to manage protests ahead of No Kings and amid ongoing demonstrations against Trump’s immigration agenda.
In Florida, Republican governor Ron DeSantissaidthat people could legally run over protesters with their cars if they were surrounded. he said: “You don’t have to sit there and just be a sitting duck and let the mob grab you out of your car and drag you through the streets.
“You have a right to defend yourself in Florida,” he added.
Millions of people are expectedto turn out for US-wide protests as part of a “No Kings” event on Saturday – the same dayDonald Trumpwill attend a military parade to honor the 250th anniversary of the US army that coincides with his 79th birthday.
The rallies follow a week of protests againstanti-immigration raids in Los Angeles, with largely peaceful demonstrations spreading to cities including New York, Chicago, San Antonio and Atlanta. Anger at Trump’s deployment of thenational guardand marines against the wishes of California officials is likely to swell numbers at today’s protests.
Meanwhile, the military parade is set to start at 6.30pm ET and is expected to feature thousands of soldiers parading through Washington DC, as well as hundreds of vehicles – including tanks and rocket launchers – dozens of aircraft – including Apache helicopters –plus 34 horses, two mules and one dog.
The event has grown extensively in scope and size since US army planners started working on a festival two years ago to mark the day. According to the AP, it will include concerts, fireworks, NFL players, fitness competitions and displays all over the National Mall. The US army expects as many as 200,000 people could attend. The event will cost an estimated $25m to $45m.
A survey earlier this week found six in 10 US adults said the parade was “not a good use” of government money, including the vast majority of people, 78%, who neither approve nor disapprove of the parade overall, according to thepollfrom The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Join us as we bring you the latest news and developments from protests across the US and the parade.