US President Donald Trump has yet to release the complete details of his military-centric Fourth of July event, but those against him are denouncing the move, claiming the president is being more self-serving than patriotic. History, however, may beg to differ.
A number of demonstrations are slated to take place alongside Trump's “Salute to America” celebration in Washington, DC. Social justice, anti-war NGO CodePink in particular has scheduled a four-hour protest which originally planned to include a parade featuring the “Trump Baby Blimp.”
“We will bring together people opposed to the pain and suffering caused by this administration, from concentration camps at the border to supplying weapons used by Saudi Arabia to kill Yemeni children. We want to celebrate the power we have as Americans to work toward peace,” CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin said in a Wednesday release from the organization.
While the NGO received a permit for their blimp, CodePink was told Tuesday that they would not be allowed to fill the balloon with helium. Speaking on the matter, National Park Service spokesperson Mike Litterst clarified to the Washington Post that the National Mall's no-fly zone extends to downtown Washington, DC, too.
As a result, CodePink plans to feature the blimp west of the Washington Monument. Nevertheless, there will be a number of other organizations, groups and impromptu demonstrations, both by those…
