Call it an anti-birthday party.

Opponents of President Donald Trump are gathering to protest across Arizona on June 14, the president’s 79th birthday and the day of a major Flag Day military parade in Washington, D.C.

Many people began peacefully gathering during the morning on the Capitol grounds in Phoenix. Some were holding signs stating "No Kings." Rows of white pop-ups were set up for groups and vendors.

The demonstrations come as tensions rise over the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, the “One Big Beautiful Bill” of Trump’s legislative priorities making its way through Congress and the 161 executive orders the president has signed in his second term.

The protest at the state Capitol in Phoenix was slated to be peaceful and aimed at “making fun of the clown-in-chief on his birthday,” said Erica Connell, the Arizona liaison for the 50501 movement that organized the event.

“They might be coming for us, but they can't hold us down,” Connell said.

The Phoenix event was planned around a carnival theme with drag queen performances and a speaking program. The goal was to connect people with community resources, Connell said.

The day of demonstrations coincided with a parade marking the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army. Trump will take a prominent role at the event, which could cost taxpayers some $25 million to $40 million.

It also came just after the president deployed 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to Los Angeles after worksite raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement sparked protests in the city. A group of Democratic governors, including Gov. Katie Hobbs, accused Trump of abusing his power by sending the military into Los Angeles.

"If it weren’t for me getting the National Guard into Los Angeles, it would be burning to the ground right now!" Trump said on Truth Social .

Phoenix protest organizers initially planned for 5,000 people, Connell said, but later expected between 10,000 and 15,000 people to attend. Connell attributed the rising count to outrage over the military moving into Los Angeles.

ICE is also active in Arizona , and protesters clashed with guards outside an ICE office in Tucson on June 11.

Arizona protests were planned for the state Capitol in Phoenix at 9 a.m. and in nearby cities like Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler, Surprise and Mesa.

Protesters also planned to gather in Tucson and Flagstaff, and Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes was set to speak at a “No Kings” protest in Prescott.

“This isn’t about public safety, this is political cruelty. And it warrants a peaceful protest,” said Stacy Pearson, a Democratic political consultant in Phoenix. “We need to stand up and speak out for the hardworking immigrants that keep our country running.”

National organizers of the “No Kings” protest said they wanted to reclaim the American flag from Trump. To that end, Phoenix protest organizers planned to hand out 2,000 American flags to attendees.

“It's not that we don't want you to hold on to a Mexico flag or a Palestinian flag or a Ukrainian flag, but right now, we need to make sure we don't lose America,” Connell said. “It's important that we take that symbolism back.”

Stephanie Murray covers national politics and the Trump administration for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Reach her via email at [email protected] and on X, Bluesky, TikTok and Threads @stephanie_murr.