No Kings Day Protests Happening Across PSIMC Mission Center
As most everyone following the news is aware, tomorrow, June 14, 2025, will see more than 2000 “No Kings” Day Rallies across the United States and around the world. Persons of faith are joining together with secular allies to resist the rise of authoritarianism in the United States. Since the time of Christ, and before, religious leaders have rejected worldly leaders who uplift themselves for veneration and seek to instill fear among the people.
Many biblical stories relate to resistance to worldly leaders. In Daniel 3, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, refuse to bow before a golden statue of King Nebuchadnezzar. They cite their religious beliefs as their reason. In 1 Samuel 8:10-22 , the Israelites are warned by God against following an earthly king, but in their disobedience they do so anyway. Following Pentecost, In Acts 4:13-22, Peter and John disobey the order of the authorities to stop preaching about Jesus. They said: “We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Saviour, so that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”
Jesus brought the gospel, or good news, to the poor. The counsel of scripture is consistently on behalf of the poor, the immigrant, and the marginalized. “Scoundrels use wicked methods, they make up evil schemes to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just.” — Isaiah 32:17
I invite you to pray for peace as the rallies take place across our mission center and beyond. For those of us who will attend the rallies, the enduring principles of Community of Christ are clear: Pursue Peace. Violence is never justified. As a people, we have reaffirmed this again and again including just last week at our World Conference as we adopted a statement on nonviolence.
If you attend a rally, please remember to be peaceful in your resistance. Be respectful to Peace Officers who simply are doing their job. If violence occurs or seems imminent, remove yourself from the area of violence. If police issue an order of dispersal, observe the order and leave the area. Organizers believe all of these rallies will remain peaceful and the vast majority of participants simply want to uphold constitutional rights and peacefully resist authoritarianism. Ezra Levin, one of the organizers, anticipates that these will be “family friendly events.”
Persons attending these rallies articulate a number of concerns:
· An increase in authoritarian tactics by the federal government.
· Billionaire-first policy making.
· Use of military force against citizens.
· Opposition to the lavish military parade in Washington DC on the President’s birthday.
· Unfair and unjust deportations of law-abiding persons.
For those interested in attending a NO Kings Day rally, a number of the events in our mission center (including Las Vegas, St. George, and Baja) are listed below:
No Kings Rallies June 14 Across Pacific Southwest International Mission Center.
Anaheim.
Saturday, June 14. 4 – 7:30pm PDT
Location: La Palma Park,1151 N La Palma Pkwy, Anaheim, CA 92801.
Carlsbad.
Saturday, June 14. 10am – 12pm PDT
Location: Carlsbad Boulevard & Pine Avenue, Carlsbad, CA 92008.
Chula Vista.
Saturday, June 14. 10 – 11:30am PDT
Location: Near Panera in Otay Lakes, Birch Road & Millenia Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91915
Claremont.
Saturday, June 14. 2 – 4pm PDT
Location: Foothill Boulevard & North Indian Hill Boulevard, Claremont, CA 91711.
El Cajon.
Saturday, June 14, 10am – 12pm PDT
Location: Magnolia Avenue & Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon, CA 92020.
Ensenada, B.C., Mexico.
Saturday, June 14. 11am – 1pm EDT
Location: Parque Revolución, Av. Moctezume, Zona Av Moctezuma, Zona Centro, Ensenada, 20001. Baja California, Mexico.
Escondido.
Saturday, June 14. 10am – 2pm PDT
Location: Grape Day Park, 321 N Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025.
Hemet.
Saturday, June 14. 10am – 7pm PDT.
Location: West Florida Avenue & North Sanderson Avenue, Hemet, CA 92545.
Las Vegas.
Saturday, June 14. 5 – 7pm PDT
Location: Federal Courthouse, 333 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89101.
Long Beach.
Saturday, June 14. 9 – 11am PDT
Location: Bixby Park Annex, Junipero Avenue & E Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90803.
Palm Springs.
Saturday, June 14. 6 – 8pm PDT
Location: Downtown Palm Springs Park, 134 N. Museum Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262.
Pasadena.
Saturday, June 14. 2 – 4pm PDT
Location: Lake & Colorado intersection, 860 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91101.
Santa Barbara.
Saturday, June 14, 10:30am – 12pm PDT
Location: Chase Palm Park, 236 E Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93103.
St. George.
Saturday, June 14. 2 – 4pm MDT
Location: Vernon Worthen Park, 300 S 400 E, St. George, UT 84770
Thousand Oaks.
Saturday, June 14. 4 – 6pm PDT
Location: Corner of Hillcrest and Lynn, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360.
Ventura.
Saturday, June 14. 10am – 1pm PDT
Location: County Government Center, 800 S Victoria Ave, Ventura, CA 93009.
Victorville.
Saturday, June 14. 10am – 12pm PDT
Location: Bear Valley Park and Ride, 12068 Amargosa Rd, Victorville, CA 92392.
West Hollywood.
Saturday, June 14. 11am – 1pm PDT.
Location: West Hollywood Park, 647 N San Vicente Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069.
Woodland Hills.
Saturday, June 14. 11am – 1pm PDT
Location: 6600 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Woodland Hills, CA 91367.
Source of rally times and locations: mobilize.us
Glenn Johnson, Peace and Justice Minister.