The streets of Columbus were a bit more colorful June 14 as the massive Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival and March took over Downtown and the Short North.
Meanwhile, protesters are holding No Kings rallies across the region, state and nation as President Donald Trump plans a military parade.
Indivisible Central Ohio held its downtown Columbus No Kings event June 13, so as to not conflict with the Pride celebration, but group members marched in Saturday’s parade.
The Dispatch sent multiple reporters and photographers to cover the day’s events, as did our news partners throughout the Buckeye State. Follow along for updates here throughout the day.
5:43 p.m.: Lancaster rally met with counterprotesters there to celebrate Trump’s birthday, Flag Day
Despite the hot, humid day with temperatures reaching almost 80, that didn’t stop the roughly 350 people from coming together in downtown Lancaster as part of the nationwide No Kings protests on June 14.
Throughout the protests, many cars were honking in support, but others yelled out in support of President Trump. In addition, a small number of Trump supporters were there in a counterprotest.
“There’s so many people here who are evil and disillusioned and need to find God,” said Jerry Wyrick. “We’re just here just because it’s Trump’s birthday and it’s Flag Day.”
Read more from the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette.
— Jeff Barron, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette
5:13 p.m.: Protesters at loud and raucous Pickerington rally include Columbus, Canal Winchester residents
Holding signs and chanting slogans, those opposed to President Donald Trump stood on all four corners of Ohio 256 and Refugee Road in loud and raucous participation in the “No Kings” rally in Pickerington.
Jeenah Trout, 62, of Canal Winchester, said her father was a World War II veteran and that it was easy to get seduced by personalities who feed on hate, prejudice and bias, who make themselves self-appointed kings who blame it on immigrants.
“This is a repeat of history,” Trout said. “And now I completely understand what he was talking about, what the danger was. So I’m out here to say no kings first and foremost. He’s done away with any protections our forefathers put in place, so we’ve got to fight back.”
Read more from the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette.
— Jeff Barron, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette
4:05 p.m.: Over 100 protestors gather in front of the Ross County Courthouse in Chillicothe
In Chillicothe, over 100 protesters held signs, listened to speakers, sang songs and chanted about their disdain for the current administration. During one song, protesters stated they want Trump to keep his “hands off” history, the constitution, PBS, NPR, Social Security and more.
Daniel Van der Mallie was one of the people leading chants at the rally. As a crisis worker and prison guard, he said he saw firsthand how Trump’s actions were negatively impacting people, which is why he was out showing his support for the rally.
Read more from the Chillicothe Gazette.
— Shelby Reeves, Chillicothe Gazette
1:36 p.m. Local business benefits from Stonewall Columbus Pride March attendees
Doug Buckley of Black Kahawa coffee shop at the march’s starting point said Saturday morning was the highest-grossing day of his business. He opened the coffee shop at the iconic Broad and High intersection Downtown in December.
— Doral Chenoweth
12:17 p.m.: Marchers, spectators head to Goodale Park for Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival & Resource Fair
After the march completed its route up North High Street, hundreds of spectators and marchers began gathering at Goodale Park for the 2025 Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival & Resource Fair, which is set to run until 8 p.m. The day’s festival events will feature Zhané Wiley, Stonewall Columbus Patron of Pride 2024, and host Joe Speir. This year’s theme is “United in Power!”
— Cole Behrens and Nathaniel Shuda
12:15 p.m.: A couple hundred protesters gather in Marion for their largest rally of 2025
By 12:15 p.m., just 15 minutes after the start time, a couple hundred had gathered for the No Kings rally in Marion. Event organizers said this was the largest rally they’ve had all year.
One demonstrator, Renee Haner, said she was there to fight for democracy.
“Seeing this many people come out, that’s fantastic,” Haner said. “I look at it like this, for every one of these people, there are 10 more people hiding in their house that wish they had the balls to come out and do this.”
Cara Stevens, secretary for the Marion County Democratic Club, said she was there to voice her concern for President Donald Trump’s “complete disregard of Constitutional norms” and misinformation being spread.
“I think for a community like ours, this is really important,” Stevens said. “We are a minority. This is a community that went very strongly for Trump. So I think continuing to let people that are concerned know that they’re not alone, is really important.”
Read more here from the Marion Star.
— Abby Bammerlin, Marion Star
11:55 a.m.: In the Akron area, protesters rally against military parade, proposed Medicaid cuts
About 1,500 people lined the streets north of downtown Cuyahoga Falls amid the humidity and rain to protest President Donald Trump and his administration’s policies at the Cuyahoga Falls “No Kings” protest, said Sunny Park, director of Cuyahoga Falls-based Kitchen Table Voters, one of the event organizers.
Protesters held signs that read, “No kings since 1776,” “Bad Things Happen When Good People Do Nothing,” “Stop the Parade Fund Medicaid,” “When cruelty becomes normal compassion looks radical” and “Make Orwell Fiction Again.”
Read more from the Akron Beacon Journal.
— Patrick Williams, Akron Beacon Journal
10:53 a.m.: Threes Above High provides bus for Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, Marching Band alumni
Sam McNaughton, an owner of Threes Above High, Fours On High and Fives Up High, a trio of Columbus bars, provided a painted “Threes Above High” school bus for members of the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center who participated in the march. Alumni of the Ohio State University Marching Band also gathered around it.
McNaughton provided the bus after the groups’ original bus plans fell through, he said.
Like many universities, OSU has rolled back many of its diversity initiatives. The university shuttered its Office of Diversity and Inclusion in March amid threats from the Trump administration that universities with diversity, equity and inclusion programs could face cuts.
“The vibes are just awesome here,” McNaughton said of the Stonewall march. “That’s what our brand is all about: giving back and supporting our community.”
— Bailey Gallion
10:29 a.m.: Spectators sharing unifying messages of love and hope as March begins
Just before the march begins at 10:30 a.m., hundreds of parade spectators are gathering along the route on North High Street.
For Katorya Washington, 20, this was her first time spectating the Pride March after walking in it in 2024. She was attending with her fiancée.
“I think you have to at least come see it once, (even if) you don’t see it ever again, just at least experience (it),” Washington said. “You only have one life; might as well do it all.”
JP Murphy, 54, was attending with his husband and best friend. He said Pride was about being unified and “acknowledging and supporting that not every relationship is the same.”
“I’m hoping that people acknowledge that love is love, and everyone can really get along if you focus on that, Murphy said.
— Cole Behrens
10:06 a.m.: Indivisible Central Ohio sharing ‘No Kings’ message at Stonewall Columbus Pride March
Protesters with Indivisible Central Ohio gathered around a white parade float styled after the White House. “No kings in the White House,” a banner across it stated.
People carried signs stating, “No kings, no dictators, no billionaires, no bullies”; “We the people means everyone”; and other slogans.
A “No Kings” march took place the previous night in downtown Columbus, one of many such marches planned around the country. Indivisible Central Ohio brought the same themes into its float at the Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival and March.
Mia Lewis, organizer for Indivisible Central Ohio and associate director of Common Cause, said her group was there to protest because the rights of LGBTQ+ people are under attack by the Trump administration, along with the rights of immigrants, women and refugees.
“We the people do not accept a president who is trying to overthrow our democracy,” Lewis said. “We do not accept that Donald Trump is trying to be a king. … So many things he is doing run counter to our democracy.”
Lewis said she and others want to preserve the American way of life — including freedom, democracy and the rule of law — for the coming generations.
Lewis also criticized the military parade that would be held in Washington later that day. She alleged that Trump has never supported members of the Armed Forces and is holding the parade as an “un-American” birthday celebration. Trump turns 79 on June 14.
“If that isn’t the most un-American thing,” Lewis said. “It’s the opposite of American.”
Lewis said she is not concerned about safety or counterprotesters because she believes the majority of Americans agree with their cause.
— Bailey Gallion
8:59 a.m.: Rainbow-clad march-goers heading Downtown
Just before 9 a.m., a steady flow of people wearing rainbow colors were flocking Downtown. Columbus police were also out, including the Division’s helicopter unit overhead and members of its Dialogue Team wearing blue vests on the ground.
March participants are lining up on High Street, in front of the Ohio Statehouse, with members of the Indivisible Central Ohio group, which organized a June 13 No Kings protest outside the Statehouse, congregating at West Town and South High streets.
— Bailey Gallion, Doral Chenoweth and Nathaniel Shuda
Will it rain on the parade? Columbus weather for June 14
It’s looking to be a rainy weekend for the 2025 Stonewall Columbus Pride March and the many other outdoor events and protests planned over the next few days, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington.
There will be showers and possibly a thunderstorm on June 14, according to a weather service forecast. The chance of precipitation is 90% and between a quarter and a half inch of rain is expected, with more possible if there are thunderstorms.
— Nathan Hart
What is the schedule, route for the Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival and March?
The Stonewall Columbus Pride March will leave from the corner of Broad and High streets at 10:30 a.m. June 14. Participants will proceed north on High Street to the Buttles Avenue intersection.
The Pride Festival, which runs until 8 p.m. in Goodale Park, will include a lineup of LGBTQ+ performers.
Pride road closures on Saturday, June 14
The following roads in downtown Columbus will be closed from 8 a.m. on June 14 until cleanup of the Stonewall Columbus Pride March is done, according to the city of Columbus.
Is there a No Kings protest in downtown Columbus on Saturday, June 14?
No, although there are several throughout the region. Representatives of Indivisible Central Ohio plan to march in Columbus Pride with “No Kings” signs.
Here’s the lineup of area No Kings protests planned elsewhere:
Columbus Crew, All Out music festival, other events fill downtown Columbus June 14
Pride isn’t the only event expected to bring crowds to downtown Columbus June 14.
There will be a soccer game. There will be a music festival. Oh, and did we mention 614 Day? Or the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival? (Technically that last one is in the suburbs but still, it’s a lot.)
Watch: No Kings protest in Philadelphia expected to be one of nation’s largest
Watch: Trump to hold military parade in Washington, D.C.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Pride fills streets of Columbus as No Kings rallies draw thousands across Ohio, nationwide
Reporting by Bailey Gallion, Cole Behrens, Nathaniel Shuda, Eleanor Kennedy and Nathan Hart, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
