Dozens Arrested at Capitol Protest Against Trump’s Military Parade and Troop Deployment

Protesters are detained after breaking through barrier fencing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on June 13, 2025. - Nathan Howard/Reuters

Approximately 60 individuals were arrested Friday evening outside the U.S. Capitol after breaching a police barricade and advancing toward the Capitol Rotunda steps during a protest led by veterans and military families. The demonstration was aimed at opposing President Donald Trump's deployment of the National Guard and active-duty Marines in Los Angeles, as well as a planned military parade scheduled for Saturday—Trump's 79th birthday.

Capitol Police reported that a group of about 75 demonstrators initially gathered peacefully outside the Supreme Court, across from the Capitol. As the protest began to disperse, officers began setting up a perimeter using bike rack barriers to prevent access to the Capitol grounds.

According to police, a few protesters pushed down the barricades and crossed the restricted police line, running toward the Rotunda Steps. Officers quickly intervened and made arrests on the scene. All individuals taken into custody face charges of unlawful demonstration and crossing a police line. Some are also facing additional charges, including assault on a police officer and resisting arrest.

Protesters are detained after breaking through barrier fencing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on June 13, 2025. - Nathan Howard/Reuters

The protest was organized by About Face: Veterans Against the War and Veterans for Peace. The event included a rally and press conference, culminating in the attempted sit-in at the Capitol steps. Brittany Ramos DeBarros, an Army combat veteran and organizing director of About Face, criticized the military parade’s estimated $50 million cost, advocating instead for greater investment in veteran care, healthcare, and education.

The arrests came just one day before the U.S. Army's 250th birthday celebration, expected to draw hundreds of thousands of attendees to Washington, D.C. The military parade will feature tanks, aircraft, and other military hardware, and is expected to cost approximately $45 million. Security measures are extensive, led by the U.S. Secret Service and supported by thousands of officers, 18 miles of anti-scale fencing, counter snipers, surveillance drones, and other advanced security assets.

Officials reported that, as of Friday evening, there was no active threat against the parade or related events. The Secret Service and federal agencies are continuing to monitor protests nationwide, including those in Los Angeles, though they say they are prepared for potential mass demonstrations over the weekend.