WASHINGTON – On June 6, the 81st anniversary of D-Day, hundreds of veterans, military families and activists gathered for the “Unite for Veterans, Unite for America” rally on the National Mall in response to the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Decked out in military regalia, protest shirts and buttons, and signs demanding action, attendees protested over VA staffing cuts and program rollbacks under VA Secretary Doug Collins.
The United for Veterans Coalition organized the event, with help of the American Civil Liberties Union. The group known as Veterans for Peace was in attendance as well. The protest started with a series of speeches from veterans and lawmakers like Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., followed by a concert from a Celtic punk band known as the Dropkick Murphys.
The Trump administration has not publicly addressed the demonstration, though President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed his administration’s commitment to the military and veterans.
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- Protesters hold signs reading “Our veterans are not government waste,” and “Support trans troops,” during a demonstration on the National Mall in Washington on Friday, June 6, 2025. (Bridget Erin Craig/Medill News Service)
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- A protester holds a sign reading “Veterans’ lives on the line. Stop VA cuts,” during a demonstration on the National Mall in Washington on Friday, June 6, 2025. (Bridget Erin Craig/Medill News Service)
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- A protester holds a sign reading “A strong country supports its vets and their families,” as he poses with another protester in costume, during a demonstration on the National Mall in Washington on Friday, June 6, 2025. (Bridget Erin Craig/Medill News Service)
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- Two protesters hold signs reading “We the people, the 4th branch of government,” and “Federal workers have stronger spines than Congress,” during a demonstration on the National Mall in Washington on Friday, June 6, 2025. (Bridget Erin Craig/Medill News Service)
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- A protester holds a sign with a photo of her and her father, reading “My dad’s service to USA. 19 years Army, 1 year Vietnam, 27 years federal worker,” during a demonstration on the National Mall in Washington on Friday, June 6, 2025. (Bridget Erin Craig/Medill News Service)
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- A protester holds a sign reading “My interest is, my one hobby is, maintaining a democracy,” during a demonstration on the National Mall in Washington on Friday, June 6, 2025. (Bridget Erin Craig/Medill News Service)
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- A protester holds a sign reading “You promised. We served. Keep your word,” during a demonstration on the National Mall in Washington on Friday, June 6, 2025. (Bridget Erin Craig/Medill News Service)
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- A protester holds a sign reading “Impeach the orange taco to ‘Make America Great Again,’” during a demonstration on the National Mall in Washington on Friday, June 6, 2025. (Bridget Erin Craig/Medill News Service)
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- A protester holds a sign reading “5 generations supporting our military,” followed by a list of names, during a demonstration on the National Mall in Washington on Friday, June 6, 2025. (Bridget Erin Craig/Medill News Service)
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- An attendee looks at a protest merchandise stand, with a sign hung reading “Now in its 8th WTF year! The roving anti-Trump ‘save democracy tour’ bandwagon,” during a demonstration on the National Mall in Washington on Friday, June 6, 2025. (Bridget Erin Craig/Medill News Service)
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- Two protesters hold signs reading “Impeach, remove, imprison,” and “Dear world, we are so sorry. Love, sane Americans,” during a demonstration on the National Mall in Washington on Friday, June 6, 2025. (Bridget Erin Craig/Medill News Service)
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- A protester holds a sign reading “Land of the free because of the brave,” during a demonstration on the National Mall in Washington on Friday, June 6, 2025. (Bridget Erin Craig/Medill News Service)
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- Signs lay on the grass, with one reading “No kings. Unite 4 veterans June 6 National Mall. Tax the rich. No cuts to VA earned benefits,” during a demonstration on the National Mall in Washington on Friday, June 6, 2025. (Bridget Erin Craig/Medill News Service)
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- Veterans, military families and activists rally against the Trump administration’s cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs on June 6, 2025. (Bridget Erin Craig/Medill News Service)
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- A protester sits with a sign reading “Congress where are you? Checks and balances, do your job,” during a demonstration on the National Mall in Washington on Friday, June 6, 2025. (Bridget Erin Craig/Medill News Service)
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- A protester holds a sign reading “Restore truth, competence, honor, rule of law,” during a demonstration on the National Mall in Washington on Friday, June 6, 2025. (Bridget Erin Craig/Medill News Service)
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- A protester holds a sign with two photos, on the left it reads “Patriot, first openly trans service, member, 400 combat missions,” and on the right it reads “Traitor, POTUS, ‘Bone Spurs,’” during a demonstration on the National Mall in Washington on Friday, June 6, 2025. (Bridget Erin Craig/Medill News Service)
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- A protester holds a sign reading “Don’t mess with vets,” during a demonstration on the National Mall in Washington on Friday, June 6, 2025. (Bridget Erin Craig/Medill News Service)
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- Protesters hold signs reading “Trump criminal crypto corruption stinks. Impeach or Congress is complicit,” and “Veterans fought for us, now we fight for them,” during a demonstration on the National Mall in Washington on Friday, June 6, 2025. (Bridget Erin Craig/Medill News Service)