Follow live updates as the military parade in Washington, D.C., kicks off on Trump's birthday. 'No Kings' protests by opponents are planned across the country today.

Thousands gathered in Daley Plaza and in suburban events in protests timed to coincide with a military parade in Washington celebrating the Army's 250th anniversary and President Donald Trump's 79th birthday.

Protesters across Southern California and the country took to the streets for ‘No Kings’ demonstrations against President Trump and the $45-million celebration of the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday, which coincides with Trump’s 79th.

Natalie Benny, a board member of Alabama Equality, which advocates for the rights of LGBTQ Alabamans, spoke to the crowd, gathered in a large empty lot, from the back of a pickup truck before the march. She spoke about anti-trans rhetoric.

"No Kings," a nationwide series of protests scheduled for Saturday, was planned as a counter to the military parade taking place in Washington D.C. on the same day. That parade is being held in honor of the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary and, coincidentally, Mr. Trump's 79th birthday.

Across the country, relatively few disruptions were reported during protests and marches where the mood ranged from joyful to defiant.

The Houston demonstration is one of several planned in the region throughout the day and is expected to draw thousands of protesters.

Car horns, chants and cheers filled the air around the Williamsburg-James City Courthouse on Saturday night as thousands of people participated in the largest “No Kings” rally in the region.

The parade, honoring the Army’s long-planned 250th anniversary celebration and coinciding with Trump’s 79th birthday, is set to step off from the Lincoln Memorial under the threat of stormy weather in Washington and protests around the country tied to a turbulent week of immigration enforcement that has involved military deployment in Los Angeles.

Atlanta’s 5,000-capacity “No Kings” rally quickly reached its limit, with thousands more demonstrators gathered outside barriers to hear speakers in front of the state Capitol. Huge crowds marched in New York, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles, some behind “no kings” banners.

The parade was the spectacle event Trump had long wanted. It also helped sparked the largest mass opposition to him since his inauguration 145 days earlier.

“The most threatening sound to an oligarch is laughter.”