On a brisk October afternoon in Washington, D.C., the familiar steps of the Lincoln Memorial once again became a stage for Americans demanding accountability. On the eve of the "No Kings" that ultimately drew millions nationwide on Saturday, Oct. 18, a large demonstration in the nation's capital opposed the expansion of executive power by President Donald Trump. Military veterans gathered with local activists for a smaller event hosted by Indivisible, a civic group formed in response to President Donald Trump’s re-election. For four hours on Friday afternoon, about 150 people cycled through the Unite the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia) gathering that brought together former government employees, community organizers and veterans united by one message: defending democracy. Veterans part of affiliated groups spoke to Military.com before the protests as they were ready to engage in events throughout the United States. Bobby R. Jones, a U.S. Navy veteran and president of Veterans for Responsible Leadership, said his organization joined because “it’s vital that veteran organizations remain at the forefront of protests like the 'No Kings' rally.” “Every service member takes an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Today, we face a commander-in-chief who is blatantly misusing his authority, seemingly hoping that military members will forget the very oath they swore to uphold,” Jones said. He pointed to deeper frustrations in the veteran community: ongoing Department of Veterans' Affairs staffing shortages, federal job losses, and the strain of the government shutdown—which has delayed pay for active-duty personnel. “Many in the veteran community feel forgotten—or worse, abandoned," he said. "The drastic reduction in staffing at the Department of Veterans Affairs has been devastating. The elimination of federal jobs, of which roughly 30% are held by veterans, compounds that harm. “The ongoing government shutdown has intensified the hardship faced by active-duty personnel and their families. And perhaps most egregiously, the use of the National Guard to round up homeless Americans—many of whom are veterans— is unconscionable." For Jones, the rally was as much about solidarity as protest, hoping that the following day's event sent a "clear message."