MILLIONS of Americans marched in cities and towns across the United States on Saturday as part of the “No Kings” protest movement, aimed at denouncing what organisers describe as authoritarian tendencies and democratic backsliding under President Donald Trump.
Reuters reported today that the nationwide demonstrations — spanning more than 2,600 locations and encompassing all age groups — were largely peaceful, with organisers expecting final turnout figures to reach several million by the end of the day.
Marchers were seen carrying banners, waving American flags and donning red, white and blue, with a distinctly festive and at times carnival-like atmosphere.
“There is nothing more American than saying, ‘We don’t have kings’ and exercising our right to peacefully protest,” said Leah Greenberg, co-founder of the progressive group Indivisible, which coordinated the day’s events alongside more than 300 grassroots organisations.
Despite the scale of the gatherings, police reported minimal disruptions. The New York Police Department confirmed more than 100,000 people participated across the city’s five boroughs, with “zero protest-related arrests.” Similar scenes played out in Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, Denver, and Portland, Oregon.
The rallies reflected a growing sense of alarm among many Americans — particularly on the political left — over Trump’s actions in office, including the appointment of loyalists to key government positions, an increasingly confrontational stance towards the media, a militarised immigration crackdown, and the deployment of National Guard troops to major cities.
In Washington, demonstrators filled the streets near the Capitol, many in costume. Dogs were dressed in patriotic outfits; some marchers wore Statue of Liberty attire. Signs reading “No Kings Since 1776” and “No Wannabe Dictators” were common.
Aliston Elliot, wearing a foam crown and carrying an anti-dictatorship placard, said: “We want to show our support for democracy and for fighting for what is right. I’m against the overreach of power.”
In Houston, U.S. Marine Corps veteran Daniel Aboyte Gamez, 30, joined around 5,000 others at city hall. “I don’t understand what’s going on in this nation right now,” said Gamez, who served in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria.
Some long-time Republicans expressed disillusionment with the direction of their party under Trump.
“Everything that I thought I stood for while I was serving in the military seems to be at risk,” said Kevin Brice, 70, in Portland. “So even though I’m a lifelong Republican, I don’t support the direction the party is going.”
Steve Klopp, 74, a retired oil executive in Houston, echoed the sentiment. “I’ve been a Republican forever. The idea that one individual could have turned me away from the Republican Party is insane,” he said, wearing a shirt emblazoned with “Former Republican”.
Outside the Colorado statehouse in Denver, Kelly Kinsella, 38, dressed as the Statue of Liberty with painted tears on her cheeks, said she was driven to protest largely by economic anxiety. “Everyone comes to work stressed, and it’s because of the current conditions,” she said, blaming inflation in part on Trump’s trade and tariff policies.
Trump, speaking to Fox Business the day before the rallies, dismissed the criticism. “They’re referring to me as a king — I’m not a king,” he said.
The American Civil Liberties Union provided legal guidance and de-escalation training to thousands of volunteer marshals for the protests. Support also came from across the Democratic Party spectrum, with figures like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez publicly backing the movement.
Saturday’s events built on momentum from earlier protests on 14 June, which coincided with Trump’s birthday and a rare military parade in Washington. Those rallies drew between 4 and 6 million people, according to crowd-sourced analysis by data journalist G. Elliott Morris.
Some Republicans, however, condemned the protests. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson labelled the movement “the hate America rally.” Others warned that such public dissent could incite further political violence, particularly following the recent assassination of right-wing activist and Trump ally Charlie Kirk.
Political analyst and American University professor Dana Fisher, who studies civic movements, estimated Saturday’s turnout could rival the largest protests in modern US history.
“These protests aren’t likely to change Trump’s policies,” said Fisher, “but they may embolden elected officials at all levels who oppose him.” - October 19, 2025
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