Washington, DC: Across the United States, demonstrators from diverse backgrounds flooded streets in a nationwide wave of “No Kings” protests on Saturday, voicing sharp opposition to President Donald Trump’s perceived authoritarian leanings and unchecked influence in government.
Coordinated by progressive groups, the events unfolded at over 2,600 locations—from bustling urban centers to quiet suburbs—with organizers anticipating turnout in the millions by evening. The rallies targeted Trump’s swift overhaul of federal institutions since his January inauguration, which critics argue has eroded longstanding democratic safeguards.
The gatherings maintained a vibrant, celebratory tone, complete with oversized balloon figures and participants in whimsical attire. Families pushed strollers alongside seniors and pet owners, creating a broad tapestry of everyday Americans united in dissent. Reports of disruptions were scarce, underscoring the events’ commitment to nonviolent expression.
Leah Greenberg, co-founder of the progressive advocacy group Indivisible, which spearheaded the planning, captured the sentiment: “There is nothing more American than saying, ‘We don’t have kings’ and exercising our right to peacefully protest.”
In New York City, throngs packed Times Square, where authorities noted zero arrests tied to the demonstrations despite over 100,000 participants spanning the boroughs. Similar scenes played out in Philadelphia, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, and Seattle, with crowds swelling into the tens of thousands. On the West Coast, Los Angeles hosted more than a dozen events, including a flagship assembly downtown, while Seattle’s procession snaked over a mile to the iconic Space Needle. San Diego police estimated over 25,000 joined the peaceful outcry there.
The unrest stems from widespread frustration, particularly among left-leaning voters, over Trump’s aggressive tactics: the pursuit of legal actions against political rivals, a hardline border enforcement strategy bolstered by military involvement, and the deployment of National Guard units to urban areas—measures the president frames as essential for curbing crime and securing borders.
Amid efforts to embed loyal but untested appointees across agencies, Trump has also intensified scrutiny on media outlets, legal practices, and academic institutions. Yet the protests remained spirited yet restrained, with law enforcement adopting a hands-off approach.
In the nation’s capital, marchers clogged avenues en route to the Capitol, waving American flags and placards amid a festive din of chants and balloons. Aliston Elliot, sporting a Statue of Liberty crown and clutching a “No Wannabe Dictators” banner, declared: “We want to show our support for democracy and fighting for what is right. I’m against the overreach of power.”
Houston’s city hall drew about 5,000, including 30-year-old Marine veteran Daniel Aboyte Gamez, who had deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria. “I don’t understand what’s going on in this nation right now,” he remarked.
In Portland, Oregon, 70-year-old veteran Kevin Brice, clad in a “No Kings since 1776” sweatshirt—a nod to the Declaration of Independence—joined thousands along the waterfront. A self-described lifelong Republican, he lamented: “Everything that I thought that I stood for while I was serving in the military seems to be at risk… So even though I’m a lifelong Republican, I don’t support the direction the party is going.”
Echoing that rift, 74-year-old retired oil executive Steve Klopp of Houston donned a “Former Republican” shirt. “I’ve been a Republican forever,” he said. “My family’s been Republican forever and ever. And the idea that one individual could have turned me away from the Republican Party is insane.”
Outside Denver’s state capitol, Kelly Kinsella, 38, embodied Lady Liberty with staged crimson streaks on her cheeks amid several thousand attendees. “Everyone comes to work stressed, and it’s because of the current conditions,” she explained, pinning blame on inflation exacerbated by Trump’s tariff regime.
Trump addressed the furor minimally, telling Fox Business on Friday: “They’re referring to me as a king—I’m not a king.” Democrats, bridging internal divides post his reelection, rallied behind the cause; Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez both endorsed the “No Kings” push.
The actions built on June 14’s 2,000-plus rallies, timed to Trump’s 79th birthday and a military display in Washington.
From the GOP side, House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed the events Friday as “the hate America rally,” amplifying party-wide charges that such activism fosters violence—especially after September’s killing of Trump confidant Charlie Kirk. Vice President JD Vance, at a Camp Pendleton Marine event Saturday, sidestepped the protests but lambasted Democrats for the month’s government shutdown amid budget clashes.
American University professor Dana Fisher, a chronicler of activism, forecasted record participation, potentially topping 3 million based on sign-ups and June’s estimated 4-6 million turnout, per data analyst G Elliott Morris.
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