"‘No Kings’ Protests Sweep Nation in Historic Display of Anti-Authoritarian Sentiment"

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff   

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA

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Image Source: N'dea Yancey-Bragg, Sarah D. Wire, Jeanine Santucci

In a sweeping show of coordinated dissent, tens of thousands of Americans have taken to the streets in cities across the country as part of the nationwide “No Kings” protest movement an organized day of peaceful demonstrations against former President Donald Trump and what protesters call an alarming rise in authoritarianism.

From Los Angeles to New York, and from Oklahoma City to Philadelphia, participants are voicing concerns about immigration policies, threats to democracy, and the perceived concentration of power under Trump’s leadership. The protest date coincides with both Flag Day and Trump’s 79th birthday.

Major Cities Mobilize

Philadelphia’s LOVE Park, just blocks from where the Second Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence, became the epicenter of what organizers say is the largest “No Kings” protest. By noon, thousands had gathered, marching down the Ben Franklin Parkway to the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Organizers deliberately chose Philadelphia over Washington, D.C., to avoid fueling direct confrontation with Trump’s Flag Day Army parade in the capital.

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles where National Guard and Marine units were recently deployed following unrest tied to immigration raids activists rallied at City Hall. Indigenous activist Shannon Rivers addressed the crowd, asserting, “Stop talking about immigrants. All of you are immigrants. Everyone one of you.”

Tensions in the South and Midwest

In Palm Beach, Florida, marchers approached as close as police permitted to Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s private estate. In Oklahoma City, Navy veteran James Neal donned a shirt reading, “Not on my Watch,” and decried what he called a “rise of authoritarianism.”

In Louisville, Kentucky, demonstrators bearing signs such as “No kings in America” and “Dictator or democracy: That’s the choice” gathered outside Metro Hall. “Democracy has got to come back in full,” said early attendee Tom Scharff.

Violence in Minnesota Prompts Cancellations

Tragedy struck in Minnesota, where all “No Kings” events were canceled following a fatal shooting of a Democratic lawmaker and her husband, which authorities have described as politically motivated. While there was no confirmed link between the suspect and the protests, officials found papers with “No Kings” written in the suspect’s vehicle.

Governor Tim Walz urged Minnesotans to avoid public demonstrations for safety reasons. “The individual who assassinated a Democratic lawmaker is still at large,” protest organizers said in a statement.

Global Solidarity and Diverse Voices

Though largely U.S.-focused, solidarity events were reported in several countries abroad. In Columbus, Ohio, the protest themes were integrated into the city’s Pride march. A float styled as the White House bore the slogan, “No kings in the White House,” while participants chanted in defense of LGBTQ+ and immigrant rights.

In Wilmington, Delaware, over a thousand people marched with Delaware Governor Matt Meyer quoting Holocaust survivor Simon Wiesenthal: “It only requires that good women and men be silent for evil to flourish.”

Grassroots and First-Timers Alike Join In

For many like Daniela Childers, a therapist in Palm Beach, this marked their first protest. “I’m here at my first protest to basically show dissent to the current administration,” she said.

Victor Ceron, a first-generation Mexican-American in Los Angeles, carried a sign reading, “Brown Won’t Back Down.” “We are a resilient people,” he said, adding that he marched for his parents and his son.

Looking Ahead

With over 2,000 events planned across the nation, organizers say Saturday’s turnout nearly doubled that of the widely attended “Hands Off” protests earlier this year. Despite the threat of inclement weather in several regions, the day proceeded largely peacefully.

From chants of “Trump Must Go!” in Coachella Valley to drumming ceremonies in downtown L.A., the unified message was clear: in a democracy, no one is above the people.