Massive “No Kings” Protests Sweep U.S. as Anti-Trump Sentiment Surges

From New York to Los Angeles and small towns in between, Americans flooded streets, parks, and plazas on Saturday in one of the largest coordinated protests against former President Donald Trump since he left office. Organizers of the “No Kings” demonstrations claimed that millions participated nationwide, standing shoulder to shoulder to defend democracy and denounce what they view as authoritarian overreach.

While most events remained peaceful and celebratory, pockets of violence and confrontation emerged, raising concerns about escalating tensions.

A Nationwide Movement

The marches were loud, colorful, and charged with a mix of passion and patriotism. Protesters chanted slogans like “No kings. No crowns. We will not bow down,” waved American flags—some held upside-down in distress—and carried banners denouncing Trump’s immigration policies and executive actions.

In major cities like New York, Chicago, Austin, and Denver, tens of thousands danced, sang, and drummed their way through downtown streets. Atlanta’s rally maxed out its 5,000-person capacity, with thousands more spilling outside barriers. Seattle saw an estimated 70,000 attendees, according to local officials.

In Washington, D.C., around 200 protesters gathered near Logan Circle, chanting “Trump must go now” as a caricature puppet of Trump—crowned and seated on a golden toilet—was wheeled through the crowd.

Hotspots of Tension and Violence

Despite organizers’ calls for nonviolence, tensions occasionally flared:

• Los Angeles: Police used tear gas and crowd-control munitions after a peaceful demonstration ended. Protesters had earlier interacted peacefully with stationed National Guard troops but were later met with force as officers moved to clear federal building areas.
• Salt Lake City: A shooting during a downtown march left one person critically injured. Police detained three people, including the suspected shooter, who also suffered a gunshot wound. The motive remains unclear.
• Culpepper, Virginia: A 21-year-old man was charged with reckless driving after intentionally accelerating his SUV into departing protesters, injuring one person.
• Portland: Federal officers fired tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash bangs outside an ICE building. Police later declared the event a riot after confrontations escalated.

Voices from the Crowd

Many attendees shared deeply personal reasons for joining the protest:

• Karen Van Trieste, a nurse from Maryland, said she was concerned about Trump’s impact on public health and democracy: “We need to defend what’s left of it.”
• Peter Varadi, who once voted for Trump, marched through downtown L.A. waving a Mexican-American flag. “I regret my vote,” he admitted. “This is fascism now.”
• C.C. Téllez, a Bolivian immigrant, said: “I’m the American Dream, and there’s room for everyone else too.”

Protesters in New York handed out American flags and wore suffragette white. Others held signs that read “Fight Oligarchy” and “Deport the Mini-Mussolinis.”

Local Flashpoints

• Minnesota: Despite warnings from Gov. Tim Walz following the shooting of Democratic lawmakers, thousands still turned out in Duluth, Rochester, and St. Paul. A suspect had “No Kings” flyers and names of victims in his car.
• North Carolina: Protesters in Charlotte rallied and marched through downtown, led by a group carrying a giant Mexican flag. “We can’t stay silent,” said college student Jocelyn Abarca.
• Texas: A credible threat temporarily shut down the Texas Capitol in Austin. The rally proceeded after the suspect was arrested in nearby La Grange.
• Mississippi: Protesters in Jackson gathered on the Capitol lawn, donning tinfoil crowns and blasting Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs.” “We’re losing the thread of democracy,” said Melissa Johnson.
• Portland: Earlier in the day, protesters marched peacefully, but by evening, ICE officers fired tear gas and detained several demonstrators.

A Turning Point?

As the nation grapples with the fallout of immigration crackdowns, executive overreach, and militarized federal responses, the “No Kings” movement appears to signal a renewed wave of civic engagement—one that cuts across geography, race, and even political history.

“Today, across red states and blue, Americans stood in peaceful unity,” organizers said in a statement. “We don’t do kings.”