Millions of Americans are expected to take to the streets on Saturday for No Kings protests across all 50 states, as a growing movement against President Trump's authoritarian tendencies gains momentum. The second iteration of a coalition that saw massive turnout during its June debut, the event is set to see millions of people march in solidarity against what organizers say is a creeping erosion of democratic values and an attempt by Trump to establish a monarchical system.
The protests come at a time when cities across the US are being increasingly militarized, with Trump using federal troops and immigration agents to quell dissent. The move has sparked widespread outrage among residents, who have taken to the streets in defiance, suing to prevent national guard deployments and demanding their right to peaceful protest.
Despite efforts by Trump's allies to portray the No Kings protests as anti-American or left-wing, organizers claim that they are committed to nonviolent resistance and safety, with tens of thousands of participants having received training on de-escalation tactics. Meanwhile, several high-profile politicians, including Democratic senators Chuck Schumer and Chris Murphy, and independent Senator Bernie Sanders, have confirmed their attendance.
The movement's central slogan β "there should be no kings in the US" β is a clear rebuke to Trump's efforts to consolidate power and disregard democratic institutions. Critics argue that his actions are eroding civil liberties and undermining the rule of law, and the protests are an attempt by citizens to push back against this trend.
Organizers have identified over 200 partner organizations for the event, which will see over 2,700 locations across the country host marches. Key cities, including Washington DC, San Francisco, New York City, and Houston, are expected to play major roles in the protests.
The movement has drawn inspiration from past civil rights movements, with organizers citing Martin Luther King Jr's call for "people power" as a guiding principle. As Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen and one of the protest organizers, notes, "What's most important is that the president wants us to be scared, but we will not be bullied into fear and silence... it's incredibly important for people to remain peaceful, to stand proud and to say what they care about, and not to be cowed by that fear."
The No Kings protests come at a time of heightened tension in US politics, with the government shutdown still ongoing and many Americans feeling increasingly disenfranchised. As one participant noted, "We will not be silenced, we will not be intimidated... we will stand proud and say what we care about."
The protests come at a time when cities across the US are being increasingly militarized, with Trump using federal troops and immigration agents to quell dissent. The move has sparked widespread outrage among residents, who have taken to the streets in defiance, suing to prevent national guard deployments and demanding their right to peaceful protest.
Despite efforts by Trump's allies to portray the No Kings protests as anti-American or left-wing, organizers claim that they are committed to nonviolent resistance and safety, with tens of thousands of participants having received training on de-escalation tactics. Meanwhile, several high-profile politicians, including Democratic senators Chuck Schumer and Chris Murphy, and independent Senator Bernie Sanders, have confirmed their attendance.
The movement's central slogan β "there should be no kings in the US" β is a clear rebuke to Trump's efforts to consolidate power and disregard democratic institutions. Critics argue that his actions are eroding civil liberties and undermining the rule of law, and the protests are an attempt by citizens to push back against this trend.
Organizers have identified over 200 partner organizations for the event, which will see over 2,700 locations across the country host marches. Key cities, including Washington DC, San Francisco, New York City, and Houston, are expected to play major roles in the protests.
The movement has drawn inspiration from past civil rights movements, with organizers citing Martin Luther King Jr's call for "people power" as a guiding principle. As Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen and one of the protest organizers, notes, "What's most important is that the president wants us to be scared, but we will not be bullied into fear and silence... it's incredibly important for people to remain peaceful, to stand proud and to say what they care about, and not to be cowed by that fear."
The No Kings protests come at a time of heightened tension in US politics, with the government shutdown still ongoing and many Americans feeling increasingly disenfranchised. As one participant noted, "We will not be silenced, we will not be intimidated... we will stand proud and say what we care about."