“No Kings,” internationally known as “No Tyrants” or “No Dictators,” started in June 2025 to protest against President Donald Trump’s reputation for authoritativeness and corruption. The movement’s name harkens back to the roots of U.S. history, epitomizing how America rejected the British monarchy and established a government where power resided within the people. Much like the Founding Fathers, today’s protesters invoke democracy as both a founding principle and a warning that Trump’s alleged lack of accountability mirrors the monarchy the nation originally emancipated itself from.
The name, “No Kings,” reflects previous American reproachful resistance against tyranny and the safeguarding of democratic ideals. The series of demonstrations originated in coalition with 200 organizers, including the 50501 Movement and the American Civil Liberties Union, as part of the Indivisible Movement. Facilitators oppose Trump’s purported fascist tendencies, labeling him as an unlawful monarch whose reign seizes power from the rightful hands of Americans. The protests emanated from the nationwide “‘No Kings on Presidents Day,” orchestrated by the progressive 50501 Movement to resist federal immigration enforcement, a common goal in recent demonstrations.
The Indivisible Movement declares that its demonstrations adhere to non-violence, a fundamental value amid the rise of political violence. Demonstrators instead stood for their beliefs through their clothing, wearing yellow as a symbol of unity and inflatable costumes to highlight the demonstration’s peaceful nature. Loud cheering and slogan chanting infiltrated street corners under the watchful eye of organizers who trained in de-escalation, maintained safety guidelines and provided first-aid essentials. The demonstrations only further attained momentum from the increasingly massive waves of attendance, not brutality.
October 2025 experienced a plentiful amount of “No Kings” protests and rallies around the U.S. The government shutdown, which occurred October 1, 2025, served as the tipping point for millions of U.S. citizens to join together on the streets and protest, describing how the shutdown exemplified Trump’s excessive control over democratic processes. As hundreds of thousands of federal workers remained furloughed, the shutdown created frustration within the American people in major cities such as Washington, D.C., Chicago and New York, where numerous affected employees live. This frustration led to the highest-attended protests seen October 18, 2025, as organizers across the U.S. marked the day as a national Day of Action.
“I attended a ‘No Kings’ protest in East Cobb on the official day of action and it was so nice to see so many people who came out to protest. I think it’s extremely important for Americans to come together for what they believe in to create a sense of community and to make a change. Seeing the large protests around the U.S. inspires me to continue to protest and further fight for my beliefs,” magnet senior Avery Moore said.
Washington, D.C.
October 18, 2025, over 200,000 participants showed up in front of the National Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue, leading to the highest-attended “No Kings” demonstration in the U.S. Protesters gathered, holding posters and feeling ready to fight for their beliefs because this event’s setting empowers it with influential symbolism. D.C., the nation’s capital, holds the majority of federal buildings and leaders, which provided a special emphasis to the protest’s message. Attendees included federal employees who felt personally attacked by the government shutdown, and numerous citizens who disagreed with the U.S. holding a monarchy-like president. Signs and chants targeted the Trump Administration’s executive authority usage, immigration enforcement and restrictions on civil liberties.
Chicago, Illinois
On an undifferentiated Saturday morning up north in Chicago, an estimated 250,000 individuals joined together in Grant Park and the surrounding downtown streets to march for their beliefs. Protestors marched beneath huge banners they created, which read, “No Kings Since 1776” and “We the People” to connect the U.S. history with kings to current local issues they see with the Trump Administration. Chicagoans protested for specific, local issues, including immigration enforcement, police militarization and civil rights, and overall saw the protest as a defense for the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that escalated due to the shutdown. Chicagoans filled this protest with music, costumes and different community groups showcasing what they stood for, but overall proved serious in its aims toward the federal government.
“I saw this protest all over the news and was so shocked by the number of people who showed up. I thought it was so cool how people represented themselves through their outfits, props like stuffed animals and signs. I hope to go to a protest as big as this one in the future,” magnet senior Ella Cummings said.
New York City, New York
In New York City, “No Kings” protests filled Times Square, Broadway Street and Union Square with crowds ranging between 100,000 and 350,000 people total. Protestors included a mix of activists, union workers, students and families who similarly disagreed with authoritarianism and hoped for a government that serves the people. These groups especially expressed anger toward the length of the government shutdown because it disrupted public services and personally impacted thousands of New Yorkers. The city showed its creativity through the performers, artists and musicians who joined the march and turned it into a festival-style event. Participants sang “Do You Hear the People Sing,” from “Les Misérables,” to express their dissent. Even through the loud music and joy, New Yorkers stood strongly with their opinion about the U.S. not maintaining any kings.
Peaceful protests catalyze change, allowing people to channel frustrations and challenge political authority. When constituents’ voices may go unheard at the ballot box, citizens raise their voices in the streets. Non-violent protests, such as “No Kings,” hold government officials accountable, while upholding the freedoms the demonstrations also aim to protect.
