Millions Join ‘No Kings’ Protests as America Pushes Back Against Trump’s Power Play

From coast to coast, millions of Americans took to the streets this weekend for what organisers called the “No Kings” movement a nationwide show of defiance against President Donald Trump’s increasingly hardline leadership.

Rallies filled city squares from New York to Los Angeles, with organisers claiming over seven million people marched to “protect democracy.” Even small towns in America’s heartland saw homemade signs and chants echoing the same sentiment: that no leader, no matter how powerful, should rule unchecked.

“This Is What Democracy Looks Like”

In Washington, chants of “This is what democracy looks like!” filled the air near the US Capitol, now quiet after three weeks of government shutdown. Protesters carried colourful signs urging the end of Trump’s crackdown on immigration and media freedoms.

For many, the protests weren’t just political they were deeply personal.
“I never thought I’d see democracy under threat in my lifetime,” said 69-year-old Colleen Hoffman, who travelled from New York to march. “You can’t just sit at home and scroll while your country unravels.”

A Country Divided, But Still Loud

The rallies were largely peaceful, though police in Los Angeles fired non-lethal rounds late Saturday after some demonstrators clashed with officers. In most cities, the marches were marked by humour and creativity from a giant inflatable Trump in a diaper floating above downtown LA, to flags inspired by anime culture reading “Fight Ignorance, Not Migrants.”

Social media captured the day in real time. On X (formerly Twitter), hashtags like #NoKings and #DemocracyMarch trended for hours, with users sharing photos of homemade posters and families marching together. “This isn’t hate it’s heartbreak turned into action,” wrote one user in response to claims from Republicans labelling the movement “Hate America” rallies.

Trump Fires Back With AI-Generated Videos

True to form, Trump’s response lit up his Truth Social platform. The president posted AI-generated videos depicting himself as a crowned king piloting a fighter jet, dropping what looked like waste over protest crowds imagery many critics saw as proof of the movement’s point.

House Speaker Mike Johnson doubled down, calling demonstrators “Marxists” and “anarchists.” Protesters shrugged off the remarks. “If demanding equality makes me a Marxist, so be it,” joked one marcher in Chicago.

The Call for a “Country of Equals”

Civil rights groups and progressive leaders framed the protests as a defence of democracy rather than an attack on Trump himself. “We are a country of equals of laws, not kings,” said Deirdre Schifeling of the ACLU. “We will not be silenced.”

Indivisible Project co-founder Leah Greenberg accused Trump’s administration of using fear tactics by deploying National Guard troops in Democratic-led cities. “It’s an old authoritarian playbook,” she warned.

Senator Bernie Sanders, addressing a packed crowd in Washington, urged vigilance: “We have a president who believes power belongs to him alone. We must remind him it belongs to the people.”

A Generation Refusing Silence

Among the sea of adults, young voices stood out. Sixteen-year-old Isaac Harder joined his parents at the protest in Philadelphia. “If we don’t fight now, we’ll inherit a country run by fear,” he said.

The “No Kings” protests may fade from the headlines in coming days, but their message that democracy is worth showing up for continues to resonate across America. Whether this energy will transform into political change remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the people are watching, and they’re refusing to be silent.

{Source:EWN}

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