From sprawling metropolises to quiet mountain towns, a wave of activism swept across the United States on Saturday as more than 2,000 rallies took place in all 50 states. Branded under the unifying slogan “No Kings,” the events marked what organizers called a “day of defiance” against perceived overreach by the Trump administration.
In California alone, demonstrations spread to over 200 cities and towns. A staggering 100,000 people turned out—from the streets of Los Angeles, where 25,000 cheered at Liberty Plaza, to the 600 residents of Idyllwild who marched beneath pine-shaded trails, and even on Santa Catalina Island off the Southern California coast.
New York City saw one of the largest gatherings, with police estimating 50,000 protesters flooding streets from Union Square to Times Square. Chanting “No Deportation! Trump Must Go!” and “No Justice, No Peace!” crowds waved banners demanding an end to immigration raids and military deployments.
Outside big cities, smaller communities made their voices heard. In Nashville, more than 1,000 people recited the Pledge of Allegiance near the Tennessee State Capitol—turning a patriotic ritual into a call for democratic values. In Greenville, Ohio, a town more known for its rural calm, locals rallied at a downtown roundabout, flags waving and signs reading “This is a democracy, not a monarchy.”
Even in Miami, the “No Kings” protest lit up Biscayne Boulevard near the Torch of Friendship. Honking cars and the clatter of pots and pans echoed themes of solidarity and inclusive values, underscoring the city’s cultural ties across the Caribbean and Latin America.
Organizers, many of whom helped coordinate the “Hands Off!” protests earlier this spring, intentionally steered clear of Washington, D.C., citing the military parade hosted by the president that day as an orchestrated show of dominance. Local leaders in California, Texas, and beyond urged peaceful action—highlighting the power of nonviolent resistance to effect change.
Speakers across venues stressed unity. “This isn’t a monarchy,” declared one young organizer in Houston to a crowd of 15,000, many of them young Latinos. “Our voices matter, our families matter, and democracy is at stake.”
These protests tap into a broader global conversation about rights, governance, and civic engagement. As young global citizens follow these developments, the “No Kings” movement offers a vivid example of how grassroots energy can rally communities around shared principles—transforming local streets into stages for democratic action.
With sights now set on upcoming policy battles and elections, the “No Kings” rallies demonstrate that in the digital age, activism knows no borders—and every voice can echo across continents.
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Protests against Trump administration's policies staged across U.S.
cgtn.com
