More than 8 million people protested against the Trump administration at over 3,300 No Kings events across the US and in more than a dozen countries on Saturday, according to organisers. The demonstrations, which took place in all 50 states and internationally, marked the largest number of protests in a single day in US history, said Britt Jacovich, deputy communications director for Move On, one of the organising groups.
Saturday's protest was the third No Kings event, organised by a coalition including anti-authoritarian groups Indivisible and 50501, labour unions and other grassroots organisations. The previous protest in October drew 7 million people nationwide. Protesters cited a range of grievances, from ICE raids and the war in Iran to threats to voting rights. 'Since the last No Kings, we’re seeing higher gas prices and groceries, all while there’s an illegal war in Iran,' said Sarah Parker, executive director of Voices of Florida and a national coordinator for the 50501 movement. 'The people of America are pissed.'
In the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St Paul, organisers estimated around 200,000 people filled the streets. Senator Bernie Sanders addressed the crowd about the role of the ultra-rich in politics, while Bruce Springsteen performed his song 'Streets of Minneapolis' and led chants of 'Ice out now!' Governor Tim Walz commended the state's residents for standing up for immigrants after Trump sent in federal agents who killed Minneapolis residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
In New York City, multiple No Kings contingents merged through Times Square and the outer boroughs. The main march from Central Park was led by state attorney general Letitia James, public advocate Jumaane Williams, actor Robert DeNiro, the Rev Al Sharpton and Padma Lakshmi, carrying banners reading 'We protect our democracy – people over billionaires – we protect our neighbors.' Families carried LGBTQ+ pride and Palestinian flags, with many signs and chants focusing on anti-war messaging.
In Washington DC, a group of about a dozen Palestinian mothers stood at the Lincoln Memorial waving a 10ft-tall Palestinian flag. 'Most Americans don’t know that our tax dollars are being used to subsidize violence,' said Hazami Barmada, 42. Other protesters marched across the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge to Fort McNair, where White House senior adviser Stephen Miller resides. In Chicago, protesters chanted 'Trump must go now, fascists gotta go now' as they filed into Grant Park, where Mayor Brandon Johnson addressed the crowd.
Nearly half of No Kings events were held in traditionally 'red' or battleground states, organisers said, with some in rural areas that had never seen such mobilisations. The protests were the largest single-day demonstrations in US history, reflecting widespread opposition to the Trump administration's policies.
