In a dramatic display of national discontent, tens of millions of Americans marched through all 50 states on Saturday, marching on the common banner — “No Kings.”
The simultaneous protests, directed squarely against the Trump administration, expressed increasing anxiety that the United States is sliding toward authoritarianism and abandoning its democratic heritage. The “No Kings” marches, one of the largest national demonstrations since last month’s historic marches in June, united citizens from cities, suburbs, and small towns across the country. From New York to Los Angeles, from Atlanta to Portland, marchers carried signs, chanted slogans, and signed a giant replica of the U.S. Constitution’s preamble — a symbolic gesture highlighting their faith that the democracy of the country is held by the people, not by one leader.
A Nation on Its Feet
From city to city, protesters marched under a festive but defiant mood. Marching bands filled the skies with sound, and a crowd of inflatable frog costumes — pioneered in Portland as an offbeat symbol of resistance — became a visual commonality.It’s not hate or violence,” said Ginny Eschbach, 72, who has gone to her 42nd protest since Trump was inaugurated, this one in Los Angeles where she appeared in the guise of SpongeBob SquarePants. “It’s sending a message — we are serious, but we are not violent. We just want our voices heard.Eschbach reported she was disturbed by what she termed “the deterioration of free speech” from the current administration. “They are going after the press, the universities, even protests. That is not America I was brought up to believe in.”Massive Turnouts from Coast to CoastIn Chicago, there were at least 10,000 protesters in Butler Field of Grant Park, although later The Chicago Tribune estimated the crowd at approximately 100,000. Protesters sported banners that read “Hands Off Chicago” and “Resist Fascism.” Some of the placards’ language was so graphic that television stations issued advance warnings to viewers.As Illinois Rep Jonathan Jackson began to speak to the crowd, cheers of “F Donald Trump” rang out, a testament to the anger that so many Americans are feeling.Mayor Brandon Johnson spoke with fervor, too, stating, “
The Trump administration has decided it wants a rematch of the Civil War — and we are here to say, we will not bow, we will not cower, we will not submit.”In Washington, D.C., over 200,000 individuals marched close to the U.S. Capitol, turning the National Mall into a sea of protest signs and inflatable animals.In Atlanta, meanwhile, throngs of people filled the Civic Center fields before proceeding toward the Georgia State Capitol. Senator Raphael Warnock spoke to protesters, cautioning against the perilous precedent of demonizing fellow Americans as enemies. “When a president instructs the military to confront ‘the enemy within,’ every citizen should be on high alert,” Warnock stated. “We are all Americans — and this sort of rhetoric endangeres that very notion.”
Portland tensions
Although the vast majority of marches were peaceful, tensions erupted in Portland, Oregon, where federal agents are said to have fired gas canisters at protesters outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) center. The escalation came just before an evening protest was due to go ahead.Protesters were subjected to “unprovoked force” according to journalist Suzette Smith, rekindling local outrage at the administration’s heavy-handed response to immigration and public protests.In Santa Fe, New Mexico, absurdity was used as resistance — with unicorns, chickens, lobsters, and frogs in the streets. “It’s about demonstrating that their hate won’t kill our joy,” said Amy Adler, grinning in a lobster costume. “If they think we’re silly, great. That means they’re not prepared for how serious we get.”
Organizers said the “No Kings” movement was not just about Trump himself but about defending democratic principles under threat. “What we’re seeing from Democrats — and from ordinary citizens — is finally some backbone,” said Ezra Levin, co-founder of the activist group Indivisible. “The worst thing progressives could do right now is surrender.”The Trump administration has intensified federal presence in several U.S. cities in recent weeks, citing national security and civil unrest. Critics argue these moves represent an unconstitutional overreach and an attempt to criminalize dissent.
A Divided Nation
Trump supporters, such as Texas Governor Greg Abbott, referred to the protests as “anti-American” and accused them of being orchestrated by antifa organizations. Abbott threatened to send the state’s National Guard to Austin before the demonstrations, a move protesters allege only served to enunciate their message more clearly.But for the millions who jammed the streets over the weekend, the protests were not a matter of partisan politics — they were about defending a democracy they feel is under threat.As darkness fell throughout the country, cries of “No Kings, No Tyrants — Just Us” rang out in big cities and small. From frogs to lobsters to patriots holding flags, Americans sent a message:They will not be governed — they will be listened to.
