‘No Kings’ protests: Why millions of Americans took to streets against Donald Trump

Millions of people took to the streets in several cities and towns in the United States on Saturday as part of the ‘No Kings’ protests against the policies of the Donald Trump administration.

 

According to media reports, at least 2,500 events took place in all 50 states, denouncing what they view as authoritarian tendencies and unbridled corruption of President Trump.

 

The perceived threats to democracy, the administration’s ICE raids and troop deployments in US cities, and cuts to federal programmes, especially health care, were some of the themes that took centre stage during the marches, according to CNN.

 

In Atlanta, the protesters marched from the Civic Centre to the Georgia State Capitol, emphasising an urgent call to safeguard American democracy and resist authoritarian leadership. 

 

The protests in Los Angeles primarily focused on immigrant rights, with many demonstrators carrying Mexican flags or hybrid flags of the US and Mexico. The city had witnessed immigration protests in June after the federal raids.

 

“We know he’s (President Trump) not a king, but we don’t want to see our democracy slide backwards into authoritarianism and that’s what the protests are about,” Mayor Karen Bass told CNN. He claimed at least 10 protests were held in Los Angeles, and all of them were peaceful.

 

New York City witnessed a massive turnout of 100,000 people across all five boroughs, and the demonstrations remained peaceful throughout the day.

 

"The majority of the No Kings protests have dispersed at this time, and all traffic closures have been lifted. We had more than 100,000 people across all five boroughs peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights, and the NYPD made zero protest-related arrests," the New York Police Department said in a statement on X. 

 

Charlotte, Austin and San Diego, too, witnessed a huge turnout with protesters challenging the Trump-led agenda that upended democratic norms.

 

According to a Reuters report, the demonstrations were largely festive, often featuring inflatable characters and marchers dressed in costumes. The demographically mixed crowds included parents pushing youngsters in strollers alongside retirees and people with pets in tow, it said.

 

Just a beginning, say organisers

 

In a statement, the organisers of the ‘No Kings’ protests claimed that nearly seven million people gathered on Saturday in over 2,700 cities and towns.

 

“With more than 2,700 lawful and peaceful protests across all 50 states, today's mobilisation was 14 times larger than both of President Trump's presidential inaugurations combined, marking a historic moment of unity and resistance. From rural communities to major metropolitan centres, the message was clear: America will not be ruled by fear, force, or one man's power grab,” they said.

 

They also claimed that Saturday’s protests were just the beginning of a broader movement intended to defend democratic norms and hold the administration accountable.

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