Demonstrators across the United States gathered on Saturday to protest President Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation policies, military actions in Iran, and other controversial measures in the third nationwide series of “No Kings” rallies. More than 3,200 events were organized in all 50 states, following two previous nationwide protests that drew millions of participants.
Significant demonstrations occurred in cities such as New York, Dallas, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. Notably, about two-thirds of the rallies were held in smaller communities, marking nearly a 40% increase in participation from less urban areas compared to the movement’s initial mobilization last June.
In Minnesota, a focal point of Trump’s immigration crackdown, a large rally took place outside the state capitol in Saint Paul. Protesters carried images of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, U.S. citizens fatally shot by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis earlier this year. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who is also the Democratic vice presidential nominee for 2024, praised the crowd’s resistance, calling them “the heart and soul” of America’s positive values. He emphasized their radicalization by compassion, decency, due process, democracy, and opposition to authoritarianism.
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a vocal Trump critic and former Democratic presidential candidate, addressed the Minnesota rally. Musician Bruce Springsteen performed “Streets of Minneapolis,” a song condemning Trump’s immigration policies and mourning the deaths of Good and Pretti. Sanders declared, “We will not allow this country to descend into authoritarianism or oligarchy in America. We, the people, will rule.”
The National Republican Congressional Committee condemned the rallies, accusing Democratic politicians of endorsing “hate America” events that amplify extreme left-wing rhetoric and direct House Democrats’ actions, spokesperson Mike Marinella.
In New York City, police estimated tens of thousands of participants stretched over ten blocks in midtown Manhattan. Actor Robert De Niro, one of the event’s organizers, stated that no previous president has posed such an existential threat to American freedoms and security. Attendee Holly Bemiss, 54, likened their activism to the spirit of the American Revolution, saying, “We fought against having kings and we fought for freedom. We’re just doing it again.”
On the National Mall in Washington, D.C., demonstrators chanted pro-democracy slogans and displayed anti-Trump signs. In Chevy Chase, Maryland, elderly protesters in wheelchairs held signs urging passing motorists to “Resist tyranny,” “Honk if you want democracy,” and “Dump Trump.”
Thousands gathered in Dallas, where tensions escalated between No Kings protesters and counterprotesters, including a group led by Enrique Tarrio, former leader of the far-right Proud Boys. Minor clashes occurred when counterprotesters blocked streets, leading to several arrests by Dallas police. Protester Chris Brendel credited Trump with mobilizing dissenters, expressing his refusal to remain silent for the sake of future generations.
In Los Angeles, retired resident Theresa Gunnell emphasized the importance of standing against authoritarianism, fascism, and greed. She criticized Trump for enriching himself at the expense of ordinary Americans. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security reported two arrests for assaulting federal officers during an incident where about 1,000 rioters surrounded the Roybal Federal Building. Officers were injured by thrown cement blocks and received medical care. The Los Angeles Police Department also arrested multiple demonstrators who refused to disperse near a federal prison, where federal authorities deployed tear gas after objects were thrown over a fence.
With the midterm elections approaching in November, organizers have observed a surge in anti-Trump activism and voter registration, especially in deeply Republican states like Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and Utah. Trump’s approval rating has dropped to 36%, the lowest since his return to office, a recent poll. Competitive suburban areas that often influence national elections, such as Pennsylvania’s Bucks and Delaware counties, Georgia’s East Cobb and Forsyth, and Arizona’s Scottsdale and Chandler, have seen significant increases in political engagement.
The initial No Kings event, held on Trump’s birthday, June 14 last year, attracted an estimated 4 to 6 million people across approximately 2,100 locations nationwide. The second event in October involved around 7 million participants in over 2,700 cities, driven largely by opposition to a government shutdown, intensified immigration enforcement, and National Guard deployments in major cities.
Saturday’s rallies also responded to the ongoing conflict involving U.S. and Israeli military actions in Iran, now in its fourth week. Morgan Taylor, attending the Washington protest with her 12-year-old son, expressed anger at Trump’s military decisions, calling the war “stupid” and unnecessary since “nobody’s attacking us.”
