Across cities nationwide, protesters gathered at “No Kings” rallies and marches to denounce what they see as the growing threat of authoritarianism under President Donald Trump’s second term. An estimated 2,600 events took place and attended by nearly seven million people, overshooting the four to six million who attended the first national protest in June. 

There were no reports of violence or police intervention on “No Kings Day” on Oct. 18th across major cities. While the timing of the first protest coincided with President Trump’s military parade, this time headlines concerning the Gaza ceasefire overshadowed the turnout in some areas. 

No Kings symbolizes the fight against authoritarianism and free speech which Trump and his administration constantly threatens and attacks. The current administration has offered preferential treatment of federal funding to major universities if their academia followed President Trump’s worldview, i.e., stripping diversity, inclusion, and equity efforts from college functions. 

Indivisible is the group behind the No Kings protest, with groups all over southern King County. 

The “No Kings” protest, or “No Dictators” and “No Tyrants” protests, are rallies and demonstrations to protest against Trump and his administration’s abuse of power, cruelty, and corruption. These rallies were organized to protest against Trump’s second presidency and his fascist policies and statements about being a king. 

The White House responded to the demonstrations by reposting an AI-generated video of President Trump, in a crown, flying a plane that appears to be dumping human feces on the American people. It is not the first time the administration has depicted President Trump as a monarch. 

No Kings Day represents a growing wave of activism across the country. For many, the protest serves as a reminder that democracy relies on public participation, that no individual, no matter how powerful, stands above the principles of accountability and freedom.

The group behind the protests are asking people to share their stories under the #NoKings on social media.