Across the United States, a wave of protests erupted on Saturday as demonstrators took to the streets to voice their dissent against President Donald Trump’s administration.
Organizers of the ‘No Kings’ demonstrations claimed that millions participated in hundreds of events, with large gatherings reported in cities from coast to coast.
In Portland, Oregon, tens of thousands converged in downtown for two major protests, one at Tom McCall Waterfront Park and another at the Oregon Convention Center.
Crowds also gathered in suburban areas surrounding Portland, while U.S. Representative Janelle Bynum joined demonstrators at a rally in Clackamas County, near the popular Clackamas Town Center mall.
Further south in Medford, about 3,000 people took part in a protest, according to local police estimates.
Even in Idaho, where Trump had previously won approximately 70 percent of the vote, demonstrators gathered at the state capitol in Boise, showing that opposition to the president transcends partisan lines.
Governors across the country urged peaceful demonstrations and expressed zero tolerance for violence, with some states mobilizing the National Guard in anticipation of large gatherings.
While most protests remained peaceful, isolated confrontations did arise. In Los Angeles, where tensions had previously escalated over immigration enforcement, police employed tear gas and crowd-control munitions to disperse demonstrators after the main event concluded.
Portland also experienced a similar situation, where police deployed tear gas and projectiles to clear a crowd protesting outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility late into the night.
In Salt Lake City, Utah, a shooting during a protest left one person critically injured, leading to the arrest of three individuals, including the suspected shooter who was wounded in the incident.
Authorities stated it was early in the investigation to determine the political motives behind the shooting, although the suspect was reported to have been part of the marching crowd.
The atmosphere across several major cities was marked by jubilant expressions of dissent. In places like New York, Denver, Chicago, Austin, and Los Angeles, crowds marched, danced, and chanted in solidarity, often holding up banners declaring, ‘No kings.’
In Atlanta, the event quickly reached its capacity of 5,000, with hundreds more gathered outside barriers to listen to speakers at the state capitol.
According to reports from local media, Seattle witnessed over 70,000 attendees in what became the city’s largest demonstration.
While this nationwide outpouring of protests unfolded, President Trump was in Washington for a military parade celebrating the Army’s 250th anniversary, which coincided with his birthday.
In northwest Washington, a small group of around 200 protesters gathered at Logan Circle chanting, ‘Trump must go now,’ while a large puppet caricature of the president—complete with a crown and seated on a golden toilet—was paraded through the crowd.
In various locations, demonstrators expressed their patriotic sentiments by distributing American flags, some of which were displayed upside down as a sign of distress, alongside a display of Mexican flags, which have become symbolic in protests against U.S. immigration policies.
In Culpepper, Virginia, an alarming incident occurred when a 21-year-old driver intentionally struck a protester with his SUV while protesters were departing a rally.
The driver was subsequently charged with reckless driving.
These demonstrations followed recent protests against federal immigration enforcement raids that had ignited nationwide dissent a week prior, as well as the president’s deployment of National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles after demonstrators had blocked a freeway.
‘It was a powerful day of peaceful unity,’ stated the No Kings Coalition, emphasizing their stance against monarch-like governance in America.
In Philadelphia, thousands of protesters gathered downtown, armed with signs expressing sentiments such as ‘fight oligarchy’ and ‘deport the mini-Mussolinis.’
Karen Van Trieste, a 61-year-old nurse from Maryland, attended to stand in solidarity and defend democracy, voicing concerns over Trump’s cuts to the CDC, the treatment of immigrant communities, and his reliance on executive orders.
In a spirited display, a woman wearing a foam Statue of Liberty crown led the crowd in an anti-Trump sing-along, modifying the lyrics of the song ‘Y.M.C.A.’ to replace ‘young man’ with ‘con man.’
C.C. Téllez, an immigrant from Bolivia, shared her experience of success in America, emphasizing the need for inclusivity and belonging for all in society.
Los Angeles also saw a significant turnout; demonstrators gathered in front of City Hall, enjoying a vibrant atmosphere with a Native American drum circle before setting off through the streets.
As protesters passed by National Guard and Marine troops stationed in various locations, interactions were generally amicable, with some demonstrators offering fist bumps and requests for photographs.
Still, chants of ‘shame’ and ‘go home’ directed towards the troops echoed through parts of the crowd.
Among the multitude of messages, one protester carried a piñata depicting Trump, adorned with a crown and sombrero, while another displayed a giant helium-filled balloon shaped like a baby Trump.
A nearby demonstration took place in front of the federal detention center, where Marines and law enforcement stood guard—a measure that had not occurred since their recent deployment.
Peter Varadi, a 54-year-old protester who had previously voted for Trump, expressed deep regret, denouncing what he perceives as fascist developments under the president’s leadership.
Meanwhile, a festive atmosphere persisted even after the official programming ended, as crowds danced to lively music and enjoyed food from vendors, many of whom were Latino immigrants.
However, the earlier calm shifted into unrest as police on horseback moved in to clear the area, using wood rods and batons against some individuals in the crowd.
In New York City, protesters lined Fifth Avenue, united by diverse motivations including opposition to Trump’s immigration stance and concerns regarding free speech rights erosion.
Prominent among the crowd were two women wearing suffragette-style white dresses who distributed 250 American flags in a nod to the ongoing fight for rights.
Leah Griswold and Amber Laree underscored the legacy of their mothers and the importance of advocating for future generations.
Among the demonstrators, Sean Kryston expressed the urgency of addressing the existential crises facing the country and the planet.
In Minnesota, despite calls from Governor Tim Walz for residents to avoid attending rallies due to recent shootings involving Democratic state lawmakers, large crowds turned out in cities including Duluth, Rochester, and St. Paul, marking significant participation in the protests.
While several events were canceled in light of heightened security concerns, many still marched towards the state capitol.
Seda Heng, a 29-year-old Rochester resident, shared her heartbreak over the shootings but felt compelled to join in the rally to support local community leaders and lawmakers.
In Charlotte, North Carolina, protests erupted amidst chants proclaiming, ‘No kings. No crowns. We will not bow down,’ with participants proud to voice their discontent against the president’s policies, specifically surrounding mass deportations and military deployments.
Jocelyn Abarca, a young college student, explained that the demonstration served as a vital opportunity to advocate for what she believes is right.
Participants held a massive Mexican flag at the forefront of the march, with the crowd growing in numbers as they moved through the streets.
Texas witnessed its own challenges with a rally scheduled to take place at the state capitol in Austin, where brief lockdowns were implemented by state police due to a credible threat directed towards Democratic lawmakers.
Although the building and its grounds were cleared temporarily, the rally proceeded as planned with heightened security measures.
Authorities later confirmed that one individual was taken into custody in connection with the threats following a traffic stop occurring about 65 miles from Austin.
In Jackson, Mississippi, several hundred people gathered for their own demonstration as Black Sabbath’s ‘War Pigs’ filled the air.
Emphasizing solidarity against injustices, participant Tony Cropper expressed his emotions seeing both black and white individuals uniting for a common cause.
Protesters displayed a variety of creative signs, some sporting tinfoil crowns as a humorous nod to the theme of kingship, while others encouraged motorists to ‘Honk if you never text war plans.’
Reflecting on the current political climate, Melissa Johnson, who traveled to Jackson from an hour and a half away, expressed the importance of preserving democracy in the country.
Overall, the widespread demonstrations illustrated a significant and diverse expression of dissent across the nation, as Americans came together to raise their voices against the Trump administration’s policies and actions, reinforcing the commitment to democratic values and community solidarity.
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