No Kings protests spread around the country this past weekend. As soon as they received their marching orders demonstrators hit the streets in cities such as Washington, D.C., Minneapolis, Los Angeles, California, and Marietta, Georgia. These rallies stood against the dangerous authoritarian policies of U.S. President Donald Trump. They further aimed to protect American democracy in the face of a looming federal government shutdown. Thousands came out to these demonstrations, showing their opposition in the form of outrageous costumes, chants, and speeches from diverse activists and political leaders.
In Washington, D.C., retired government worker Peggy Cole marked her 70th birthday by joining the protests, highlighting how the current political climate has impacted public service. She stated, “It seems to me, (Trump is) taking our government, our democracy, and dismantling it piece by piece, slowly, but surely. If we sit by and don’t do anything about it.”
Demonstrators decked out in dazzling costumes and vibrant body paint brought a creative artistic touch and colorful presence to the demonstrations. In Los Angeles, one demonstrator wore an inflatable frog suit while waving an American flag. Meanwhile, Minneapolis saw an immense turnout as thousands joined the “No Kings” rally, showcasing a growing movement against perceived threats to democracy.
Senator Bernie Sanders rallying the crowd at a Washington rally on June 25th, warning against the threat of Trump’s administration. “This moment is not just about one man’s greed, one man’s corruption or one man’s contempt for the Constitution,” he declared. He further criticized the consolidation of power within Trump’s administration, stating, “It is in danger when we have a president who wants more and more power in his own hands and in the hands of his fellow oligarchs.” Sanders vigorously denounced the characterization of the protests as “hate America events.” He even singled out House Speaker Mike Johnson for trash talking on the issue.
Together, the protests energized their state and the nation as part of a large and far-spread day of action. Different communities and cultures came together to demand civil rights and social justice. In Charleston, West Virginia, protesters on the recent ICE raids march distributed ICE melter kits to relieve their anger at the administration’s treatment of immigrants. James Kirwan, a member of the National Labor Relations Board, and unionized federal workers attended the DC demonstration. Together, they found a way to raise their collective voices to hold them accountable.
Monica, a federal employee at the D.C. rally, expressed how she feels about how the administration has treated federal employees. She expressed, “I think our democracy is at risk, and I think that that’s extremely distressing, and that’s why we’re here.” Her comments reflected the feelings of many attendees who believed that under Trump, policies shifted away from compassion and care for our most vulnerable folks.
In addition, Paul Osadebe, a fellow Washington protester, expressed his determination to oppose fearmongering from the federal government. I’m not going to be intimidated because that’s how they win, because that’s what they want us to do. But they want us to not speak out,” he said. His sentiment struck a chord with all those who know that the great stresses on our democracy today make continued engagement all the more necessary and vital.
In Marietta, demonstrators made a point of showing off their patriotism, waving U.S. flags during their second version of the “No Kings” protest. The atmosphere was charged with expressions of unity against what many perceived as a threat to democratic ideals.
As protests surged in every corner of our country, President Trump’s response was to order the National Guard into our cities. This action heated up the debate around the protests. This decision opened a Pandora’s Box of discussion among officials and activists both regarding the government’s treatment of dissent and respect for first amendment and public assembly rights.
