'No Kings' protests draw large crowds in cities, towns across US
Protesters took to the streets in more than 3,000 cities and towns.
Huge crowds of protesters took to the streets in more than 3,000 cities and towns across the country Saturday to again call out President Donald Trump and his polices, with organizers saying this one could be the biggest so far.
The "No Kings" protests are the latest since October and organizers said they are looking to send a message addressing what they call "the constant chaos of the Trump administration" since then. Organizers said later in the day that an estimated eight million people took part in the demonstrations.
From the use of federal troops for immigration enforcement, to the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal law enforcement in Minneapolis, to Trump's war with Iran, members of the National No Kings Coalition said Americans raised their voices in protest.
"The people coming out will be asked to show up on an ongoing basis for ICE watch, for mutual aid, for support of immigrant communities, for advocacy against this illegal and catastrophic war, for voter registration and all the work of building power locally," Leah Greenberg, co-director of Indivisible, one of the coalition's groups, said in a statement Thursday.
Streets from coast to coast were filled with marchers who carried homemade signs, sang songs and chanted against Trump's policies, actions and rhetoric.
The organizers, from groups that include the ACLU, National Action Network and the United Federation of Teachers, said that they were some 3,200 events planned for the day.
Saturday marked the third "No Kings" demonstration since Trump returned office.
During the October rally, organizers said more than seven million people took part.
They have called for protesters to be peaceful just like last time, when there were no disturbances or reports of violence.
In New York City, the rally began in Columbus Circle, near Trump International Luxury Hotel, and marched down over 20 blocks, according to protesters. It included a who's who of celebrities, including actor Robert de Niro.
The NYPD said that "tens of thousands" of protesters demonstrated peacefully throughout the five boroughs and officers "made zero protest-related arrests."
In Los Angeles, 74 people, eight of whom were juveniles, were arrested for failure to disperse after the dispersal order for the march was issued at 5:30 p.m., according to police. One additional adult was arrested for possession of a dirk or dagger, police said. The event was scheduled to end at 5 p.m.
In Minneapolis, which saw tens of thousands of protesters hit the streets in January and February following the Good and Pretti killings, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Bruce Springsteen spoke at the event there, according to "No Kings" organizers. The "No Kings" organizers said over 200,000 people attended the Minneapolis rally.
"We are the flagship rally of No kings day because we showed the world how you do it you all!" activist and writer Lizz Winstead told the Minneapolis crowd.
Gov. Tim Walz commended the Minnesota crowd for showing up and speaking out following the weeks of federal law enforcement surge in the state.
"Just be very clear, our weather may be cool, but our people are warm and fierce," he said.
The demonstrations weren't only limited to cities in the U.S. as protesters in other countries held "No Kings" protests as well.
In Rome and London, the streets were filled with demonstrators.
The White House and other allies have not commented on this weekend's events, but in the past they and some Republicans argued he protests were "hate America" rallies.
Trump himself dismissed the protests in October telling reporters, "I'm not a king," prior to the rallies.
Afterward, the president re-posted an AI-generated video on his social media platform showing him piloting a fighter jet, appearing to dumping excrement on protesters.
The White House did not comment on the video. House Speaker Mike Johnson, however, came to Trump's defense.
"The president uses social media to make the point. You can argue he’s probably the most effective person who’s ever used social media for that,” Johnson told reporters on Oct. 20. "He is using satire to make a point. He is not calling for the murder of his political opponents."
Related Topics
Popular Reads
ABC News Live