‘No Kings’
Protests Spread Worldwide
in Cities Big and Small
Demonstrators gathered in big cities and small towns across the United States and abroad to protest President Trump’s policies, citing concerns over immigration, the war in Iran, and democratic norms.
In a Queens borough thruway, a line of protesters stretching multiple city blocks halted traffic, with a hand-painted Queen of Hearts sign reading “No Kings in Queens” at the front of the march; in Hoboken, a local folk singer performed Bob Dylan on a chilly Hudson River morning while an organizer led chants through a bullhorn; in London, bobblehead caricatures of the president, first lady, and vice president were held above a crowd whose signs referenced civilians killed in Iran — and across all of these locations simultaneously, the third major wave of a coordinated global protest movement called “No Kings” was underway, drawing retirees, musicians, elected officials, and community members in temperatures in the 30s and 40s, united by opposition to what they described as executive overreach by the Trump administration on immigration, foreign policy, and democratic institutions.
The “No Kings” coalition is structured as a decentralized network with no single figurehead, no singular policy demand, and no central organizing body. What exists instead is a loose confederation of activist groups that has now staged three nationwide protests in the span of ten months — each reportedly larger than the last.
The movement debuted on Presidents’ Day in February of last year. Its second major mobilization came in June, when President Trump ordered the military to stage a large birthday parade in Washington, D.C. — an event that organizers cited as a catalyst for increased turnout at counter-demonstrations. The third wave, in October, drew what organizers described as the largest crowds yet.
The “No Kings” coalition stages its first coordinated nationwide protest on Presidents’ Day, drawing initial crowds across the country.
Trump orders a military parade for his birthday in Washington. Organizers point to the event as a rallying symbol; turnout at counter-demonstrations increases significantly.
The October rallies report the highest attendance to date, with organizers describing it as the largest showing in the movement’s history.
Demonstrations span continents. Organizers expect hundreds of thousands in the U.S. alone, with parallel protests planned internationally.
