Large crowds collect throughout US for ‘No Kings’ protests towards Trump

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Large crowds of protesters gathered in cities across the US on Saturday to join a massive “No Kings” demonstration against President Donald Trump.

In New York’s Times Square, thousands of people clogged 7th Avenue to wave signs and chant. The mood was calm and the police presence was typical for one of the most crowded places in the city.

Organisers were expecting millions to attend demonstrations in cities and towns across the US. Similar protests took place overseas, including in London, Barcelona, Madrid and Nice.

Saturday’s “No Kings” marches are the second wave of such protests this year. In June, millions took to the streets as the US president staged a controversial military parade in Washington.

Since then, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have escalated arrests of undocumented workers across the country. Trump has also ordered National Guardsmen into Democratic-led cities such as Washington and Chicago, further inciting political tensions.

Trump dismissed the demonstrations in an interview with Fox News on Friday, saying: “I’m not a king.”

Republicans have sought to paint the protesters as leftist anti-American radicals. House Speaker Mike Johnson called the demonstrations the “Hate America rally.”

“Let’s see who shows up for that,” Johnson said Wednesday at a news conference with other House GOP leaders. “I bet you you’ll see Hamas supporters, I bet you’ll see antifa types, I bet you’ll see the Marxists on full display, the people who don’t want to stand and defend the foundational truths of this republic.”

Protesters at the National Mall in Washington on Saturday © Demetri Sevastopulo/FT

Democrats, who are in a fight with Trump over the government shutdown, applauded the rallies. Former presidential candidate Kamala Harris overnight called on Americans to join their neighbours in “peaceful protest”.

The 2024 Democratic candidate who lost to Trump said on X: “In our country the power is with the people.”

Melissa Rios, a 42-year-old woman from Texas who lives in Maryland, said she made the short trip into Washington for the first time since Trump took office because she was appalled at his actions in office.

“What he’s doing is not OK. People shouldn’t live in fear,” she said.

Melissa Rios carries a sign which reads: “When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty.”  © Demetri Sevastopulo/FT

Rios, who brought her passport with her to prove that she is a US citizen, said one of her many concerns was that ICE agents were “snatching” American citizens off the streets with no cause.

“This is reminiscent of what was going on in Germany.”

Julie Gabriel, an anaesthesiologist, made the three and a half-hour trip from Virginia Beach with her dog Coyote to join the DC rally.

“The country is dying,” Gabriel said. “If that was happening to one of my patients I couldn’t just sit around and wait and see — I’ve got to figure out why that’s happening and how am I going to fix it right now.”

Julie Gabriel travelled from Virginia Beach to join the DC rally with her dog Coyote © Claire Jones/FT

Danny Holder, originally from Asheville, North Carolina, was carrying a giant sign proclaiming ‘No Kings, except Christ the King’.

“What has inspired this (sign) is the division in this country,” Holder said.

“I feel that religion has been weaponised by this system. Both sides are judging each other and fighting over things that are insignificant that prevent them from changing things for the better of this country.”

There were reports of large turnouts in places far away from the big liberal cities.

Chris Talwar described the turnout in the village of Rib Mountain, Wisconsin as “phenomenal”.

“You’ve got every age of person here, everybody’s got signs, there’s people as far as the eye can see,” said Talwar, who lives on the outskirts of Detroit but was visiting his grandchildren with his wife, Gillian.

“It’s heartwarming to see it all — a working class town fighting for integrity, honesty and respect.”

The rallies were joined by prominent Democrats, including progressive Senator Bernie Sanders. In a message on social media platform X before the events, Sanders said: “People fought and died to preserve our democracy, and we’re not going to let Trump or anybody else take it away.”

Mayor of Chicago Brandon Johnson addresses protesters on Saturday © REUTERS



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