Organizers and participants described a broad, one-day mobilization across the United States on Saturday as the third national round of "No Kings" protests drew demonstrators to more than 3,200 planned events in all 50 states. The movement, which staged two prior nationwide days of action, again brought people into streets and public spaces to voice opposition to President Donald Trump’s deportation operations, the U.S. campaign against Iran and other policies.
Large public gatherings were reported in New York, Dallas, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., but organizers emphasized that nearly two-thirds of No Kings events were taking place outside of major metropolitan areas. They said that represents roughly a 40% increase in activity in smaller communities compared with the movement’s first nationwide mobilization last June.
Minnesota demonstration and state-level voices
In Saint Paul, Minnesota, a substantial rally formed outside the state capitol in a state where federal immigration enforcement has been a focal point of controversy. Many demonstrators carried posters displaying photographs of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, U.S. citizens who were fatally shot by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis earlier this year.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who is identified in the event materials as the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2024, addressed the crowd, framing their opposition to the president’s policies as central to American values. "They call us radicals," he said. "You’re damn right we’ve been radicalized - radicalized by compassion, radicalized by decency, radicalized by due process, radicalized by democracy, and radicalized to do all we can to oppose authoritarianism."
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont also spoke at the Minnesota gathering. Independent in affiliation, Sanders said, "We will not allow this country to descend into authoritarianism or oligarchy in America. We, the people, will rule." Musician Bruce Springsteen performed the song "Streets of Minneapolis," described by organizers as a ballad criticizing the immigration crackdown and memorializing the deaths of Good and Pretti.
Scenes in major cities and grassroots expansion
Police in New York estimated a crowd in the tens of thousands that extended more than 10 blocks in midtown Manhattan. Actor Robert De Niro, named as one of the event’s organizers, told the assembled crowd that no previous president had posed "such an existential threat to our freedoms and security." One participant, Holly Bemiss, 54, said she felt her presence echoed her ancestors’ opposition to monarchy: "We fought against having kings and we fought for freedom," she said. "We’re just doing it again."
On the National Mall in Washington, demonstrators waved anti-Trump signs and chanted pro-democracy slogans, while in Chevy Chase, Maryland, a group of elderly people in wheelchairs displayed messages urging passing motorists to "Resist tyranny," "Honk if you want democracy" and "Dump Trump."
Organizers noted a marked increase in activity beyond urban centers, with new and expanding groups working in deeply Republican states including Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and Utah. Indivisible co-founder Leah Greenberg said organizers have observed a surge in people organizing events and registering to participate in suburban areas that have been politically competitive in recent national elections, citing Bucks and Delaware counties in Pennsylvania, East Cobb and Forsyth in Georgia, and Scottsdale and Chandler in Arizona.
Confrontations, arrests and law enforcement responses
Not all events were peaceful. In Dallas, clashes broke out between No Kings demonstrators and counterprotest groups, including one led by Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the Proud Boys. Police reported minor scuffles when counterprotesters blocked streets, and several arrests were made.
In Los Angeles authorities said two people were arrested for assaulting federal law enforcement after a crowd surrounded a federal building. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security reported that two officers were struck with cement blocks and were receiving medical attention following an incident at the Roybal Federal Building. The Los Angeles Police Department posted on social media that multiple demonstrators were arrested for failure to disperse near a federal prison. Police described the use of tear gas canisters after some people reportedly threw objects over a fence.
Political reactions and framing
The National Republican Congressional Committee criticized Democratic politicians and candidates who supported the rallies. "These Hate America Rallies are where the far-left’s most violent, deranged fantasies get a microphone and House Democrats get their marching orders," committee spokesperson Mike Marinella said in a statement.
Protesters at various events described their motivations differently. Dallas participant Chris Brendel said President Trump’s policies had driven him to become more vocal: "One thing I’ll give Trump credit for is mobilizing the dissenters," he said. "I can’t stand by and be silent anymore simply because of my boys and their friends and the future." In Los Angeles, retired Burbank resident Theresa Gunnell said she joined the demonstrations to resist what she described as "authoritarianism, fascism, and greed," adding, "All Trump is doing is making himself wealthy while taking away from regular Americans."
The Washington protest drew Morgan Taylor, 45, who attended with her 12-year-old son. Taylor said she was angered by U.S. military action in Iran, calling it a "stupid war," and adding, "Nobody’s attacking us. We don’t need to be there." Organizers framed Saturday’s events as a response to the bombardment of Iran by the U.S. and Israel, a conflict they noted had been ongoing for about four weeks at the time of the rallies.
Scale and historical context for the movement
Organizers and analysts referenced the movement’s earlier nationwide days of action. The initial No Kings event, staged on what the movement marked as the president’s birthday on June 14 last year, drew an estimated 4 million to 6 million participants across roughly 2,100 sites, according to organizers’ figures. A second national mobilization in October involved an estimated 7 million people in more than 2,700 cities in a crowdsourcing analysis published by data journalist G. Elliott Morris. That October turnout, organizers said, was driven largely by opposition to a government shutdown, an intensified federal immigration crackdown and the movement of National Guard troops into major cities.
Saturday’s nationwide actions come as organizers report rising engagement in both traditionally Republican states and politically competitive suburbs, and as the U.S. heads toward November’s midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress. Protest leaders cited the broadened geographic spread of events and increased volunteer and registration activity as evidence of growing grassroots organization and voter engagement.
While Saturday’s demonstrations varied from celebratory rallies with music and speeches to tense confrontations that prompted arrests and law enforcement interventions, organizers said their purpose remained consistent: to register opposition to policies they view as authoritarian and to mobilize voters in advance of the midterms.