That sea of spontaneous protests, known as the No Kings movement, is set to roll across the country on October 18. Organizers are hoping for it to be one of the biggest single-day demonstrations in the nation’s history. A coalition of more than 100 organizations is behind these protests. They are at the center of a nascent, but growing, forceful voice countering the Trump administration’s direction—mobilizing to push back against what they perceive as increasing authoritarianism under President Donald Trump.
The No Kings protests erupted in success throughout the month of June. They attracted tens of millions of participants at more than 2,000 venues around the country. This new National School Walkout, slated to be more than 2,500 demonstrations across all 50 states, will be a powerful step on top of that foundation. The broad coalition behind these protests believes deeply in the power of solidarity. They are inspired by the power of collaboration to combat attacks on our democracy.
“The foundation our nation was built upon is encapsulated in the phrase ‘No Kings’,” states the official website for the protests, nokings.org. Organizers are asking participants to wear yellow so that they can represent one unified body of advocates committed to the movement’s goals.
Storms of protest will blow through our biggest cities and our latest suburbs. These anchor cities are represented by Washington D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, Atlanta, New York City, Houston, Honolulu, Boston, Kansas City, Bozeman, Chicago and New Orleans. The diverse locations reflect a broad spectrum of public sentiment against the current administration.
James Phipps, an activist involved in the movement, expressed his commitment to participating in the upcoming protests. “I feel that I have an obligation, a very strong urge to participate in the protest,” he declared resolutely. His sentiments are a reflection of a new, deeper frustration brewing in many Americans who think that their democratic principles are under attack.
The No Kings coalition is an inspiring and unusually diverse group of advocacy and community organizations. They address intersectional issues such as civil rights, environmental justice, and labor rights. They tend to unite the strangest bedfellows of interests. Their vision is to mobilize and organize to take action collectively against what they believe is an ever growing oppressive federal government.
In June’s initial protests, cities like New York and Philadelphia saw massive turnouts, with over 200,000 and 100,000 participants respectively. National Geographic All this being said, the scope & scale of these earlier demonstrations really raised the bar for what it expected to see on October 18.
Greater celebrity endorsements have further helped build a base of public support. Actor Robert De Niro has urged Americans to join the movement, labeling Trump an aspiring tyrant who threatens the very fabric of American democracy. His call to action inspires those who desire to ensure that their voices are heard in this critical time.
“Born in the streets, shouted by millions, carried on posters and chants, it echoes from city blocks to rural town squares,” the No Kings website proclaims. The message highlights the grassroots nature of the protests and their commitment to uniting people across diverse backgrounds to resist perceived dictatorship.