More than seven million Americans gathered on Saturday in over 2,700 cities under the slogan “No Kings,” a massive mobilization in rejection of the government of President Donald Trump, whom they accuse of acting with an authoritarian agenda and undermining the democratic institutions of the country.
In Washington D.C., Peggy Cole, a retired official from Michigan, traveled ten hours to celebrate her 70th birthday amid banners, chants, and music. “Trump is dismantling our democracy piece by piece”, the protester declared to CNN.
Like her, thousands of people joined the protest in the U.S. capital, in an event that combined political indignation with a festive and peaceful spirit.
A yellow tide across the country
The protesters, many dressed in yellow —a color symbolizing unity and peaceful resistance— filled plazas, avenues, and parks in cities like New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco.
In Times Square, tens of thousands chanted slogans such as “This is democracy” and “Immigrants are welcome here”, while waving American flags and signs with messages against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the power of billionaires.
“The United States belongs to its people, not to kings”, read a leaflet distributed by the organizers of the Indivisible Project, which advocates for nonviolent action and claims to have trained tens of thousands of volunteers in security and de-escalation.
The protests, mostly peaceful, took place after a summer characterized by mass immigration raids and the deployment of federal troops in Democratic cities, measures that opponents view as attempts at political intimidation.
"It's not about power, but about the people."
In Atlanta, Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock was one of the keynote speakers: “When a president tries to assume powers that do not belong to him, we must remember that true power resides with the people”.
In that same city, the activist Kimberly Diemert recalled the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement: “Atlanta is the cradle of democracy, and we do not want to lose that”.
Many protesters expressed their fear of the erosion of fundamental freedoms. “We can no longer express ourselves without fear”, said Bobbie Castillo, who traveled from Nebraska to Washington.
The science communicator Bill Nye also took part in the capital, stating that the Trump administration “does not tolerate dissent” and “fears freedom of speech”.
Diverse protests, one message
Creativity was another highlight of the day. In Boston, people dressed as lobsters, chickens, and inflatable dinosaurs danced among the banners, while in Los Angeles, a group marched with a huge sign that read "No Kings" in front of City Hall.
“It’s hard to call this a war zone when it looks like a neighborhood party”, commented a protester dressed as a unicorn.
In small towns like Ashland (Oregon) or Hendersonville (North Carolina), organizers were surprised by the massive turnout. "Saving democracy is a priority even in the smallest towns", said writer Lynn Ames.
The actor John Cusack, from Chicago, was blunt: “You cannot put troops in our streets or use chaos to remain in power. Go to hell!”.
Social rights and migration at the heart of the demand
The demonstrations also served to denounce cuts to social programs and the government's immigration policy.
In Chicago and Los Angeles, numerous attendees carried Mexican flags and called for an end to deportations. “We are all immigrants, and we all have rights here”, stated María Rivera Cummings, daughter of Mexicans born in California.
In Washington, Senator Bernie Sanders concluded one of the marches by stating that "it's not just about the corruption of one man, but about a handful of billionaires who have hijacked the economy and politics of the country".
“This movement is a clear warning”, said Anthony Lee, a suspended worker from the FDA. “We don’t want kings, we want democracy.”
With shouts, signs, and costumes, millions of Americans sent a resounding message: democracy is not negotiable.
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