No Kings Protests Draw Millions, Mostly Peaceful

On Oct. 18, a second-wave of nationwide “No Kings” protests took place, organized by a broad coalition of groups including the ACLU, Indivisible, Greenpeace, Black Voters Matter and SEIU. Organizers reported thousands of local events and millions of participants, with turnout varying from small-town rallies to large marches such as about 100,000 in Minneapolis and more than 80,000 across San Diego County. Demonstrations were largely peaceful and family-friendly, featuring costumes, signs and chants, and organizers emphasized nonviolence and civic engagement. Protesters focused on opposing what they describe as President Trump’s authoritarian policies, including ICE raids and rollbacks of public-health and environmental protections and threats to democratic norms. Critics, including President Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, dismissed the rallies as staged or ineffective and alleged outside funding.