No Kings: Demonstrators take to the streets nationwide to protest Trump administration

Protesters rally during the No Kings national day of protest in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Saturday. Kerem Yucel / AFP / Getty Images

Crowds gathered today in cities across the United States — and overseas — for No Kings rallies in protest of President Donald Trump’s administration and to call for the defense of First Amendment rights.

Protesters from Los Angeles to New York — including in Chicago, Washington, D.C, and Austin, Texas — flooded into streets chanting, marching and waving homemade signs, including some that proclaimed “We want all of the government to work” and “Make America Good Again.”

Protesters march in the No Kings protest on Saturday in Chicago.  Scott Olson / Getty Images

Protester dressed in a Statue of Liberty costume enters the subway station after a "No Kings" protest on Oct. 18, 2025, in New York City. Olga Fedorova / AP

Speeches were shared, music blared, and some donned Halloween costume in the cross-country rallies that demanded the protection of Constitutional rights, which they say is under attack by the Trump administration.

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Nearly 7 million people attended No Kings rallies across the country today, marking the largest single-day nationwide demonstrations in U.S. history, according to organizers. 

Protests unfolded in over 2,700 cities and towns across all 50 states, organizers said in a news release today.

Today's turnout marked 2 million more demonstrators than the No Kings rallies in June, organizers said.

“Today, millions of Americans stood together to reject authoritarianism and remind the world that our democracy belongs to the people, not to one man’s ambition,” Ezra Levin and Leah Greenberg, co-founders of Indivisible, part of the No Kings coalition, said in a statement.

Four people were arrested today in connection with protests in Broadview, Illinois, near the facility being used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office said. 

In today’s arrests one person was charged with disorderly conduct/breach of peace and three others were charged with disobeying a police officer.

While the protest was not a No Kings rally, demonstrators have gathered at the processing facility for several weeks now to decry the Trump administration's Operation Midway Blitz. Broadview is a small suburb located about 12 miles west of downtown Chicago.

Late last month footage by NBC Chicago showed federal agents deploying tear gas towards protesters.

Chicago police said there were no arrest at the No Kings protest in the city today.

One person was also arrested in connection with a reported assault at a gathering at an ICE facility in Portland.

That arrest was also separate from the No Kings march today in Portland, which police described as “peaceful.” Two others were detained from the ICE facility in Portland pending potential charges, Portland police said.

Thousands gathered in the nation’s capital on Saturday, rallying and repeating one refrain: “No kings.”

While many protesters spoke to NBC News about their dissatisfaction with Trump, a plethora of left-leaning and liberal protesters also made one more thing clear: They’re not happy with their Democratic leaders, either.

“I don’t have a lot of faith in the Democrats right now,” Alex, a construction worker who traveled to Washington from northern Virginia on Saturday and declined to provide his last name, told NBC News. “They don’t have — they don’t seem to have a lot of spine or a single message. They’re just too disorganized to put up a good fight against this bulls---.”

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At today’s No Kings rally in Austin, people ambled around to different organization tents and sat in the grass listening to a live band in the 95-degree heat. 

Protests in Austin, Texas, on Saturday. Juliette Arcodia / NBC News

People were seen wearing costumes and carrying signs that said, “Ikea has better cabinets,” “No KKKings” and “ICE in drinks NOT on our streets.”

Four women representing three generations of the same family attended a protest in Austin, Texas, today, advocating for women's and LGBTQ rights and abortion access.

"I was motivated by my mom and my grandmother," said Makayla Beadle, who was flanked by her mother, Tracy Beadle. "They have been fighting for these values since before I was born and I hope to be able to make the difference that they made in their lifetimes."

Makayla's grandmother Stephanie Pollam, 77, recalled her long history of protest participation, beginning with the Vietnam War, calling that era "scary."

"I am so sad that we lost the right to freedom of choice, for women to be able to choose which direction they wanted to go," Pollam said about the loss of abortion access.

Pollam's other granddaughter, Whitney Pollam, said she was also inspired by her grandmother and wanted to continue her legacy of peaceful protest.

Former Democratic Rep. Beto O’Rourke joined protesters in downtown Austin, Texas, saying he “could not be more proud to stand and march with my fellow Texans today.”

He emphasized that the gathering was “clearly peaceful” and called out Gov. Greg Abbott for mobilizing the National Guard for any potential unrest.

“I don’t think Greg Abbott or Donald Trump are interested in the rule of law or the U.S. Constitution or peaceful protests,” O’Rourke told NBC News. “They would rather intimidate. They seek to control and they’re trying to cement authoritarian power nationally and right here in Texas. But the antidote to all that is the 20- to 30,000 people who have shown up so far at the Capitol.”

He said today’s protest is to stop authoritarianism and “win back people power in America.”

“When the president sends the National Guard into the streets of American cities, when he sweeps our fellow Americans up off the streets by masked plainclothes agents without badges or identification or warrants, when he illegally disbands agencies and departments that were created by Congress or defies federal court orders — I mean that contravenes everything that every American has ever sworn an oath to, the Constitution has ever stood or fought for,” he explained.

At today’s No Kings Day rally in Washington, D.C., protesters cheered, danced to pop music and wore inflatable Halloween costumes. But that celebratory atmosphere was tempered by fear.

Rallygoers expressed fear that the United States is sliding toward autocracy, as President Donald Trump fires federal workers and masked ICE agents ramp up immigration arrests.

“I’m pro-American. I’m pro-Constitution. I’m pro-law and order. I’m pro-immigration, legal immigration. I’m pro-First Amendment rights. I’m pro-free expression. All of that is under assault,” Robin Brown told NBC News. “I’m 66 years old tomorrow. I never thought in my life that I would be here with a dictator in the Oval Office. So I’m here to say no to that.”

Brown is from the New York City area but lives in Mexico.

On the ground in Austin, Texas, there are no signs of unrest or National Guard presence. Organizers and reporters estimate that more than 10,000 demonstrators are making their way across the lake from the Texas Capitol.

Conversations with the crowd highlight concerns over the rule of law and democracy, as well as women’s rights and abortion access, which remain key issues in Texas.

The atmosphere so far appears peaceful and energetic, with protesters calling for accountability and protections for civil liberties.

NBC News has not independently confirmed crowd size.

Images and video posted on social media show large protests taking place in Denver, Colorado, and Bozeman, Montana.

Aerial footage shows what appears to be a crowd of thousands marching in front of Colorado's State Capitol building in Denver. And social media video shows protesters lining the streets of Bozeman, Montana, waving signs and American flags.

One car passing through the Bozeman protest had a sign that read: "Liberty and justice for ALL."

Demonstrators at a No Kings protest in San Francisco formed a human banner urging California residents to vote "Yes" for Proposition 50.

The human banner, created on the city's Ocean Beach, reads: "No Kings. Yes on 50."

This aerial picture taken on Saturday shows protesters forming a human banner during the No Kings national day of protest on Ocean Beach in San Francisco.  Laure Andrillon / AFP / Getty Images

Proposition 50 was proposed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom to redraw congressional districts in the state. The measure was introduced in response to redistricting happening in other states that favor Republican lawmakers in Congress.

Californians will vote on the measure on Nov. 4 during a special election.

Laurel Beedon, 79, and Deborah Chollet, 75, attended the rally in Washington, D.C., together, telling NBC News they protested against “a group of people who hold up the Constitution but clearly have not read it.”

“They are taking away our civil rights,” Beedon said.

Laurel Beedon, left. Alexandra Marquez / NBC News

Beedon pushed back against Republicans who she said were calling today’s rallies “socialism,” telling them to “look in the dictionary and define socialism, please, and communism, please.”

“And then look up fascism,” Chollet chimed in.

“Yeah,” Beedon answered. “Look up who you are.”

Madonna Walsh, from LaGrange, Illinois, joined today’s No Kings protest in downtown Chicago, carrying a poster that compared immigration deportations to concentration camps.

“The rise of authoritarianism today is a repeat of what happened in the 1930s in Nazi Germany, and I don’t want it to happen here,” she said. “I did some research on what Hitler was doing in the 1930s and compared it to what Trump has been doing in office in January and the similarities are mind-blowing.”

Chicago activist Andy Thayer.  NBC News

Andy Thayer, an activist handing out signs that said “ICE OUT!” told NBC News, “Most Chicagoans don’t want ICE here.”

“I’m angry — what’s happening to my neighbors, my husband is second-generation Latinx. I fear for my neighbors. If you don’t think it’ll affect you, but at some point or another, they will get around you. They are arresting citizens,” Thayer sid.

Rachel Mason, left, and her daughter with their neighbor Anton Ford.  NBC News

Rachel Mason and her daughter joined their neighbor Anton Ford to attend today's event. They said they were motivated to join because “ICE is in our neighborhood.”

“Children are afraid to go outside because ICE is around. It’s crazy — SUVs no license plates outside of schools,” they said.

Chicago resident Yabira.  NBC News

A teacher named Yabira, who declined to share her last name, joined the protest to let her students know she supports them. She became teary-eyed as she said she prays for her father, a construction worker, to come home every night.

Some parts of the Trump administration have taken to social media to make digs at congressional Democrats during the No Kings protests.

The White House posted on its official X account a photo appearing to spoof a cover of The New Yorker magazine, titling it “NY king of sombreros,” superimposing a photo of Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wearing a sombrero.

Separately, a social media page associated with the Department of Transportation posted what appeared to be an AI-generated cartoon of Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., dressed as Disney princesses, captioning it “No Kings!!”

Spokespeople for Jeffries and Schumer did not immediately respond to a request for comment, or questions regarding whether they have any concerns that such posts could violate the Hatch Act, which restricts political activities by federal employees.

Similar posts by the White House broke down negotiations between Republicans and Democrats early on in the government shutdown, after Trump posted an altered video of Schumer and Jeffries with fake audio and portrayed Jeffries in a cartoon sombrero.

The NYPD posted an update to X saying most rallies across the city had ended and that there were no arrests.

"The majority of the No Kings protests have dispersed at this time and all traffic closures have been lifted," the NYPD wrote.

"We had more than 100,000 people across all five boroughs peacefully exercising their first amendment rights and the NYPD made zero protest-related arrests."

Former second gentleman Doug Emhoff posted a photo of himself and his son, Cole Emhoff, on X at a "No Kings" protest in Santa Monica, California.

Emhoff's post comes after former Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday posted on X to encourage Americans to "join your neighbors in peaceful protest" at No Kings events around the country.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom urged calm as demonstrators gathered across the state for today's No Kings protests.

"As Californians take to the streets today to stand up against the President’s authoritarian playbook, I urge everyone to stay safe and demonstrate peacefully," he said in his remarks on X.

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont called out the tech billionaires who saw “huge increases in their wealth and power” since Trump became president.

“Yes, I am talking about Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and the other multibillionaires who were sitting right behind Trump when he was inaugurated,” Sanders added. “The very same billionaires who funded his campaign, who have bestowed gifts upon him, and who have seen huge increases in their wealth and power since Trump took office.”

‘We’re here because we love America,’ Sen. Bernie Sanders declares at ‘No Kings’ rally

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Sanders went on to criticize the administration for the recent indictments of those he declared his political enemies.

“Our country is in danger when we have a president who threatens to arrest or imprison political opponents who stand against him, including the attorney general of New York state, a sitting U.S. senator and the governor of California,” Sanders said.

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren addressed thousands of protesters gathered on the Boston Common for the No Kings rally.

Pushing back on some congressional Republicans who labeled the demonstrations "Hate America" protests, Warren said the gatherings reflect core American values.

"Hundreds of thousands of people protesting peacefully for what they believe in? That is deeply American. That is patriotism," she said. "Standing up to a wannabe dictator? That is patriotism. Peacefully protesting to protect our democracy? That is patriotism!"

Warren called the president "weak" and "a bully," and accused congressional Republicans of lacking courage. "Not a single one of them has a spine," she said.

"When we don’t bow down to kings or bullies, they start to lose their power," she said. "So now is the time for us to say it clearly: Do we bow down to kings? Do we bow down to bullies? Do we bow down to Donald Trump? No, the American people do not bow down."

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said in a brief interview with NBC Boston that it was "amazing to see so many people" protesting.

"This is a community and a city where for 400 years we have done everything we can for freedom in this country and to set the course for generations to come, to have every opportunity," she said. "And this is a moment where a lot of people feel that the administration in the White House is doing everything they can to undermine that sense of safety and belonging, and the progress that we’ve made, so we’re going to keep going in Boston."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer posted on X that he marched with labor unions and others at a No Kings protest in New York City. 

In earlier posts, Schumer encouraged Americans to exercise their right to free speech and to “not let Donald Trump and Republicans intimidate you into silence. That’s what they want you to do. They’re afraid of the truth.”

Clark Furey, 40, attended the protest in Washington, D.C., accompanied by his dog, Scooby, saying he joined because "I don’t even recognize what’s happening in this country."

Clark Furey and his dog, Scooby. Alexandra Marquez / NBC News

Furey told NBC News that he grew up in New York in a Republican family. “I actually came down to D.C., worked for College Republicans, always considered myself, sort of, center-right,” Furey said. “And then no longer. Just a slow degradation and then it just fell off a cliff.”

He said he is concerned about the Pentagon's recent decision to refuse credentials to reporters who didn’t sign a pledge to abide by new rules for members of the press.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker struck a defiant tone as he addressed protesters in Chicago, where high-profile clashes between residents and federal immigration authorities have taken place in recent weeks.

"History will judge us by where we choose to stand right now, today. Future generations will ask: 'What did we do when fellow human beings face persecution? When our rights were being abridged? When our Constitution was under attack?'" he asked. "They'll want to know whether we stood up or we stayed silent."

Pritzker added that "resistance starts with refusing to normalize cruelty."

Illinois Gov. Pritzker addresses ‘No Kings’ rally in Chicago: ‘Democracy requires your courage’

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"Resistance means choosing solidarity over fear and means recognizing that an attack on free speech, on immigrants' rights, on due process is an attack on everyone’s rights," he said. "It means understanding that we’re either building a society based on human dignity or one based on domination."

Pritzker noted that the "vast majority of Chicagoans are here because our ancestors fought to escape from tyranny, and another great portion of Chicagoans were brought to this country in shackles and had to fight for their literal freedom."

"Resistance and survival are in our American blood," he said.

Jennifer Engle, 49, of Bethesda, Maryland, said she attended today’s protest on her younger son’s birthday to raise awareness about vaccine disinformation and autism.

Jennifer Engle of Bethesda, Md. Alexandra Marquez / NBC News

“My oldest son has autism, and the misinformation around vaccines and the fear that it’s causing around autism is not doing anything to actually help autistic children and adults,” Engle told NBC News.

She added, “Unfortunately, the conspiracy theories around autism are catching on among people with low access to information, and I think that is really dangerous.”

Trump is in Palm Beach, Florida, this weekend and has no public events on his schedule today, meaning we won't see him on camera as thousands of protesters gather for No Kings protests across the country.

Protesters gathered in front of the Department of Labor building in Washington today, where photos of Trump and Theodore Roosevelt adorn the building.

Alexandra Marquez / NBC News

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department posted a protest update on X announcing the shutdown of Las Vegas Boulevard.

"To keep protesters and officers safe, Las Vegas Blvd from Bonneville to Bridger will be shut down."

Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill, her party’s nominee for governor, called on attendees to vote in just over two weeks.

“New Jersey is not a red state. New Jersey is not a purple state. New Jersey is a blue state,” Sherrill said, leading the crowd to chant, “When we vote, we win.”

“We’re gonna fight it tooth and nail,” Sherrill said of Trump’s agenda.

“We know at every level this president is raising costs on people,” Sherrill said, highlighting her proposals to address the state’s high cost of living.

Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., also spoke at the rally, sharply criticizing congressional Republicans. “We do not have right now three functioning branches of government,” he said, adding that House Speaker Mike Johnson is acting more like a Trump Cabinet official than a separate branch leader.

“It’s a historic moment in this country,” Kim said, referencing the late Rep. John Lewis, who often said history is “shaped by those who are up.” He called on attendees to support Sherrill as New Jersey’s next governor in November.

DNC Chairman Ken Martin referred to Trump as “an orange monster in the White House,” imploring attendees to vote in this year’s race for governor in New Jersey.

“We have one party led by a wannabe dictator,” Martin said, referencing Joe Biden’s 2020 comments that there is a fight for the soul of the country.

DNC Chairman Ken Martin today. Bridget Bowman / NBC News

Jessica, 44, and Andrew, 56, of Washington said they joined the protest today because they’re “really upset” and “really scared” about the state of the U.S. today.

Andrew and Jessica today. Alexandra Marquez / NBC News

Andrew, who declined to share his last name, said that he was fired from the federal government earlier this year when the Trump administration cut funding for his former employer — USAID.

He said that in Washington, there are thousands of people “who are extremely patriotic, extremely dedicated to representing the United States here and abroad in really positive ways, in Christian ways, who are, you know, gone, out of jobs.”

“It’s a tragedy,” he added.

Amanda Nataro, 41, of Washington, D.C., told NBC News that for protesters, attending the rally is "double duty" — standing up against the Trump administration while also working to "protect our home rule."

"The common adage," Nataro said, "is that 50% of the country voted for this. But 50% of the country didn’t vote for a government shutdown and the dismantlement of the government and services that people rely on."

Amanda Nataro, 41, at the No Kings protest in Washington, D.C. Alexandra Marquez / NBC News

Nataro added that she was let go from USAID in July, joining thousands of federal workers who have been let go since the start of the Trump administration.

"It’s really devastating on all fronts," she said. “And it’s really important to not sit back and let this happen."

Leslie Smith, 58, from Cedar Hill, Texas, said she and her family were in town for a previously scheduled trip to celebrate a wedding anniversary and decided to join the protest.

Leslie Smith from Cedar Hill, Texas. Alexandra Marquez / NBC News

“My son’s face when he saw all the people was amazing,” she told NBC News.

Asked whether any recent events compelled her to attend, she said, “There’s too much to put on the sign.”

Bill Nye, known by his legions of fans as "Bill Nye the Science Guy," compared President Trump to King George III — who ruled the United Kingdom during the loss of the American colonies — during an address to protesters in Washington, D.C.

Bill Nye slams Trump as ‘petulant’ during ‘No Kings’ protest

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The beloved children's show host also slammed Trump and the members of his cabinet for failing to accept "basic scientific facts." This presumably refers to a myriad of changes within the Department of Health and Human Services.

"They do not promote the progress of science. They suppress it, to the detriment of our health, well being, and international competitiveness," he said. "It is a formula for failure."

"No thrones! No crowns! No kings!" Nye added.

Robin, 62, from Centreville, Va., traveled with some of her neighbors to Washington for the No Kings protest today. She decided to come out “to come to a community of people that have the same feelings about what’s going on with our government right now.”

Robin, who declined to share her last name, told NBC News that this is the first protest she’s attended and she was driven to attend by “extreme frustration.”

Robin, left, June and Suzanne. Alexandra Marquez / NBC News

Her neighbor, Suzanne, who also declined to provide her last name, said she is “angry” at Trump and at Congress for not holding “Trump and his cronies” accountable.

“I’m just really feeling like, it’s at least something I can do to really utilize my First Amendment right,” Suzanne said. She also expressed frustration with Republicans on Capitol Hill this week who called No Kings protesters as “anti-patriotic.”

Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Chris Murphy of Connecticut were among the political headliners at the No Kings rally in Washington, D.C. Other speakers include journalist Mehdi Hasan, science educator Bill Nye and American rapper Oddisee.

Murphy addressed the crowd, calling Donald Trump "the most corrupt president in the history of the United States of America."

"The truth is that he is enacting a detailed, step-by-step plan to try to destroy all of the things that protect our democracy: free speech, fair elections and independent press, the right to peacefully protest," Murphy said. "But the truth is he has not won yet. The people still rule in this country.”

The D.C. event began at 12 p.m. and is scheduled to run until 2 p.m.

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett weighed in on the No Kings protests, calling the demonstrations misguided and arguing that they prove the very freedoms protesters claim to defend.

"President Trump has said himself that he’s not a king," Hassett told Fox News in a wide-ranging interview today. "Obviously everyone’s letting them protest, that’s what America is all about, is proving that there isn’t a king, right? And so what they’re doing makes no sense."

Other Republicans have similarly denounced the rallies as unpatriotic.

The NYPD emphasized its "zero tolerance" policy for illegal activity associated with No Kings protests.

"The NYPD will be out across the city to make sure everyone can peacefully and safely exercise their first amendment right," the post said. "As a reminder, there will be zero tolerance for any illegal activity or anyone who breaks the law."

Protesters demonstrating in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, are sporting costumes for the No Kings rally along a freeway.

In one photo posted to Bluesky, a protester in an inflatable dinosaur costume carried a sign that read: "fascism is prehistoric."

Other protesters appeared in inflatable chicken, bear and unicorn costumes.

Organizers of Chicago's No Kings rally say today's demonstration carries special meaning in the city, driven by frustrations over the conduct of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents involved in the Department of Homeland Security's ongoing immigration enforcement campaign, dubbed "Operation Midway Blitz."

“ICE is occupying our city. They are attacking our neighbors with tear gas. They are indiscriminately snatching people from streets and businesses and homes,” said Kathy Tholin, a board member of Indivisible Chicago, which is organizing a rally expected to draw thousands in downtown Chicago, and more than 30 others in surrounding suburbs.

President Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court to immediately allow the deployment of National Guard troops here in Illinois, saying they are needed to protect federal agents carrying out immigration enforcement.

Demonstrators in Washington, D.C., carried a banner representing the U.S. Constitution near 14th Street and U Street.

Demonstrators rally before marching to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., today. Jose Luis Magana / AP

Protesters have begun assembling in St. Augustine, Florida.

Video posted to X shows a large gathering of people holding protest signs lined up behind barricades. Demonstrators are seen cheering as passing cars honk to show support.

Crowds of protesters are starting to swell in some of the nation's largest cities, including Washington, D.C., and Miami.

Live aerial footage shows a large protest amassing in Lexington, Massachusetts, with several hundred people gathering in a field.

A group of protesters in Washington, D.C., marched over the Arlington Memorial Bridge, waving banners that read "resist," "I love America" and "save democracy!" Others waved American flags.

‘No Kings’ protesters gather in Washington

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In Miami, hundreds of protesters lined a major freeway shouting: “One people! One nation! Stop the deportation!” Some cars passing through the demonstration honked in solidarity.

Today's No Kings protests come after the movement's last nationwide demonstrations in June — the same day that Democratic state lawmakers in Minnesota and their spouses were shot, killing two of them.

Those protests coincided with Trump's military parade marking the Army's 250th anniversary. As rallies unfolded across the country that day, Democratic lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were fatally shot in their home, and Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were wounded, also in their home. A 57-year-old Minnesota man was charged in what authorities described as acts of targeted political violence.

Demonstrators hold signs at a No Kings protest in San Diego on June 14. Ariana Drehsler / AFP via Getty Images

Protesters have started gathering in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Video shared on X shows a few dozen people waving banners and American flags on the side of a road. Passing cars can be heard honking in solidarity.

Demonstrators gathered across Europe today ahead of the No Kings rallies.

Demonstrators in Malmö, Sweden, today. Johan Nilsson / AFP - Getty Images

A woman displays a poster outside the U.S. Embassy in Berlin today. Markus Schreiber / AP

A demonstrator holds a sign in Madrid, Spain, today. Bernat Armangue / AP

Officials in several states are boosting security ahead of today’s nationwide No Kings protests, warning that violence or property damage won’t be tolerated.

In Virginia, Gov. Glenn Youngkin said he’s activated the National Guard to support police “to help keep Virginians safe.” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also ordered state troopers and Guard members to Austin, calling the demonstration there “antifa-linked” and pledging to “deter criminal mischief.”

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said officers will safeguard protesters’ right to assemble and that the department’s “Dialogue Police Team” will be on site to assist demonstrators.

In Philadelphia, officials announced road closures and parking restrictions for a large march from City Hall to Independence Mall and urged attendees to expect delays and sign up for safety alerts.

Authorities in all three states said they are coordinating with federal partners to monitor potential disruptions.

A coalition of leaders for the No Kings protests said in a press conference this week that millions of Americans are expected to join more than 2,600 demonstrations nationwide to protest what organizers called "authoritarian power grabs" by the Trump administration.

The leaders insisted the events will be peaceful and lawful, contrasting them with what they described as "lawless actions" by the federal government. They urged participants to exercise their First Amendment rights despite what they view as intimidation tactics, including threats of National Guard deployments.

Organizers called the protests a show of unity in defense of democracy. Deirdre Schifeling of the ACLU said protesting is the "most patriotic and American thing you can do."

Today's demonstrations are happening against the backdrop of a nation in conflict. Congress is at a standstill amid a government shutdown. Trump ordered National Guard deployments to California, Illinois, Oregon and Washington, D.C., against the wishes of local elected officials. Immigration agents are aggressively carrying out arrests in cities across the country, and videos showing clashes, sometimes violent, with residents and protesters have followed.

In the run-up to the upcoming marches, Republicans have pressed forward with messaging that attempts to cast the marches as made up of dangerous hate groups on the left. At the same time, the Democratic base has expressed its dissatisfaction with its party leadership.

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