Crowds gathered Saturday 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.”
Organizers said nearly 7 million people turned out Saturday to more than 2,700 No Kings protests across the U.S. — 2 million more than at the previous round of rallies in June.
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 are under attack by the Trump administration.
Politicians joined the rallies encouraging people to fight for democracy.
In Washington, D.C., Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Chris Murphy of Connecticut spoke. Bill Nye, the beloved children’s show host, also gave a speech slamming Trump and his Cabinet for failing to accept “basic scientific facts.”
“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.”
Fired U.S. Agency for International Development workers also joined the No Kings rally at the capital, including Amanda Nataro.
Nataro, 41, of Washington told NBC News: “The common adage 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.”
In Santa Monica, California, former second gentleman Doug Emhoff shared a photo of himself with his son, Cole, at the No Kings protest.
In Chicago — where high-profile clashes between residents and federal immigration authorities have unfolded in recent weeks — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker delivered a defiant speech.
He called out Trump and White House adviser Stephen Miller for “coming for the immigrants, and for Black and brown people, and for LGBTQ people and for their political opponents.”
“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 faced persecution? When our rights were being abridged? When our Constitution was under attack?’” Pritzker asked. “They’ll want to know whether we stood up or we stayed silent.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren addressed thousands at Boston Common, saying: “Standing up to a wannabe dictator? That is patriotism. Peacefully protesting to protect our democracy? That is patriotism!”
Overall, the protests have been peaceful, though some leaders, including in Texas, have said they would mobilize the National Guard to monitor for potential unrest.
