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Louisiana Joins The No Kings Festivities With Typical Flair

Bonisiwe Shabane
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louisiana joins the no kings festivities with typical flair

Participants hold up their protest signs during a No Kings rally Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at Zemurray Park in Hammond. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator) Thousands of people gathered at 10 events across Louisiana as part of Saturday’s national No Kings movement to protest President Donald Trump. Beyond their criticisms of the administration, organizers and participants shared messages of unity and countered Republicans who labeled their events as “hate rallies.” Helping set that lighter tone were several rally participants in costumes.

Some were getting a jump start on Halloween while others said they took their inspiration from protestors in Portland, Oregon, who’ve demonstrated while in disguise against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in their city. In New Orleans, where little excuse is needed for costuming, thousands showed up for a concert and rally along the Lafitte Parkway. The city hosted a parade through the Marigny neighborhood during the first No Kings day in June. Among the participants was Elaine Ravich, 96, who held a sign identifying her as part of the Greatest Generation and an opponent of tyranny. The Louisiana Illuminator is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization driven by its mission to cast light on how decisions are made in Baton Rouge and how they affect the lives of everyday Louisianians,...

Here readers will find in-depth investigations and news stories, news briefs and commentary, all of which is intended to help them make sense of how state policy is crafted, how it helps or hurts... Notwithstanding the way political reporting is often presented, we see politics as neither sport nor entertainment. There are quality-of-life consequences – even life-and-death consequences – to environmental permitting decisions, to health care policy, to income- and sales-tax rates, to budgetary cuts and to economic development plans. For those reasons, the Illuminator does not cover politics in a way that centers on politicians, their squabbles with one another or their career ambitions. Instead, we center on Louisianians from Ouachita to Calcasieu, from Plaquemines to Caddo who must live with the decisions their political leaders make. Though we’re located in Baton Rouge, we understand that the ramifications of decisions made in our capital are felt across the state and that those stories are often best told in cities, towns and...

As our name indicates, our mission is to shine a bright light on Louisiana, to highlight the state’s successes and its examples of good and responsive government and to expose its failures and corruption. An affiliate of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers like you, the Louisiana Illuminator retains editorial independence. Participants hold up their protest signs during a No Kings rally Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at Zemurray Park in Hammond. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator) Thousands of people gathered at 10 events across Louisiana as part of Saturday’s national No Kings movement to protest President Donald Trump.

Beyond their criticisms of the administration, organizers and participants shared messages of unity and countered Republicans who labeled their events as “hate rallies.” Helping set that lighter tone were several rally participants in costumes. Some were getting a jump start on Halloween while others said they took their inspiration from protestors in Portland, Oregon, who’ve demonstrated while in disguise against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in their city. In New Orleans, where little excuse is needed for costuming, thousands showed up for a concert and rally along the Lafitte Parkway. The city hosted a parade through the Marigny neighborhood during the first No Kings day in June.

About 1,000 people gathered to protest President Donald Trump and his administration during Saturday’s “No Kings” Day rally in Baton Rouge. It was one of 11 “No Kings” Day protests across the state of Louisiana over the weekend, part of a nationwide movement of thousands of different protests that drew millions of people. The “No Kings” name refers to the actions of Trump that, in the protestors' view, are anti-democratic. Issues covered at the rally were wide-ranging, including signs in favor of the Democratic plan to extend affordable health care, against the mistreatment of LGBTQ+ people under the administration and jabs at top republicans. National and local organizers alike said the events were solely peaceful in nature. They also said there were marshals trained in de-escalation and non-confrontation at all events.

This drew direct contrast to remarks made by Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, who called the protests “un-American,” “pro-Hamas,” and Antifa. Back in June, Indivisible and a coalition of pro-democracy organizations mobilized to create the "No Kings" protest. No Kings demonstrations took place in towns and cities in every state in order to reject corrupt, authoritarian politics in the U.S., according to Indivisible. Now, more protests are planned to take place on Oct. 18, with 1,500 events throughout the U.S. already established, according to Fight for a Union.

So far, five No Kings demonstrations are scheduled to take place throughout Louisiana on Oct. 18. "On October 18, millions of us are rising again to show the world: America has no kings, and the power belongs to the people," says No Kings. Throngs of protesters — including thousands across Louisiana — turned out for "No Kings 2.0" protests held across the United States on Saturday. See complete statewide coverage in photos and videos below. The Lafitte Greenway held the largest rally in Louisiana on Saturday.

Organizers said the estimated turnout surpassed that of the first "No Kings" rally in New Orleans on June 14, when thousands paraded through downtown New Orleans Thousands gathered on the Lafitte Greenway lawn for the nationwide "No Kings 2.0"protest against what organizers described as the "authoritari… Louisiana cities joined nationwide “No Kings” protests against Trump administration policies and executive overreach. BATON ROUGE, La. — Demonstrators in cities across Louisiana joined thousands nationwide in the “No Kings” movement, a coordinated protest aimed directly at policies and actions of the Trump administration that participants said threaten the nation’s democratic... The rallies, held in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Shreveport, Lake Charles, and several smaller cities, were organized to denounce what protesters described as authoritarian behavior and executive overreach by President Donald Trump.

The movement’s central message — “No Kings” — reflected concerns that the president was acting without regard for the Constitution’s system of checks and balances. In Baton Rouge, hundreds gathered at BREC’s Perkins Road Community Park, waving signs, chanting, and encouraging voter registration. Organizers said the protest served as both a political statement and a call to civic action ahead of the 2026 midterm and 2028 presidential elections. Across Louisiana, participants raised a wide range of grievances tied to the Trump administration, including immigration enforcement, economic inequality, foreign policy decisions, and transparency in government. Protesters accused the administration of consolidating power, undermining institutions, and disregarding civil rights protections. To stream WWL TV on your phone, you need the WWL TV app.

Example video title will go here for this video Example video title will go here for this video NEW ORLEANS — Thousands gathered on Lafitte Greenway to take part in "No Kings 2.0." rally in New Orleans Saturday. The event is part of National No Kings Day of Peaceful Action, which includes about 2,650 demonstrations across the U.S. New Orleans is one of 10 "anchor cities" selected by the National Indivisible Project. NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Thousands of people gathered at the Lafitte Greenway on Saturday for the “No Kings” protest, part of nationwide demonstrations calling for changes in government policies.

The No Kings Day 2.0 event combined festival and demonstration elements, with music, costumes and chants filling the grounds as the Star-Spangled Banner echoed through the area. Participants said the protest was about protecting democracy and ensuring that citizens’ voices are heard. “The hate in this state has become so horrible,” said Brent Mundt. “So, to see this kind of love in this many people who are trying to save our democracy, it’s just amazing.” Jennifer Pierce said the gathering provided purpose in uncertain times.

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