No Kings Protests Redefine Political Activism Using Social Media

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Dec 31, 2025, 3:39 AM

no kings protests redefine political activism using social media

The No Kings Protests were comprised of two large, organized public protests by groups such as the 50501 Movement and Indivisible within the United States of America to protest against President Donald Trump in... The name No King stems from President Donald Trump’s statements about serving as president beyond his second term. The first protest took place on June 14, 2025, to show dissent within the American public with President Donald Trump’s military parade, which also took place on his birthday, in Washington, D.C., for the... The first protest took place at about 2,100 sites, smaller than the second No Kings Protest on October 18, 2025, which involved more than 2,700 sites across the U.S. The second protest made history as the largest in American history, reflecting U.S. citizens’ unrest with the newly elected president.

More than five million protesters showed up in June, and the following phase of the No Kings protest drew more than seven million activists. Large populated cities in America came together as a unified group to show their support for the protest in locations such as Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Seattle, with protesters holding... Protests have been powerful forces for political and cultural change in both American and global history. Many protests in America have led to positive changes. Labor protests of the 1930s helped secure the creation of industrial unions, increasing wages and job protection. Civil Rights protests dismantled Jim Crow laws and expanded political representation for Black Americans.

The 1913 Suffrage Parade propelled women’s political rights, and the Delano Grape Boycott of the 1960s secured better working conditions for farm workers. These examples reflect large-scale demonstrations that caught the nation’s attention and drove change. Local resident, Kevin Walsh from Perkasie, Pennsylvania, was one of many who took part in the Perkasie No Kings Protest on October 18. The protest location, organized by the Pennridge Community Alliance and posted on platforms like Facebook, was how Walsh learned about and became motivated to attend. According to Walsh, “the protest was organized to be peaceful and bring together like-minded people to show unity among people who feel opposed to the current political policies in D.C.” Walsh explained how social... He showed relentless support for the use of social media for political change, as it can be used as evidence of what happens when large groups of people come together to share similar views...

Holly Greene, who resides in Portland, Maine, has participated in previous protests, including protests against Donald Trump during his first campaign. Recently, she continued to speak out by participating in the No Kings Protests in Portland, Maine. Online social groups, such as the Rose Mont group and Indivisible, were where Greene began to hear plans for the protest as neighbors posted updates, Greene explained that while her neighborhood does spread details... She described how social media allows “the world to see the numbers pictures,” making her feel good because there are others who are like-minded and providing hope that others feel the same way as... Mary McKay, a resident of Perkasie, Pennsylvania, has attended protests since the 1990s, beginning in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during a rally for women’s reproductive rights and continuing through the 2025 No Kings events. McKay describes protests as empowering, emphasizing how they amplify individual voices and ensure you are heard among hundreds or even thousands of people.

McKay’s motivation behind protesting lies in its true purpose, which she emphasizes when she states, “Freedom of speech is paramount to a democracy, and protests allow us to do just that.” She also pointed... As a member of the 50501, an online group, McKay stays informed about events, locations, and dates. “Social media also helps to demonstrate that the protests are real and not ‘fake news,’ as certain groups like to claim they are,” she adds. “It puts a face on what is happening in real time.” The nationwide protests are playing out as a federal government shutdown lingers and troops are being deployed in cities. More than 2,600 protests against the Trump administration are scheduled to take place across the country on Saturday in a demonstration known as No Kings Day.

Organizers are attempting to build on the momentum from their previous event on June 14, when around 2,000 rallies were held in all 50 states and drew more than five million people. It was the same day a military parade was held in Washington for the Army’s 250th anniversary and on President Trump’s 79th birthday. This time, the protests are taking place against the backdrop of a government shutdown, immigration raids and the deployment of federal troops in cities. Organizers say that the tenor behind the protest movement feels more charged and that they expect an even larger number of participants. The number of people who have already signed up, which is not a requirement, is nearly double what it was in June, said Hunter Dunn, a spokesman for the coalition behind No Kings. In the summer of 2025, the streets of major American cities pulsed with the chants and banners of the “No Kings” protest, a movement that has captivated attention yet baffled onlookers with its lack...

From New York to Los Angeles, thousands have joined the marches, waving signs and shouting slogans, but when pressed to explain what “No Kings” stands for, many protesters—particularly the Baby Boomer contingent—offer vague, contradictory,... This phenomenon has sparked a broader conversation about the suggestibility of targeted demographics and the power of algorithmic manipulation in modern activism. The No Kings protest emerged seemingly overnight, with social media platforms like X buzzing with hashtags and viral videos promoting the cause. Yet, when journalists and curious bystanders began asking participants what they were protesting, the answers were startlingly inconsistent. Some claimed it was about rejecting corporate greed; others mentioned government overreach, wealth inequality, or even a rejection of monarchy—an odd stance in a country without a king. One protester, a 67-year-old retiree named Susan from Chicago, told a reporter, “It’s about taking back our freedom… or something like that.” Another, a 70-year-old named Frank, admitted, “I saw it on my feed,...

I’m not sure of the details.” This confusion among participants points to a troubling reality: the No Kings protest may be less about a coherent cause and more about the vulnerability of certain demographics to digital manipulation. Boomers, who make up a significant portion of the protest’s foot soldiers, have been particularly susceptible. Organizers, whose identities remain murky, appear to have leveraged sophisticated algorithms to target this group. Social media platforms have been flooded with tailored content—memes, emotionally charged videos, and inflammatory rhetoric—designed to resonate with Boomers’ frustrations about economic stagnation, political polarization, and a sense of lost agency. These posts, often vague but evocative, urge action without specifying a goal, creating a feedback loop of outrage and mobilization.

Experts in digital sociology, like Dr. Emily Chen of Stanford University, argue that this is a textbook case of algorithmic exploitation. “Boomers, many of whom are newer to navigating online echo chambers, are prime targets for this kind of vague, emotionally driven content,” Chen explains. “Algorithms amplify posts that trigger strong reactions, and organizers exploit this to pull people into the streets without needing a clear agenda.” The result is a movement that feels urgent to its participants but... The suggestibility of targeted Americans, particularly older generations, raises uncomfortable questions about the state of civic discourse. Boomers, who grew up in an era of mass media and clear-cut political movements, may be less equipped to navigate the fragmented, algorithm-driven information landscape of 2025.

Unlike younger generations, who are often more skeptical of online narratives, many Boomers take viral content at face value, especially when it aligns with their existing grievances. The No Kings protest capitalizes on this, using buzzwords like “freedom” and “power” to galvanize action without requiring a unified platform. No Kings protests (also called No Kings 2.0[12][13][14] and No Kings Day 2.0[15][16]) took place on October 18, 2025, as part of a series of demonstrations taking place largely in the United States against... The demonstrations, which followed the June 2025 No Kings protests, took place in some 2,700 locations across the country, including the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Chicago, and New York City. Organizers of the protests estimated that the protests drew nearly 7 million attendees,[17][18] while a partnership between data journalist G. Elliott Morris and The Xylom, an independent Atlanta-based science newsroom, estimated 5 million to 6.5 million participants.

Either estimate would make this one of the largest single-day protests in American history.[19] The October 18, 2025, protests followed the No Kings protests in June, the Free America Weekend on July 4, and the Good Trouble Lives On protest on July 17. About 200 organizations worked together to organize the October protests, including 50501 and Indivisible groups, as well as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Democratic Socialists of America, the American Federation of Teachers,... Outside the United States, protests were organized by Democrats Abroad. Various groups organized protests in the UK, including the Stop Trump Coalition.[29] Organizers were "adamant that the rallies remain peaceful",[30] according to USA Today, and held virtual safety trainings ahead of the protests with help from the ACLU.[31] According to The New York Times, "Many had...

Protesting the direction of the country under President Donald Trump, people gathered Saturday in the nation’s capital and communities across the U.S. for “ No Kings ” demonstrations that the president’s Republican Party disparaged as “Hate America” rallies. (AP video by Mike Pesoli) Several hundred people, mostly American expatriates, gathered in Paris and Madrid on Saturday in support of the ‘No King’ day movement that is expected to draw large crowds in the U.S. against President Donald Trump’s policies. (AP video by Alexander Turnbull and Iain Sullivan)

People are signing a giant Constitution as they take part in a “No Kings” protest Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Crowds gather to listen to Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., during a No Kings protest, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Washington.

(AP Photo/Allison Robbert) Demonstrators wearing inflatable bald eagle costumes gather in Kiener Plaza during the “No Kings” protest in St. Louis, with the Gateway Arch in the background, on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (David Carson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)

No Kings protest in Pasadena, California, June 14, 2025 "We’re not in a sprint. It’s not even a marathon. It’s a relay race," the press coordinator of No Kings tells The Advocate. Many of us seeing the first No Kings protest in June might have been surprised at just how many people showed up. Organizers said the goal was simple, to get people into the streets and remind folks that dissent still exists.

In an era of a wannabe king, raising our voices collectively is really the first step in opposition. Now the movement has pivoted from a newsmaking spectacle to political strategy, connecting newcomers to mutual aid projects and building what one organizer calls “protest muscle” for the long haul. Related: Pro-trans rival draws cheers after Rep. Seth Moulton booed at Boston No Kings rally

No Kings Protests Redefine Political Activism Using Social Media

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