University of Kwazulu-Natal

The No Kings Protest A Movement Without A Message

Bonisiwe Shabane
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the no kings protest a movement without a message

The June 2025 No Kings protests, also known internationally as the No Dictators or No Tyrants protests, is a series of political demonstrations, largely in the United States, against what the organizers describe as... Army 250th Anniversary Parade and Trump's 79th birthday. Further No Kings protests took place on October 18, 2025.[6] Organizers estimated that more than five million people participated in more than 2,100 cities and towns, including the flagship event in Philadelphia.[7][8][9] More protests took place in the U.S. territories of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands, and in 20 foreign countries, including Canada, Japan, Mexico, and in Europe. In countries with constitutional monarchies such as Canada and the United Kingdom, the alternate "Dictators" or "Tyrants" titles were favored over "Kings" to avoid confusion with anti-monarchic movements; Hawaii did the same to avoid...

The No Kings protests were organized by Indivisible and other progressive organizations[12] as part of a coalition of more than 200 groups, including 50501, the Third Act Movement, American Federation of Teachers, Social Security... The time for assessing this administration is over – now is the moment to raise our voices and be heard. Not just to protest this parade, but to affirm something deeper: that power belongs to the people, that democracy is worth defending, that we still believe in a government of, by, and for the... Inspired by Dr. King's legacy, this mobilization reminds us of his vision of a just, inclusive, and equitable society. A dream toward which we have dedicated our lives' and urge everyone to stand together in the face of this latest challenge to our fragile democracy.[17]

The June 14 demonstrations built on previous nationwide "No Kings" protests, notably the nationwide "No Kings on Presidents' Day" event on February 17,[18][19] and others on April 19.[20] They also followed other protests of... Marine Corps.[1][5] Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The “No Kings” protests were organized to protest the second presidency of U.S. Pres. Donald Trump, focusing on his allegedly fascist policies and statements about being a king.

They were among the largest protests in U.S. history. Five million demonstrators attended the first “No Kings” rallies on June 14, 2025, and almost seven million attended the second round of rallies on October 18, 2025. Americans are protesting against Pres. Donald Trump because of his administration’s crackdowns on immigration, his allegedly antidemocratic policies, and his prior statements about being a king. In the time between the first and second rounds of protest, U.S.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids intensified, leading more protesters to take to the streets. The protests were largely organized by such liberal organizations as MoveOn, the 50501 Movement, and Indivisible. The term “No Kings” was coined by 50501 Movement. Nonpartisan groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) also helped facilitate protests. The first round of protests in June took place across about 2,100 sites nationwide, with major cities such as Chicago, New York City, and Philadelphia seeing large-scale demonstrations. The October 2025 protests saw about 2,700 locations across the U.S.

Sizable protests also occurred in smaller cities and suburban locales. 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. Tensions were escalating on the streets of downtown Los Angeles as police sought to disperse demonstrators after an anti-Trump “No Kings” demonstration. (AP video by Mark Vancleave and Eugene Garcia)

People take part in the “No Kings Day” protest on Presidents Day in Washington, in support of federal workers and against recent actions by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, by the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana,File) A federal employee, who asked not to use their name for fears over losing their job, protests with a sign saying “Federal Employees Don’t Work for Kings” during the “No Kings Day” protest on... 17, 2025, near the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

▶ Follow live updates on President Donald Trump and his administration Opponents of President Donald Trump’s administration are set to rally in hundreds of cities on Saturday during the military parade in Washington to mark the Army’s 250th anniversary, which coincides with Trump’s birthday. “They don’t understand anything about the fact that we all are kings and not him.” That’s part of why George Atkinson, a former high school government teacher, felt compelled to join a protest in downtown Houston on Saturday. The 89-year-old affixed a sign to his walker that read, “The clothes have no emperor! He’s all hat and no cattle!”

Atkinson told CNN he’s been “opposed to fascism all my life.” “I was a high school government teacher, and these people’s kids would have failed my course, the people who support Trump,” he said. The event was one of more than 2,000 “No Kings” rallies held across the country on Saturday, protesting what organizers call “authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics, and the militarization of our democracy.” A demonstrator carries an American flag upside-down near the White House during a protest taking place on the day of a military parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary, coinciding with President Donald Trump's 79th... (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Crowds began gathering across the United States and abroad on Saturday for the "No Kings" protests — a massive, coordinated day of demonstrations opposing what organisers call President Donald Trump’s increasingly authoritarian rule.

The movement, now in its second nationwide wave since Trump’s return to office in January, has drawn support from prominent political figures, civil rights groups and celebrities, and is expected to include more than... Organisers said they anticipate millions of participants at rallies in major cities like Washington, DC, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Boston, and Dallas, as well as smaller gatherings in suburbs and rural towns. The phrase “No Kings” is a pointed reference to America’s founding rejection of monarchy — a rebuke to what protesters see as Trump’s consolidation of power. The movement unites hundreds of national and local activist groups under one message: that "the United States does not welcome single sovereign rule post-1776." In June, we did what many claimed was impossible: peacefully mobilized millions of people to take to the streets and declare with one voice — America has No Kings. And it mattered.

The world saw the power of the people. President Trump’s birthday parade was drowned out by protests in every state and across the globe. His attempt to turn June 14 into a coronation collapsed, and the story became the strength of a movement rising against his authoritarian power grabs. Four months later, that movement roared back even stronger. On October 18, over seven million Americans joined 2,700+ events in all 50 states — a nationwide uprising 14 times larger than both of Trump’s inaugurations combined. What began in June as a single day of defiance has become a sustained national resistance to tyranny, spreading from small towns to city centers and across every community determined to defend democracy.

Now, President Trump has doubled down. His administration is sending masked agents into our streets, terrorizing our communities. They are targeting immigrant families, profiling, arresting, and detaining people without warrants. Threatening to overtake elections. Gutting healthcare, environmental protections, and education when families need them most. Rigging maps to silence voters.

Ignoring mass shootings at our schools and in our communities. Driving up the cost of living while handing out massive giveaways to billionaire allies, as families struggle. The president thinks his rule is absolute. But in America, we don’t have kings — and we won’t back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty. Our peaceful movement is only getting bigger. “No Kings” is more than just a slogan; it is the foundation our nation was built upon.

Born in the streets, shouted by millions, carried on posters and chants, it echoes from city blocks to rural town squares, uniting people across this country to fight dictatorship together. 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.

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The June 2025 No Kings Protests, Also Known Internationally As

The June 2025 No Kings protests, also known internationally as the No Dictators or No Tyrants protests, is a series of political demonstrations, largely in the United States, against what the organizers describe as... Army 250th Anniversary Parade and Trump's 79th birthday. Further No Kings protests took place on October 18, 2025.[6] Organizers estimated that more than five million people particip...

The No Kings Protests Were Organized By Indivisible And Other

The No Kings protests were organized by Indivisible and other progressive organizations[12] as part of a coalition of more than 200 groups, including 50501, the Third Act Movement, American Federation of Teachers, Social Security... The time for assessing this administration is over – now is the moment to raise our voices and be heard. Not just to protest this parade, but to affirm something deepe...

The June 14 Demonstrations Built On Previous Nationwide "No Kings"

The June 14 demonstrations built on previous nationwide "No Kings" protests, notably the nationwide "No Kings on Presidents' Day" event on February 17,[18][19] and others on April 19.[20] They also followed other protests of... Marine Corps.[1][5] Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The “No Kings” protests were organized to protest the second ...

They Were Among The Largest Protests In U.S. History. Five

They were among the largest protests in U.S. history. Five million demonstrators attended the first “No Kings” rallies on June 14, 2025, and almost seven million attended the second round of rallies on October 18, 2025. Americans are protesting against Pres. Donald Trump because of his administration’s crackdowns on immigration, his allegedly antidemocratic policies, and his prior statements about...

Immigration And Customs Enforcement (ICE) Raids Intensified, Leading More Protesters

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids intensified, leading more protesters to take to the streets. The protests were largely organized by such liberal organizations as MoveOn, the 50501 Movement, and Indivisible. The term “No Kings” was coined by 50501 Movement. Nonpartisan groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) also helped facilitate protests. The first round of protes...