The No Kings Day protests spanned across the United States in an effort to show the frustration and anger of the American people towards President Donald Trump. New York held multiple protests across the city, the largest being a march down 7th Avenue. This is not the first No Kings Day; the first was on June 14, and although the efforts were the same, the anger was even greater this time. With U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and the presence of the National Guard in D.C. and Los Angeles, this time around there was an even higher level of fury and disappointment towards our government. I believe that the No Kings Day protests were a strong portrayal of how upset and disheartened Americans feel about our current president, and that although we may feel like we are unable to make a change in the situation, our voices need to be heard.
In college, we learn about the importance of civic engagement, but we need to actively use that knowledge to continue our democracy. The turnout of the protests was huge, with over 7 million people in attendance. Many of the signs at the protests used puns or jokes to get their point across, and a common sight was inflatable costumes. They were used to show that the protesters were not violent — as many right-wing media sources portray them — and to prove that non-violent protest was the goal of No Kings Day. Being in New York City, the participation in No Kings protests was anticipated, but in many red states, the protests felt more radical. Participants in protests in South Carolina were adamant about their hatred of Trump and the ways he is manipulating our democracy. A recent CNN poll found that Trump’s approval rating has continued to drop since his first days in office, with a poll from Oct. 22 finding 56% of adults disapprove. We can’t know how much the protests will change the administration, but they did instill hope in many Americans who may have felt they weren’t being heard. Losing hope is one of the most dangerous things that can happen in a country when there is a risk of authoritarianism.
Alongside their opposition to government overreach, protesters held signs condemning ICE and the ongoing attacks on immigrants. The U.S. is a country made up of citizens from all around the world, and No Kings Day proved the power of unity across all cultures. The presence of ICE and the unlawful arrests of American citizens under this administration served as yet another reminder of injustice, and the protests made it clear that standing against Trump was inseparable from standing against ICE. For many, the event was a chance to reclaim America’s foundational ideals of liberty and equality. The energy that filled the streets reflected not only collective resentment, but also a resilient optimism that civic engagement would strengthen America’s democratic integrity.
The No Kings Day protests showed unity among the American people and joined communities together over their disdain for Trump. Months ago, when I participated in the June 14 No Kings Day, I was not only filled with hope by the turnout of people protesting but also extremely emotional to see the anger and strength displayed by protesters. People passing out water, hugging one another and giving each other space to mourn the country they may be losing faith in was precisely what made the protest even more meaningful.
Being able to protest and have our voices amplified across the nation is a power we should continue to exercise and use whenever possible, not only to fight against fascism but to display our unwillingness to roll over to a bully in charge. To me, No Kings Day was an opportunity for people to come together, build community and fight for the rights of all Americans. To quote James Baldwin: “I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.” It is out of love for our country that we protest and show unity in face of so much division, and it is with the power of the people that we are strongest.
Uma Petzke, FCRH ‘29, is a psychology major from San Francisco, CA.
