"No King" protest returned with its second edition. No, this is not a joke, but a group of people is staging a second round of "No Kings" protests across the country on Saturday in response to what they describe as the abuse of power by President Donald Trump and his administration, including his immigration crackdown.
Organizers predict millions will hit the streets in over 2,600 events, spanning New York, D.C., Chicago, and LA, powered by grassroots volunteers—and, apparently, a dash of celebrity sparkle, with
Jane Fonda,
John Legend,
Kerry Washington, and Alan Cumming on the roster.
What are the "No Kings" protests?
The daylong "No Kings" protests set for October 18 follow up on the thousands held in mid-June. They are being run by a coalition of organisations including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Indivisible, 50501, and others, ABC news reported.
"They have been organised by regular people, by volunteers," Deirdre Schifeling, Chief Political and Advocacy Officer of the ACLU, told ABC News.
Republicans react to Protests
Senate Majority Leader John Thune asserted on Wednesday that Democrats are waiting to resolve funding issues until after Saturday's "No Kings" rallies. "The truth is -- what Democrats really want is something Republicans can't give them. And that is the approval of their far-left base," Thune said.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has framed the "No Kings" protests as a series of "Hate America" rallies, stating, "And I encourage you to watch -- we call it the ‘Hate America Rally’ that will happen Saturday. Let's see who shows up for that. I bet you see pro-Hamas supporters. I bet you see Antifa types. I bet you see the Marxists in full display, the people who don't want to stand and defend the foundational truths of this republic."
Johnson did not provide any evidence to support his claims that “pro-Hamas supporters” and “Antifa types” will attend. Organisers have stated they cannot control who joins the protests from outside groups and have emphasised their intent to maintain respectful and nonviolent gatherings. In an interview with Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo on Thursday, Trump dismissed being referred to as a "king." "They're referring to me as a king. I’m not a king," he said.
Security Measures Ahead of Protests
In advance of Saturday’s rallies, law enforcement is actively monitoring social media and the internet, as well as collaborating with local organisers and potential counter-protesters to anticipate events. This vigilance reflects ongoing concerns about large-scale public gatherings, especially political ones.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, announced on X on Thursday that he "directed the Dept of Public Safety and National Guard to surge forces into Austin" ahead of the rallies. "Texas will NOT tolerate chaos. Anyone destroying property or committing acts of violence will be swiftly arrested,” Abbott wrote. State Representative Gene Wu, chair of the state House’s Democratic caucus, responded, "Sending armed soldiers to suppress peaceful protests is what kings and dictators do -- and Greg Abbott just proved he’s one of them."
Organisers' Response to Republican Claims
Organisers have countered that Republicans in power are responsible for the ongoing shutdown and have noted that Johnson and some other Republicans’ reluctance to mention the protest’s name is significant.
“I think it's really telling that he spent an entire week calling this a 'hate American Rally,' on the attack against this coalition and Americans across the country, and he won't even say the name of the protest," Leah Greenberg, co-executive director of Indivisible, one of the major groups in the "No Kings" coalition, told reporters on a press call on Thursday.
Greenberg added, "That's because if you say the name of the protest, 'No Kings,' the entire argument falls apart … there is nothing more American than saying that we don't have kings and exercising our right to peaceful protest."
When asked if they believed the Republican claims would impact participant turnout on Saturday, organisers responded that it might have the opposite effect. "I think, if anything, it will increase turnout," said Schifeling. "I think Americans can really see through these sad attempts to distract attention from the failure of these Republican Congress people and Republican Trump administration to actually address what most Americans want and need from their govt."
Ezra Levin, co-executive director of Indivisible, told ABC News that he welcomes the publicity but believes Republicans are attempting to prevent Americans from exercising their First Amendment rights.
"I think the Republicans and Trump see that the largest peaceful protest in modern American history is coming together on Saturday to push back against the authoritarian overreach by this regime and its supporters in Congress, and they're looking for ways to message against it ahead of time," he said.
Fundraising and Celebrity Participation
Celebrities including Jane Fonda, Kerry Washington, John Legend, Alan Cumming, and John Leguizamo are slated to attend, according to a fundraising email on Thursday from the political action committee Progressive Change Campaign Committee. "We'll be in the streets for immigrant families under attack and for voters who are being silenced.
For communities being terrorised by militarised policing. For families who are about to lose their health insurance. And for every single person whose rights are threatened by this administration's cruelty," the group wrote in the email.
Could the Protests Trigger a Show of Force?
The tension ahead of Saturday’s “No Kings” protests isn’t just political — it’s logistical. Several Republican leaders are already talking troop deployments.
“We’ll have to get the National Guard out,” Sen. Roger Marshall warned this week. “Hopefully it’ll be peaceful. I doubt it.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has already sent his state’s National Guard to Austin, labeling the event “antifa-linked.” Democrats fired back, accusing him of acting like the very “king” protesters are rallying against.
“Sending armed soldiers to suppress peaceful protests is what kings and dictators do,” said Texas House Minority Leader Gene Wu. “And Greg Abbott just proved he’s one of them.”
Organizers insist they’re ready. The Indivisible Project says it has trained tens of thousands in nonviolence and de-escalation, coordinating closely with cities that have National Guard units on alert. “We don’t expect a need for troops,” said ACLU’s Deirdre Schifeling, “but if the administration tries to use them to intimidate peaceful protesters, we’re prepared.”
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has planned a
military parade in California on the same day — a move critics see as a pointed countermessage.
Experts warn the legal groundwork is already laid for a broader show of force. Elizabeth Goitein of the Brennan Center for Justice said the same memorandum used to send troops into Los Angeles could be invoked nationwide — even for peaceful protests. “It’s a direct attack on First Amendment freedoms,” she said.
And while mobilizing troops takes planning, Goitein noted, “If we see them deployed this weekend, it means those orders were in motion long before anyone took to the streets.”
For now, organizers say they’re focused on turnout — not troop counts — as millions prepare to march for democracy, not monarchy.