On October 18, 2025, more than 2,500 protests are planned in all 50 states. Notably, organizers believe this could be the biggest single-day demonstration in American history. Specifically, activists say that the “No Kings” movement across the country is meant to fight against what they see as President Donald Trump’s authoritarian policies. Additionally, they are concerned about increasing executive overreach.
Expected High Turnout
To illustrate the scale of this movement, Leah Greenberg, co-Executive Director of Indivisible, said that the rallies could become the “largest peaceful protest in modern American history.” Furthermore, the coalition organizing these protests includes some of the nation’s most prominent civil rights and activist groups. These include the ACLU, Indivisible, MoveOn, the American Federation of Teachers, the Human Rights Campaign, and Planned Parenthood. Significantly, the first No Kings rallies in June 2025 drew more than 5 million people. This made it the second-largest single-day protest since Trump’s inauguration in January 2017, trailing only the Women’s March.
Why the Movement Happened
Primarily, people are angry about Trump sending National Guard troops to cities run by Democrats. Moreover, they are upset about the government shutdown that started on October 1. In addition to these immediate concerns, organizers have talked about what they see as Trump’s “growing authoritarian tendencies and corruption.” Specifically, they point to issues such as increased deportations, cuts to healthcare, gerrymandering, and policies that put billionaires ahead of working families. Meanwhile, the ACLU’s head of political and advocacy emphasized that Americans are using their First Amendment rights to speak out against monarchy. They reject authoritarian rule.
Safety Issues and Getting Ready
Despite their optimism, organizers have expressed concerns about what might happen to protesters. Particularly alarming, after the murder of far-right commentator Charlie Kirk, Trump has stepped up threats against groups that oppose him. Not only has he called antifa a terrorist group, but he has also promised to investigate leftist groups that he believes are supporting terrorism. Consequently, activists have made comprehensive plans for their safety. These include training marshals for protests and setting up workshops on how to de-escalate situations. Unfortunately, some people may decide to stay home due to fears of being deported for participating in peaceful protests.
Chicago Becomes the Center of Attention
Similarly, organizers in Chicago anticipate their city will have especially large crowds. This is largely because people are angry about Trump’s immigration policies and his attempts to federalize National Guard troops. As Kathy Tholin, a board member of Indivisible Chicago Alliance, observed, “The nation is watching how we respond here in Chicago.” This statement underscores Chicago’s importance to both heightened immigration enforcement and local resistance efforts.
Political Reaction
In contrast, Republican lawmakers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have condemned the protests as a “Hate America Rally.” Likewise, the Trump administration has dismissed the demonstrations. For instance, Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson, stated that “left-wing protesters can make fools of themselves by protesting the alternate reality they live in.” However, she added that violence or breaking the law will not be tolerated.
The Main Point of the Movement
Ultimately, the No Kings movement has a straightforward message: America doesn’t have kings, and the American people reject monarchical rule. According to the protest website nokings.org, “NO KINGS” represents the same values that the country was founded upon. As a result, the slogan has become a rallying cry for people all over the country who oppose dictatorship. Finally, most protests are set to start around 10:00 a.m. on October 18.
