No Throne No Crown: Inside The Global ‘No Kings’ Movement

The Birth of a Resistance 

The “No Kings” movement emerged as a powerful response to what many Americans perceive as President Trump’s increasingly authoritarian governance style since returning to office. What began as grassroots organizing among progressive groups has swelled into one of the most significant protest movements in recent American history. The movement’s name itself is a pointed reminder of America’s foundational rejection of monarchy—a principle that protesters argue the current administration has forgotten. 

This past weekend marked a watershed moment for the movement, with an estimated 7 million Americans participating in over 2,700 events across all 50 states. The timing wasn’t coincidental; as federal workers faced furloughs amid another government shutdown and ICE conducted widespread immigration raids, the American public’s frustration reached a boiling point. 

A Unified Voice Against Perceived Tyranny 

What made the October 18-19 protests particularly remarkable was their scope and diversity of participants. In Washington D.C., Pennsylvania Avenue filled with demonstrators holding signs reading “No Kings, No Tyrants” while wearing yellow to symbolize unity. The sea of yellow stretched from coast to coast—from San Francisco, where protesters formed a human banner on Ocean Beach, to New York, Chicago, and countless small towns between. 

“We made a pledge of allegiance when we were in school and this is what it’s all about,” said Uriah Kitchen of Delaware, who attended the D.C. protest with his son. “This is why we’re here, we’re here to protect America.” 

The concerns driving protesters were numerous but interconnected: aggressive immigration enforcement by masked ICE agents, slashing of education resources and environmental protections, federal troop deployments to Democratic-led cities, and perceived threats to democratic norms. Behind these specific grievances lies a fundamental anxiety that America’s constitutional system of checks and balances is being deliberately undermined. 

International Solidarity 

Perhaps most telling is how the movement has resonated beyond American borders. In Toronto, Canada, a sister “No Tyrants” protest (renamed since Canada’s head of state is King Charles) drew both Canadian and American citizens. Demonstrators dressed in colorful, whimsical costumes to counter narratives painting anti-fascist protesters as violent. 

“My message to Donald Trump and his gangster regime is ‘Canada will stand up, Canadians will stand up,’” said Charlie Angus, a former member of Canada’s parliament, in a video message to the Toronto protesters. “No kings, no tyrants, no fascism – not here, not now.” 

This international dimension underscores a crucial point: the principles at stake transcend partisan American politics. When citizens of other democracies feel compelled to join in protest, it signals recognition that democratic backsliding anywhere threatens democratic values everywhere. 

The Trump Administration’s Destructive Path 

Since returning to office, the Trump administration has pursued policies that critics argue have done far more harm than good. The recent mass layoffs of federal workers have devastated families and communities, particularly affecting Black Americans who have historically found paths to the middle class through government employment. 

“The elimination of all these jobs are creating mass threats (for people to be able) to keep their home, to keep a roof over their head, send their kids to college and the hope of the American dream,” said Monica, a longtime federal employee who attended the D.C. protest. 

The administration’s approach to environmental regulation has alarmed scientists and citizens alike, with critical protections rolled back at a time when climate challenges intensify.

Meanwhile, the deployment of federal agents—sometimes unidentified—to American cities represents an unprecedented militarization of domestic policy that many constitutional scholars have flagged as deeply troubling. 

The MAGA Mindset: Dismissal and Derision 

The administration’s response to the massive protests has been predictably dismissive. When asked about the demonstrations, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson bluntly responded: “Who cares?” This callous disregard for millions of American citizens exercising their First Amendment rights perfectly encapsulates the administration’s approach to governance—a fundamental disinterest in representing anyone outside their base. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson went further, characterizing the peaceful protests as a “hate America rally,” employing the tiresome MAGA tactic of equating criticism of their policies with hatred of the country itself. This rhetorical sleight-of-hand attempts to monopolize patriotism, as though love of country belongs exclusively to those who support the current administration. 

But true patriotism isn’t blind loyalty to a leader or party—it’s a commitment to the constitutional principles and democratic values that define America at its best. The “No Kings” protesters aren’t anti-American; they’re pro-democracy in the most fundamental sense. 

The Power of Joy as Resistance 

What’s particularly striking about the “No Kings” protests is how they’ve incorporated elements of joy, creativity, and humor. In cities from Portland to Los Angeles to Memphis, protesters donned inflatable animal costumes. Song and dance broke out spontaneously in Salt Lake City and elsewhere. In Los Angeles, salsa bands played while demonstrators danced, creating an atmosphere one participant described as “a block party.” 

“I think it’s really hard to call something a war zone, when you look at something and it’s just a block party and people in Halloween costumes,” noted one Los Angeles protester in a unicorn costume. 

This strategic deployment of joy serves multiple purposes. It directly contradicts the administration’s characterization of protesters as dangerous extremists. It makes the movement more accessible to newcomers. And perhaps most importantly, it demonstrates that resistance isn’t just about anger—it’s about imagining and embodying the more inclusive, joyful society we want to create. 

The Path Forward: Democracy Requires Participation 

As we process the significance of this past weekend’s historic demonstrations, one thing becomes abundantly clear: democracy isn’t a spectator sport. The “No Kings” movement reminds us that the American experiment has always required active participation from its citizens. 

The protesters who filled streets nationwide weren’t just registering disapproval; they were reclaiming their role in the democratic process. Between elections, when the traditional mechanisms of accountability seem to falter, citizens have always turned to peaceful assembly as a means of making their voices heard. 

This isn’t about partisan politics—it’s about fundamental principles that should transcend party lines. No president, regardless of political affiliation, should be above accountability. No administration should treat criticism as treason. And no American should be comfortable with governance that increasingly resembles monarchy rather than democracy. 

The “No Kings” movement’s greatest strength lies in its moral clarity. By invoking America’s revolutionary origins, it places today’s struggles in historical context. The American experiment began with a rejection of monarchy and an embrace of self-governance. Each generation faces its own test of whether that experiment will continue. 

For those discouraged by current events, the massive turnout this weekend offers genuine hope. It demonstrates that millions of Americans remain committed to democratic principles, willing to show up when those principles are threatened. The path forward won’t be easy, but it becomes more navigable when walked together. 

In the words often attributed to Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” This weekend, we saw not a small group but millions of such citizens. Their message was clear: in America, we have no kings.