No Kings Protests Sweep the Nation: Millions of Americans Participate in Peaceful Protests

Strategic Insights -

Millions of Americans participated in peaceful protests against President Trump's administration on Saturday, October 18, as part of the No Kings Protests movement. The protests, started by Indivisible and continued through local grassroots organizations, stand in defiance of Trump's immigration and deportation policies. The movement is in response to what protesters are calling Trump's abuse of power, and it saw a larger number of participants than the summer's iteration, with demonstrations coast-to-coast.

Key Takeaways:

  • The No Kings Protests, started by Indivisible in 2016, have grown in size and participation, with the October 18 protests seeing a larger number of participants than the June 2025 iteration.
  • The protests, which took place in cities across the nation, including New York City, Southern California, London, Berlin, Stockholm, and Rome, were peaceful, with zero protest-related arrests reported.
  • Many Republican lawmakers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, criticized the protests, dubbing them the "Hate America Rally" and accusing the participants of promoting "wild leftist policy priorities."
  • Demonstrators across the country expressed optimism that the protests would incite change within the White House and demanded an end to Trump's administration's policies, including those affecting immigration, healthcare, and civil rights.
  • Indivisible's co-executive Director Leah Greenberg responded to the criticism from Republican lawmakers by saying that if they cannot say the name of the protests, "No Kings," the entire argument falls apart, highlighting the protesters' exercise of their right to peaceful protest.

Statistics:

  • Over 100,000 demonstrators gathered across all five boroughs in New York City.
  • The No Kings Protests saw a larger number of participants than the summer's iteration, with Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen, saying that people have become increasingly aware of what is going wrong with the administration.

Sources:

  • "Indivisible", a progressive organization established in 2016
  • Public Citizen
  • The Progressive Change Campaign Committee
  • Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA)
  • Leah Greenberg, co-executive Director of Indivisible.