On Saturday, demonstrators gathered in significant numbers for the second “No Kings” protest, targeting the Trump administration. Major cities, including New York City, Washington, D.C., and even London, saw large crowds participating in the movement. The protests were largely peaceful, despite concerns from some leaders about potential violence. House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed skepticism about whether the demonstrations would influence Democrat leaders to accept Republican proposals, saying, “I hope they will, but I’m not overly optimistic.”
In New York City, officials reported more than 100,000 participants, with the NYPD noting that no arrests were made related to the event. D.C. also reported no arrests, although some protesters did spill into the streets briefly. Other cities, such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, had sizeable gatherings. Portland police detained three individuals for an alleged assault during the protests there. In Broadview, outside of Chicago, fifteen arrests were made near an ICE facility. Denver’s police had to take action as well, dispersing a small group and making additional arrests.
The protests were labeled staunchly anti-Trump, with demonstrators voicing their opposition to what they perceive as authoritarian policies from the president. California Governor Gavin Newsom stated on social media, “California will keep peacefully pushing back against the Trump Administration’s authoritarian takeover.” In D.C., Senator Bernie Sanders echoed this sentiment, referring to the gatherings as “a Love America rally.” Sanders expressed gratitude to the participants, thanking “the millions of Americans who turned out in small communities and big cities all over this country to say loudly and boldly: No more kings. In America, We the People will rule.”
In total, roughly 2,500 “No Kings” protests occurred across the United States. While the rallies aimed to draw attention to current political sentiments, they also coincided with the ongoing government shutdown, leading some Republicans to argue that the protests served as a distraction from this pressing issue. Despite this, the lack of significant violence or major incidents drew attention to the largely peaceful nature of the protests, reflecting the determination of many protesters to voice their dissent without resorting to chaos.
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