In a sweeping display of dissent, more than 2,000 protests were staged across all 50 US states on Saturday, targeting the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown and what organisers called an “authoritarian overreach”.
The nationwide protests—coordinated under the slogan “No Kings”—ranged from small rallies in rural towns to massive demonstrations in urban centers, including New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Chicago.
The protests coincided with a military parade in Washington, D.C., organised to mark the 250th anniversary of the US Army, and also President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. Protest organisers intentionally avoided calling for demonstrations in the capital, describing the parade as a “display of dominance” and citing Trump’s warning that protestors would be met with “very big force.”
Widespread Turnout From Coast to Coast
In New York City, approximately 50,000 demonstrators gathered, chanting slogans such as “No ICE! No Deportation! Trump Must Go!” and “No Justice, No Peace!” Protesters carried banners demanding the end of immigration raids and tighter border enforcement.
In California, more than 100,000 people participated in demonstrations across over 200 locations, including remote areas like Idyllwild and Santa Catalina Island. Los Angeles alone saw an estimated 25,000 participants, making it one of the focal points of public opposition amid heightened anxiety over immigration enforcement in the state.
Atlanta’s Liberty Plaza hosted thousands who sang reworded protest songs and waved placards, while in Houston, officials estimated a crowd of over 15,000, predominantly young and Latino, protesting peacefully.
Protests also reached smaller towns, often considered Republican strongholds. In Greenville, Ohio, dozens gathered despite visible police warnings, while in Montclair and Piscataway, New Jersey, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka joined demonstrators, referencing his arrest last month at an immigration detention center.
“People who don’t defend immigrants won’t defend me either,” Baraka stated. “We have to defend that right and defend it vociferously.”
In Miami, protesters gathered near the Torch of Friendship, waving flags and banging pots and pans—a longstanding protest tradition in the city.
Political Messaging and Coordination
The “No Kings” protests were organised by a coalition of activist groups aligned with previous demonstrations such as the “Hands Off!” movement in April. According to organisers, Saturday was declared a “day of defiance”—aimed at opposing what they described as the Trump administration’s erosion of democratic norms.
In Nashville, a crowd of over 1,000 people near the Tennessee State Capitol recited the Pledge of Allegiance, underscoring the patriotic undertone of the protest movement.
Official Responses and Law Enforcement Stance
Despite the scale of the protests, no major incidents or arrests were reported by police across most cities, including New York and Los Angeles. Authorities in California had earlier braced for record-breaking turnout but emphasized the importance of peaceful assembly.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass urged protesters to avoid violence, stating that destructive demonstrations could perpetuate false narratives of urban unrest.
Law enforcement agencies nationwide were seen exercising restraint, while community leaders encouraged civic responsibility.
–Input IANS
