More than 7 million people rallied and marched across the United States in “” protests on October 18. Demonstrations took place in 2700 cities and towns in 50 states and in Washington DC.
There were also demonstrations in 18 countries.
This was the second No Kings Day protest since Donald Trump became president nine months ago. The last No Kings Day protests drew 5 million people out across the country in June.
Against tyranny
Trump is openly constructing a white-supremacist authoritarian state under his personal domination. He has the support of the Supreme Court, the Republican Party and the billionaire class.
Trump has deployed National Guard troops, FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents (his loyal, mask-wearing militia) to Los Angeles, Washington DC and Chicago, using the pretext that these cities are “war zones”. During their deployment, they have violated basic freedoms of speech and assembly, brutalising Brown immigrants and US citizens.
The largest No Kings protest was in New York City, where about 350,000 people demonstrated — nearly twice as many as in June.
Up to 300,000 people demonstrated in Chicago, according to , “powerfully rejecting the federal government’s ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ against the city” and supported by leading Democrats and trade unions.
Mayor Brandon Johnson — a former teacher and union organiser — gave a fiery speech calling for a general strike against tyranny.
“If my ancestors as slaves can lead the greatest general strike in the history of this country, taking it to the ultra-rich and big corporations, we can do the same today,” he said.
“I’m calling on Black people, white people, brown people, Asian people, immigrants, gay people, throughout this country, to stand up against tyranny, to send a clear message to the ultra-rich and big corporations. We are going to make them pay their fair share in taxes, to fund our schools, to fund jobs, to fund healthcare, to fund transportation.
“Democracy will live on because of this generation.”
About 100,000 people came out in Boston — where the Boston Tea Party took place in 1773, demanding “No taxation without representation”.
In San Francisco, 50,000 people protested.
Thousands of protesters came onto the streets in Atlanta, Georgia and Memphis, Tennesee — where Republican governors have mobilised their National Guard in support of Trump’s military occupations.
In the northern Californian town of Healdsburg, in the winegrowing Sonoma County, where thousands of Mexican immigrants live and work, more than 1000 people rallied out of a population of 11,000. Participants ranged from teenagers to retirees.
Smears, lies
The signs, banners and placards were similar in all protests. The unity of all ages and ethnic groups was visible.
No one showed fear of Trump’s police. The protests were peaceful. New York police said not a single demonstrator was arrested.
But prior to the demonstrations, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson (Louisiana) tried to convince the public that the protests were “Hate America rallies” organised by “Antifa” — which is not a group, but a concept embraced by opponents of fascism.
Trump and other Republican leaders claimed protesters were being paid by billionaire George Soros, a Hungarian-born Jewish liberal, whose family survived the Holocaust. Trump also claimed that the protests were organised by “radical left Democrats”, in spite of Democratic Party leaders in the Senate and House largely steering clear of the mobilisations. Those who did participate sought to focus the movement on the upcoming mid-term elections.
Demands
No Kings Day organisers and official speakers mostly stuck to the theme of “saving democracy”, meaning the pro-capitalist, two-party status quo. Nevertheless, the coalition’s leaders see ongoing mass protests as central, and organisers have already announced that a third No Kings protest is being organised.
Notably, there were fewer slogans than seen at earlier anti-Trump protests. In June, groups of pro-Palestinian marchers featured in the No Kings Day demonstrations, but this was not the case on October 18.
There were also no signs declaring “Hands Off Venezuela”, opposing Trump’s war on the Venezuelan government for alleged “drug smuggling”. The Pentagon has bombed seven small boats off the coast of Venezuela, in international waters, so far, killing 27 people. Trump calls them “enemy combatants”.
Trump has said the US has the right to take out drug cartels in Mexico and Colombia, too, without a declaration of war. Meanwhile, Congress sits quietly.
Democratic officials in the Congress and the Senate also support Trump’s policy toward Israel and Venezuela. Most of them voted to arm Israel and favour the overthrow of the Venezuelan government.
The topic of DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) is rarely addressed, as it involves challenging white supremacy and supporting affirmative action and civil rights. The Supreme Court is on the verge of repealing voting rights for African Americans, taking the country back to Jim Crow-apartheid state.
Abortion rights, climate change and LGBTIQ rights — all under attack by the right, also received minor mention at the protests.
However, opposition to Trump’s layoffs and sackings of federal public servants, and opposition to the cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, were prominent.
The potential to build an inclusive mass movement is clear. The longer Trump and his underlings advance their policies, more and bigger protests will take place. The coalition against Trump’s agenda will grow, and more demands will emerge besides “No Kings”.