'No Kings' Protests Draw More than 7 Million across America
From cities to small towns, Americans showed up to tell Donald Trump to take his autocracy and shove it.
The message at the roughly 2,700 demonstrations across the country on Saturday was clear: No thrones. No crowns. No Kings. Ever. And that message was delivered with joy, music, dancing, costumes, and camaraderie.
National organizers say that the turnout at the October 18 “No Kings” protests surpassed that of the June rallies before Donald Trump’s military parade. More than 7 million people showed up in cities, towns, and villages across the country.
Members of the Lincoln Square and Lincoln Project family were at events from New York to L.A. to bring you live coverage of the fight for democracy.
Here’s our first dispatch, with more to come. And tag us on social media with your photos and videos!
California
Santa Monica’s protest was at Palisades Park downtown overlooking the ocean. Thousands turned out for what felt like a summer block party, complete with ‘90s alternative and hip-hop classics. Lincoln Square Executive Editor
was there reporting live.








New York
More than 100,000 New Yorkers gathered for the second No Kings protest. Lincoln Square’s C.J. Penneys and Josh Friday, as well as Brandon Graeter from The Lincoln Project, were in Times Square for the massive demonstration.
Tune into The Weekly Assignment at 10 a.m. ET Monday, October 20! Josh and C.J. will stop by with more exclusive footage.









And Executive Producer Sam Osterhout was among 7,000 who rallied in Kingston upstate.
Yes it was wonderful and so proud that it was peaceful, semi-organized and in my case CROWDED. Also glad to see people did not react when provoked--turning your back was an excellent approach. Pleased that the local police stepped in when there was danger (aka women in SC removed when brandishing a gun at the protestors). So now we get to see what is the latest "why not" reason from Speaker Johnson.
It was beautiful, of course, because we are beautiful.