Rabat – Demonstrators flooded streets across the US on Saturday for the first nationwide “No Kings” protest since the joint US-Israeli war on Iran began a month ago.
The marches marked the third round of the movement’s protests since President Donald Trump began his second term.
According to the movement’s organizers, more than 3,300 events were planned across all 50 states, with major gatherings in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington DC. This is all to protest what participants call Trump’s “king-like” actions, including authoritarianism and abuse of power.
Parallel demonstrations also took place internationally in major cities including Rome, Paris, and Berlin.
Organizers emphasized outreach beyond the country’s largest metropolitan areas, aiming to mobilize voters in smaller towns and conservative-leaning regions.
Leah Greenberg, cofounder of the progressive nonprofit Indivisible, which launched the “No Kings” movement last year, said, “The defining story of this Saturday’s mobilization is not just how many people are protesting, but where they are protesting.”
The centerpiece of the day’s events took place in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota.
The Twin Cities gained national attention last December when Trump launched Operation Metro Surge, sending over 3,000 federal immigration agents (ICE) into the area.
The raids, criticized for excessive force, saw ICE officers fatally shooting US citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good, sparking nationwide outrage and multiple lawsuits.
Saturday’s protest included speeches, concerts, and appearances from activists, labor leaders, and politicians to commemorate the victims.
Progressive Senator Bernie Sanders addressed attendees, alongside performances by rock legend Bruce Springsteen and folk singer Joan Baez.
In a pre-recorded message, actor Robert De Niro praised the demonstrators, saying, “You’ve shown bravery in the face of armed attack by government thugs, and you stood together and ran them out of town.”
In Washington DC, early-morning marchers gathered near landmarks such as the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, carrying signs and papier-mache effigies of the Trump administration.
The “No Kings” anti-Trump movement, which previously staged nationwide marches in June and October, has drawn millions of participants.
Trump responded to the October protest with an AI-generated video showing himself defecating on demonstrators, an act widely criticized online.
Saturday’s rallies also carried clear political undertones as the US heads into midterm elections in November.
Republicans hope to defend their majorities in Congress, while Democrats aim to capitalize on declining support for Trump.
