‘No Kings’ Protest: How Many Americans Turned Out For October 18 Demonstrations?

Nearly 7 million people across the United States joined the second wave of “No Kings” protests against President Donald Trump and his administration, making it one of the largest single-day demonstrations in modern history, according to organizers. Demonstrations took place in New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, and other major cities. In New York City, Times Square saw thousands of people holding signs that read slogans like, “Democracy not Monarchy” and “The Constitution is not optional.”Protesters Call For Peace And DemocracyOrganizers said that the rallies were meant to be peaceful. The No Kings movement, which coordinated the protests, urges participants to avoid confrontations. In New York, chants of “this is what democracy looks like” were frequent, accompanied by drums, cowbells, and noisemakers. Police reported over 100,000 people participated across the city’s five boroughs, with no arrests made related to the protests.Many protesters expressed concern about what they see as Trump’s overreach of presidential power. Actions cited included executive orders that block Congress-approved funding, deploying the National Guard to cities, and imposing tariffs. Beth Zasloff, a protester in New York, said she joined because she feared a “move toward fascism and an authoritarian government.”Protests were not limited to the US demonstrations also took place in European cities, including Berlin, Madrid, Rome, and London, showing solidarity with American protesters. In Toronto, demonstrators waved signs such as “Hands off Canada” near the US consulate.Political Leaders Join MarchSeveral Democratic leaders joined the protests. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer participated in New York, holding a sign calling for healthcare reform. In Washington DC, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders addressed the crowd, saying, “We’re not here because we hate America, we’re here because we love America.”Some Republican governors activated National Guard troops ahead of the protests. Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin placed troops on standby, though their presence at protests was limited or not visible. Democrats criticized the move as an unnecessary show of force.