Khaberni - Crowds from all age groups gathered in the United States on Saturday to participate in a march under the slogan "No Kings" to protest President Donald Trump's policies, which they describe as "autocratic" and his anti-democratic actions.
Organizers expected millions to participate by the end of the day in more than 2600 marches in major cities, small towns, and suburbs, protesting against Trump's policies that have transformed the shape of the government and upended democratic norms at an unprecedented rate since he took office in January.
The demonstrations were largely festive, featuring inflatable dolls and protestors in costumes. The crowds included demonstrators from various age and social groups, including parents pushing their children in strollers alongside retirees and people walking their pets.
No reports of chaos were received.
Leah Rineberg, co-founder of the Indivisible organization, a progressive group that is the principal organizer of these marches, said "The most defining feature of the American identity is saying ‘we have no kings’ and practicing our right to peaceful protest."
Times Square in New York City was filled with protestors, where the police stated "no arrests related to the protests have been recorded" even as more than 100,000 people participated in peaceful demonstrations across the five boroughs.
The protests reflected growing concerns as many Americans, particularly those with leftist leanings, voiced their displeasure with political developments in the country, including the criminal prosecution of Trump's political opponents, his stringent military campaign on immigration, and deployment of the National Guard to cities, a move Trump said was meant to combat crime and protect immigration officers.
While his administration sought to implement his policies swiftly, Trump appointed inexperienced loyalists within his administration, and sought to pressurize media outlets, law firms, and universities.
In Washington D.C., the streets were crowded with protesters heading towards the United States Capitol, chanting slogans and carrying banners, American flags, and balloons in a peaceful carnival-like atmosphere.
Aliston Elliot, who wore a headpiece shaped like the Statue of Liberty and held a sign that read "No to aspiring tyrants," participated in the protest, saying "We want to show our support for democracy and for the struggle for the right. I am against the overreach of authority."
Kevin Price (70 years old), a veteran of the army, joined thousands of protestors on the banks of the river in Portland, Oregon, wearing a black jacket with the emblem "No kings since 1776" in reference to the Declaration of Independence.
"It seems that everything I've defended during my military service is now at risk. Although I've been a Republican since youth, I do not support the direction the party is headed," he added.
Steve Klub (74 years old), retired from the oil sector in Houston, expressed similar sentiments, wearing a shirt that read "Former Republican." He mentioned, "I have always been a Republican, and so has my family for a long time. The idea that one person could drive me away from the Republican party is insane."
Kelly Kinsella (38 years old) stood among thousands outside the Colorado state building in Denver, dressed as the Statue of Liberty, tears streaming down her face.
In reference to inflation driving her to participate, she said, "Everyone comes to work stressed and it's because of the current conditions," attributing responsibility to Trump's tariff policies.
Trump didn't say much about Saturday's protests. But in an interview with Fox Business broadcasted on Friday, he stated, "They call me the king, I am not a king."
On Friday, House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, repeated a common slogan among his party members, describing the "No Kings" protests as an "America hate march."
Other Republicans accused the organizers of the protests of fueling an atmosphere that might motivate political violence, particularly following the assassination of the right-wing activist and Trump ally Charlie Kirk in September.
Vice President J.D. Vance, in his talk on Saturday before a gathering of marines in Camp Pendleton in Southern California, did not address the protests. However, he criticized the Democrats for the government shutdown that began at the start of this month.
Dana Fisher, a professor at a university in Washington and author of several books on political activism, predicted that Saturday would witness one of the largest protest demonstrations in modern American history.
She estimated participation from more than three million people based on the number of registrants and participants in events in June. A crowd analysis published by big data journalist G. Elliot Morris indicated that the number of participants in the June 14 demonstrations reached about four to six million people.
