More than 2,600 protests erupted across all fifty U.S. states under the slogan “No Kings”, marking a nationwide movement against the policies of President Donald Trump on immigration, education, and security.
During a virtual press conference, Deirdre Schifeling, a leader at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), announced on Thursday:
“Millions of Americans will protest peacefully on Saturday to tell the Trump administration that we are a country where people are equal, where laws apply to everyone — a nation of law and democracy.”
She added firmly:
“In the face of power abuses by Donald Trump and his allies… we will not be silenced.”
Activists Condemn Authoritarianism
Leah Greenberg, co-founder of the Indivisible movement, listed the alleged abuses:
“They are sending the National Guard into American cities. They are intimidating our immigrant friends and neighbours. They are prosecuting their political opponents.”
Greenberg described the administration’s tactics as a classic authoritarian style — “threats, defamation, lies, and fear to force submission.”
She added:
“But we will not be intimidated, deceived, or made to kneel.”
Meanwhile, Leah Reinberg, co-founder of the progressive organisation behind the “No Kings” marches, said:
“Nothing is more American than saying, ‘We have no kings,’ and exercising our right to peaceful protest.”
Trump’s Brief Response
President Donald Trump offered only a brief comment in an interview with Fox Business, stating:
“They call me a king. I am not a king.”
Despite his remark, the demonstrations — both large and small — spread across cities, suburbs, and towns, following a similar wave of protests that took place in June.
Organisers view the current movement as a sign of growing frustration among opponents of Trump’s conservative agenda, which has become increasingly clear within a short period.
Policies Driving Public Anger
Since taking office ten months ago, the Trump administration has:
- Intensified immigration raids,
- Reduced federal workforce numbers,
- Cut funding to elite universities due to campus protests supporting Palestinians against Israel’s war on Gaza, diversity initiatives, and policies opposing transgender rights,
- And deployed National Guard forces to several major cities, claiming the move was needed “to protect immigration officials and help combat crime.”
Beyond the Slogan: The Meaning of “No Kings”
The slogan “No Kings” carries deep symbolism — a reminder of America’s founding rejection of monarchy and a call to preserve democratic accountability. Yet today, many protesters fear that Trump’s style of governance has taken on a centralised, authoritarian tone, reminiscent of the very power structures America once opposed.
While Western media often frame these protests in partisan terms, they also reflect a broader global concern about rising authoritarianism — from Washington to the Middle East — where unchecked power continues to erode public freedoms.
For Muslims and justice-seeking voices worldwide, such protests echo a universal message: true strength lies in accountability, not domination.
