Two million Americans and more than 2,700 locations around the nation took to the streets on Oct. 18 for a second round of coordinated protests against the Trump administration. These protests were organized by and bear the name of “No Kings,” a coalition of labor unions and civil rights organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and 50501.
More than 100,000 people gathered on Boston Common for the “No Kings” rally, a massive demonstration against the Trump administration’s agenda and its broader approach to immigration, civil rights and executive power. The event—one of the largest in the city’s history—was peaceful, as organizers collaborated with local law enforcement, but charged with energy and determination. Protesters carried signs demanding accountability, immigrant justice and the protection of constitutional freedoms
“I felt it was important to attend this event because our current moment feels like a tipping point. If we don’t speak up and out now, when will we ever speak up?“ said Luke Farberman ’27, a member of the Brandeis Democrats student advocacy group. “We cannot allow [the president’s] actions to be silently accepted.”
“No Kings” was first organized in response to the military parade held in Washington D.C. to celebrate President Trump’s 79th birthday, an event many opposition leaders criticized as unbefitting of a democratic leader and reminiscent of similar displays held in Russia and North Korea. More broadly, “No Kings” represents a general sentiment of distaste of democratic backsliding under the Trump administration, an erosion of democratic tenets like voter power or checks and balances on the executive branch of government.
“No Kings” emphasizes the importance of non-violence in its work, with the coalition’s official website stating that “we expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events.”
“The crowd gathered on the Common and there was a big stage set up with speakers and musical performances. Importantly, it was very peaceful,” Farberman said. “Some people were speculating that Trump wanted to use violence at these protests as a justification for invoking the Insurrection act, but he didn’t get that chance.”
The president responded to the protests in a highly unusual manner, posting an A.I.-generated video on Truth Social in which he is wearing a crown inside of a fighter jet which is shown dumping a brown fluid—which can be abstracted as being feces—onto a crowd of protestors, including real public figures involved with “No Kings.” This further aroused frustration from administration opponents, who saw the video as adding fire to an already volatile flame.
The rally drew an impressive lineup of Bay State politicians. U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, both longtime advocates for progressive causes, addressed the crowd, reaffirming Massachusetts’ role as a national leader in resistance politics. Local organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, Veterans for Peace, Planned Parenthood, the National Organization for Women and Greenpeace, partnered with event organizers to mobilize supporters across the state. Together, they framed the rally not merely as opposition to federal policy, but as an affirmation of Boston’s inclusive values.
