Millions Rally Against Trump’s Policies in 1,800 Cities, While Minnesota Halts Demonstrations After Lawmaker Attacks Linked to Suspect with "No Kings" Flyers

Millions of Americans took to the streets across nearly 1,800 cities on Saturday in a coordinated “No Kings” protest movement, denouncing President Donald Trump’s policies on his 79th birthday and Flag Day. The demonstrations, organized by a coalition of progressive groups including Women’s March, Indivisible, and local activist networks, aimed to counter a military parade in Washington, D.C., celebrating Trump’s birthday. Billed as a stand against “authoritarian rule,” the protests saw massive turnouts in major cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Atlanta, but were abruptly canceled in Minnesota following the targeted shootings of two Democratic lawmakers.

The “No Kings” movement, named to reject what organizers call Trump’s “monarchical tendencies,” focused on issues including immigration restrictions, abortion rights, and democratic erosion. “The flag belongs to the people, not one man,” said Sarah Watkins, a lead organizer with Women’s March, during a rally in Chicago that drew an estimated 150,000 people. “No thrones, no crowns, no kings—this is about reclaiming our democracy.” Protests featured American flags, voter registration drives, and speeches from activists, lawmakers, and celebrities, with events ranging from small-town gatherings to massive urban rallies.

In Washington, D.C., the protests unfolded blocks from the Trump birthday parade, a Pentagon-backed event featuring military flyovers and armored vehicles. An estimated 200,000 demonstrators gathered near the National Mall, chanting “No Kings” and holding signs reading “Democracy Over Dictatorship.” Despite tensions, D.C. police reported no major incidents, though security was heightened nationwide due to fears of political violence.

Minnesota’s planned protests, including a major rally expecting 20,000 at the State Capitol in St. Paul, were canceled after the early morning shootings of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman, who was killed with her husband, and State Senator John Hoffman, critically injured alongside his wife. The suspect, 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, a former appointee of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to the state’s Workforce Development Board in 2019, was found with “No Kings” flyers in his vehicle, alongside a manifesto targeting lawmakers and abortion advocates. Minnesota authorities, citing public safety, urged residents to avoid demonstrations, with Governor Walz stating, “We cannot risk further violence while the suspect remains at large.”

Nationwide, the “No Kings” protests highlighted deep political divides. In Los Angeles, over 100,000 rallied at City Hall, with speakers criticizing Trump’s immigration policies, including recent executive actions tightening border enforcement. Atlanta’s rally, drawing 80,000, focused on voting rights, with organizers distributing voter guides ahead of upcoming elections. Smaller protests in rural areas, such as Billings, Montana, and Concord, New Hampshire, emphasized local issues like healthcare access and environmental protections.

The movement also faced counterprotests, particularly in conservative strongholds. In Dallas, a smaller group of Trump supporters clashed verbally with “No Kings” demonstrators, though police intervention prevented escalation. Social media platforms, including X, buzzed with posts under #NoKings, with some users praising the protests as a defense of democracy and others dismissing them as divisive.

Organizers expressed solidarity with Minnesota’s victims, with Women’s March issuing a statement condemning the shootings: “We are horrified by the violence in Minnesota and stand with the families of Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman. Our movement is about peace and justice, not division.” The cancellations in Minnesota underscored the risks of political activism in a polarized climate, with authorities nationwide remaining on alert for copycat incidents.