"No Kings": Americans Take to the Streets, Urging "Judge Trump Through the Ballot"

On Saturday, the 17th local time, 'No Kings' protests took place across the United States in opposition to the unilateral actions of the Donald Trump administration.

Unlike previous demonstrations that focused primarily on criticizing the Trump administration's policies, this protest centered on judging the administration through the upcoming midterm elections in early November.

Hundreds of participants gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial in the heart of Washington, D.C., on this day to urge citizens to vote.

Protesters marched carrying placards reading "Vote Early," "Your Vote Is Your Voice," and "Hands Off My Voting Rights."

Pickets targeting President Trump directly were also spotted everywhere, with messages such as "Trump Out" and "We Elected a President, Not a King."

The demonstrations largely focused on encouraging early voting.

The core message was that voters must judge the Trump administration and put the brakes on its unilateral governance through the midterm elections.


Similar events were held in major cities across the U.S., including Washington, D.C., New York, Atlanta, Dallas, and Los Angeles.

Participants criticized various policies of the Trump administration, arguing that democracy is under attack, and encouraged people to cast their ballots as early as possible.

At a rally held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, participants emphasized that "voting in the midterm elections is just as important as voting in the presidential election."

Midterm elections, which take place midway through a president's term, generally see lower voter turnout than presidential elections.

Organizers stated that more than 2,500 events were planned nationwide.

Rather than gathering in large numbers in a few specific locations, the protests were organized in various, decentralized, and autonomous formats across local communities nationwide.

This marks the fourth 'No Kings' protest co-hosted by a coalition of about 200 organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

The most recent previous protest was held last March, shortly after the Trump administration launched the war with Iran. Organizers stated at the time that about 3,300 rallies were held across 50 states, drawing more than 8 million participants.

An estimated 5 million and 7 million people gathered in June and October of last year, respectively.

Because this latest protest was organized in a decentralized manner by region compared to previous ones, it remains unclear whether a total turnout figure will be released.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.