On October 18, 2025, "No Kings" protests spanned multiple U.S. cities, with a significant rally in Los Angeles, organized by Common Defense and MoveOn to challenge President Donald Trump's policies and alleged executive overreach.
Background of the Protests
The demonstrations follow months of heightened tensions, including National Guard deployments, immigration enforcement actions, and the ongoing war with Iran. Organizers note that while the context evolves, core issues remain consistent.
Key Statements from Organizers
- Naveed Shah, US Army veteran and political director of Common Defense, stated: "When I stood at the first ‘No Kings’ rally, we were fighting to protect democracy at home and against federal agents and troops that were deployed on American streets, against a government that was manufacturing a crisis to justify using its power against its own people. Today, we’re still fighting that same fight, but now that manufactured crisis has gone global."
- Katie Bethell, executive director of MoveOn, said: "Our members will be turning out peacefully in the streets because they believe in a better future for this country, and they can’t sit by on the sidelines about what Trump and his administration are doing to our home. Let’s be clear, the Trump administration has become a threat to the American people at every level. They are waging violence at home and abroad."
Issues Raised by Demonstrators
Protesters highlighted several concerns:
- National Guard deployments on American streets
- Aggressive immigration enforcement crackdowns
- The war with Iran
- Economic hardships, including rising costs for rent, groceries, gas, and healthcare
Bethell added: "Where’s the money for people struggling to afford their rent, groceries, gas, or health care?" and emphasized that "millions of us are rising up from all walks of life, from rural communities to big cities at ‘No Kings’."