Activists and advocacy groups across the United States staged a second wave of “No Kings” protests on Saturday, denouncing what they described as abuses of power by President Donald Trump and his administration — including the deployment of federal troops to U.S. cities and an intensified immigration crackdown.
From Boston to Los Angeles, massive crowds filled streets and public squares, holding signs that condemned mass deportations and other administration policies. Organizers described the demonstrations as an act of “patriotic resistance” aimed at defending democratic principles and civil liberties.
In a statement released late Saturday, protest organizers said nearly seven million people participated in demonstrations across more than 2,700 cities and towns nationwide.
“The millions of people protesting are united by a fierce love for our country — a country we believe is worth fighting for,” said Katie Bethell, executive director of MoveOn, one of the leading advocacy groups behind the effort.
While there was no independent verification of turnout figures, the Crowd Counting Consortium — a research project run by Harvard University and the University of Connecticut — said it would publish an official estimate in the coming weeks.
Co-director Jeremy Pressman, a political science professor at the University of Connecticut, told newsmen that if the organizers’ figures prove accurate, the “No Kings” protests would rank among the largest single-day demonstrations in U.S. history, second only to Earth Day 1970.
In Washington, D.C., organizers reported a turnout of roughly 200,000 people, with crowds gathering near the National Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue.
Among those addressing the crowd was scientist and television personality Bill Nye, who invoked the spirit of the anti–Vietnam War movement, urging participants to “stand up for science, democracy, and truth.”
Law enforcement agencies in several major cities said the protests remained largely peaceful, with no immediate reports of violence or arrests.
Republican lawmakers and Trump allies criticized the demonstrations, dismissing them as “hate America” rallies and accusing organizers of prolonging the ongoing federal government shutdown.
White House officials did not issue a direct statement, but senior aides reiterated that the administration would “not be swayed by mob pressure.”
Saturday’s massive turnout underscores deep political divisions in the country — and signals that opposition to the Trump administration’s use of executive power continues to mobilize millions of Americans across the political spectrum.
