No Kings Rallies Across U.S., Some Clashes

A nationwide wave of “No Kings” rallies occurred on Oct. 18, 2025, with events in dozens of cities from smaller places like Lincoln and Spokane to major gatherings in Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver and Fort Collins. Organizers framed the protests as defenses of democracy against what they describe as the Trump administration’s authoritarian moves — especially stepped-up immigration enforcement and National Guard deployments — and repeatedly urged peaceful, nonviolent action. Los Angeles drew an expected crowd of up to 100,000, while Chicago’s Grant Park saw thousands and tensions rose amid federal enforcement actions and the departure of a local ICE field office leader. Most demonstrations remained peaceful and organizers largely cooperated with police, but confrontations occurred in metro Atlanta where DeKalb police deployed tear gas and made arrests. Political reactions were mixed: governors and attorneys general urged calm, some conservative leaders denounced the rallies, and veterans and many protesters voiced opposition to using the military on U.S. streets.