Millions Attend 'No Kings' Rallies Nationwide

In October 2025, the student-led “No Kings” rallies expanded into one of the largest protest movements in years, with reports of roughly 2,600–2,700 events nationwide and organizer estimates of about 7 million to 8.1 million attendees. Local turnouts included large crowds in Austin (over 20,000) and Richmond (about 14,000), and smaller actions in Murfreesboro (≈1,800) and Marietta (about 1,000). Speakers and participants framed the demonstrations as a defense of democratic norms and constitutional rights, criticizing deportation practices, National Guard deployments, and what activists call a consolidation of executive power. Organizers emphasized peaceful action, distributed ACLU “Know Your Rights” materials, and urged de-escalation, voter participation, and sustained community organizing beyond the rallies. Despite a small number of counterprotesters and precautionary deployments of state troopers and National Guard in some places, reports from multiple cities said the events remained peaceful with no major conflicts or arrests. Student walkouts also took place in Ireland at Technological University campuses in Donegal, Sligo and Mayo to protest government budget decisions affecting higher education.