Written by: Lyle Weems, Staff Writer
On Saturday October 18, 2025, millions of people from across the nation rose together once again in protest against Trump, and his dictator-like presidency.
Earlier this year, on June 14, 2025, America had its first No Kings protest in response to a birthday parade meant to honor Trump and his return to presidency. Thousands of dollars of government funds being used to venerate the president in a show of authority and military might. This initial protest, directed and maintained by a coalition of progressive organizations across America, left his parade empty, and the streets full of signs and chants calling for change.
Since his inauguration in January, Trump has worked to shape the government completely to his will, and the will of his rich benefactors. Using the presidential powers he has pushed many executive orders that swiftly shut down any objections, and in fact sent the National Guard to force conformity and silence. His actions are critiqued as undemocratic and in most cases simply unethical.
The theme of the protest is anti-Trump and comes direct from the heart of the people in the nation. These organized and peaceful protests follow the effective belief that the best way to make this authoritarian look bad is to have peaceful protests about his rule, and ignore his claimed authority. People chant things such as “Whose streets? Our streets” and “This is what democracy looks like”. Especially with the second protest’s proximity to Halloween, an array of costumes proves the sheer calamity and inconceivable actions of the current government against its people, and all voices of dissent. In fact, in an anti-ICE protest in Portland, Oregon, many people joined to dress up as inflatable frogs, becoming an icon of resistance, and the surreal fashion of modern politics.
If anything at all, protests renew the hope of attendees and victims by proving that there are others out there willing to stand for their beliefs against the monarchical government, making them all the more important. Trump, acting like a true monarch, condemns these protests as domestic terrorism under Antifa, a loosely organized leftist movement that opposes the far-right racists and fascists that, according to Trump, stands against America. However, freedom of speech and peaceful protest is a right of the American people under the democratic system, and Trump’s reaction to the No Kings protests only further proves the claim of the protest. Trump is acting unethically and unconstitutionally in his rule of America, and it is the responsibility of the American people to fight for human rights, empathy, and democracy, if those are still the values stood by today.
Peaceful protests are the epitome of democracy and progression. The voices of the people must be heard in a nation that is meant to stand for all and protect the rights of the individual. Protests such as these are also very enlightening. In a society based on competition, it is easy for the individual to fall into feelings of ostracization and loneliness, especially in relation to controversial beliefs where the media seems to only propagate one view. However, there are others out there who agree, and it is detrimental for the future of a democratic America that citizens realize they are a much larger and stronger force than they realize. All that has to be done is work to band together and fight. These No kings protests, and hopefully the more to come, shine clearly as a spot of hope for the victims of this world, and the future of America.