Thousands of Americans poured into the streets of major cities — including New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami — to protest President Donald Trump’s policies and expanding use of executive power. In New York’s Times Square, a sea of protesters waved banners reading “Democracy not Monarchy” and “The Constitution is not optional,” as chants of “This is what democracy looks like” echoed through the city.
Organizers said the nationwide “No Kings” rallies were peaceful, with police maintaining distance and drones hovering above. Trump’s allies, however, accused demonstrators of being linked to far-left Antifa groups, calling the event “a hate America rally.” Despite these claims, protests remained largely calm and orderly across multiple states.
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Participants described deep concern over what they see as the president’s authoritarian behavior — citing his use of executive orders to bypass Congress, deploy National Guard troops, impose tariffs, and cut healthcare funding. “I didn’t expect to see fascism rise again in the U.S.,” said Massimo Mascoli, an Italian-American protester whose grandfather died resisting Mussolini’s regime.
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Rallies spread internationally to London, Berlin, and Toronto in solidarity, while Trump dismissed accusations of dictatorship as “hysterical.” In Washington DC, Senator Bernie Sanders told protesters, “We’re not here because we hate America — we’re here because we love America.” The marches, organizers say, are a warning that democracy must not bow to kings.
