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Protesters rally against the Trump administration at ‘No Kings’ events across the country
Happening now
• Nationwide protest: Huge crowds are marching in major cities and smaller gatherings have sprung up across the country for “No Kings” protests against President Donald Trump’s administration. CNN is on the ground at several of the more than 2,500 events in all 50 states.
• Why they’re protesting: Demonstrators are voicing outrage at a range of Trump’s policies, but some key themes have taken center stage, including perceived threats to democracy, the administration’s ICE raids and troop deployments in US cities, and cuts to federal programs, especially health care. Here’s what we’re hearing from protesters.
• Government at a standstill: The protests come with the backdrop of a federal government shutdown, with GOP lawmakers and the White House locked in a standoff with Democrats over a funding bill.
“No Kings” rally in Atlanta honors civil rights legacy
Protesters gathered in Atlanta’s Civic Center Saturday morning before marching to the Georgia State Capitol for the “No Kings” rally, part of a nationwide day of action rejecting authoritarianism and defending American democracy.
Kimberly Diemert, an organizer and communications director for the Georgia chapter of 50501, a “decentralized” movement that has helped lead the wave of nationwide protests, reminded the crowd of the city’s role in shaping American ideals.
“Atlanta is the cradle of the Civil Rights Movement as well as democracy … we don’t want to lose that,” Diemert said. She urged attendees to remember that “our nation’s democracy is at stake. We are here to say we are a nation that will bow down to no authoritarian rule.”
Fulton County Chairman Robb Pitts echoed Diemert’s emphasis of the deep historical roots of the Civil Rights Movement in Georgia. “We would not be where we are in this country or the world but for the Civil Rights Movement … so it’s very appropriate, and I think it’s freedom of expression,” Pitts said.
Marchers came from across Georgia to join the protest. Sam Tapley of Lawrenceville shared a message of unity: “There’s no such thing as (an) illegal person. We are brothers and sisters around this world … We should love each other from the heart.”
Saturday’s demonstration set a powerful tone for the national day of protest; a peaceful but urgent call to protect democracy, reject hate, and continue the legacy of those who marched before.
Why Los Angeles protesters are joining "No Kings" demonstration
CNN has been speaking with attendees at a growing “No Kings” demonstration in Los Angeles.
Here’s what we’re hearing:
Immigration rights: Rights for immigrants and a stop to the Trump administration’s sweeping deportation campaign has been a throughline at the demonstration, where many protesters are holding Mexican flags or flags that combine the US and Mexican flags.
A protester named Maria Rivera Cummings, who said she was born in Los Angeles and is of Mexican descent, said the mix of flags shows how “we support where we’re from. We support our culture, and we also love our country.”
Most Americans are the descendants of immigrants, Cummings said, “so we’re all immigrants, and everyone has rights here.”
Gilberto Beas, sitting in front of LA’s city hall, told CNN the protest is “a message for ICE to stop doing what they’re doing.”
Oscar Gaspar said the US needs to establish pathways for immigrants to safely come to the US and fill gaps in the workforce. Gaspar told CNN his mother was a Mexican immigrant who naturalized and became “the proudest American citizen.”
Democracy: Cummings, who works as a real estate appraiser, said she and other protesters are standing up for “the Constitution, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, fair treatment in the courts.”
Remember: Federal immigration raids in Los Angeles triggered massive protests in June. President Donald Trump responded by sending in the National Guard. It was the first time a president had federalized the National Guard against a governor’s wishes since 1965.
Thousands of demonstrators in Minneapolis come from a range of backgrounds, mayor says
Thousands of demonstrators attending “No Kings” rallies in Minneapolis represent people from all different backgrounds who are “rejecting the Trump agenda,” the city’s mayor, Jacob Frey, told CNN’s Fredricka Whitfield.
Frey, who was present at the demonstrations, said people are “all rallying around the common cause, and that common cause is each other … Our republic. Because this is all about a whole lot more than just ideology right now.”
While cities draw huge crowds, we're also hearing from smaller protests across the country
While news helicopters and TV crews have showed huge crowds at “No Kings” rallies in major US cities, participants in smaller cities and towns have been documenting their own events via social media sites, vividly showing the scale of today’s anti-Trump protests.
Protesters told CNN they gathered along Main Streets, at major intersections, in municipal parks and on highway overpasses, and in many cases they were struck by the size of the turnout.
In Charlottesville, Virginia, Ann Huebner said the crowd looked twice as big as the first local “No Kings” gathering in June.
In Swansea, Massachusetts, Dennis O’Brien and Anne Clark said they’d protested at the same intersection several times, and today was the largest by far, but “just as friendly, family oriented and joyous!”
In Ashland, Oregon, Joel Lesko said the day was about “joyfully celebrating our love for America, for free speech, for the importance of community and using our voices for diversity and inclusion and democracy.”
Local news reports showed Revolutionary War reenactors in Jefferson City, Missouri; musical performers in Gainesville, Florida; and free copies of the Constitution inside a box labeled “ICE melter kits” in Charleston, West Virginia. And American flags everywhere.
Furloughed federal workers tell CNN why they're protesting
Within the first few hours of the shutdown, James Kirwan, along with many other federal workers, was furloughed. Kirwan spoke with CNN at today’s “No Kings” rally in Washington, DC.
“We work for the public, regardless of the administration. We want to be nonpartisan. We want to be helpful. We want to administer our services,” Kirwan said.
Kirwan, a member of the National Labor Relations Board, attended the event with a group of unionized federal workers.
Paul Osadebe, a lawyer at the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s fair housing office who was placed on administrative leave after speaking out on his concerns about the Trump administration’s efforts to limit enforcement of the Fair Housing Act, told CNN he’s “not scared” about retaliation from the administration.
“I refuse to be scared because that’s what they want from us. They want us to be silent,” Osadebe said. “They want us to be in fear and to allow them to get away with everything that they’re doing. And my oath calls on me to tell the truth, period.”
Anthony Lee, who works at the Food and Drug Administration and was furloughed without pay, said he’s come to the demonstration to protect public services.
“I’ve been a public servant for over 20 years, and to see the destruction, really, of our government, our public services, over the last several months has been really scary,” Lee said.
In Toronto, American and Canadian demonstrators say ‘No Tyrants’
As cities across the US host “No Kings” rallies, anti-Trump demonstrators gathered near the US Consulate in Toronto Saturday for a small “No Tyrants” protest.
Julia Buchanan, Toronto chair of Democrats Abroad and one of the demonstration’s volunteers, told CNN the crowd was evenly split between Canadian and American citizens.
At one point, Buchanan said, demonstrators listened to a video message from a former member of Canada’s parliament for the center-left New Democratic Party, Charlie Angus.
“My message to (President) Donald Trump and his gangster regime is ‘Canada will stand up, Canadians will stand up,’” Angus said, according to a recording provided to CNN. “No kings, no tyrants, no fascism – not here, not now.”
Angus is a longtime critic of Trump. While he was in parliament, Angus sponsored a petition calling for Trump ally Elon Musk to be stripped of his Canadian citizenship.
As at past “No Kings”-adjacent protests in Canada, Buchanan explained, Saturday’s rally was aimed at “tyrants” rather than “kings” since Canada’s head of state is King Charles.
Many demonstrators came in colorful costumes after organizers asked them to “dress as the cutest non-violent character you can imagine to defy the false narrative that anti-fascists are terrorists.”
One man dressed as Canada’s national animal, the beaver, had a placard around his neck reading, “Dam Fascists!” Others were dressed in the kinds of inflatable costumes seen at anti-ICE protests in Portland, Oregon, where Trump has attempted to order National Guard troops to suppress demonstrations there.
Most NYC “No Kings” protests have ended, police department says
Most of the demonstrators involved in the “No Kings” protests in New York City have dispersed, according to the New York Police Department, which said traffic closures in the city have been lifted.
“We had more than 100,000 people across all five boroughs peacefully exercising their first amendment rights and the NYPD made zero protest-related arrests,” the department said on X.
Sanders slams Trump and his billionaire allies at DC protest
Progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders, speaking at Washington, DC’s “No Kings” protest today, said President Donald Trump and his billionaire allies, like Elon Musk, are endangering self-government.
“It is in danger when we have a president who wants more and more power in his own hands and in the hands of his fellow oligarchs,” Sanders told the crowd.
He went on to slam several of Trump’s moves, including his efforts to send US military troops to cities, aggressively crack down on undocumented migrants, intimidate media organizations and retaliate against political opponents.
“This moment is not just about one man’s greed, one man’s corruption or one man’s contempt for the Constitution,” Sanders said. “This is about a handful of the wealthiest people on Earth who, in their insatiable greed, have hijacked our economy and our political system in order to enrich themselves at the expense of working families throughout this country.”
“I am talking about Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and the other multi-billionaires who were sitting right behind Trump when he was inaugurated,” Sanders continued.
Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, also took a swipe at Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, who in recent days has described the demonstrations as anti-American.
“Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker of the House, called these rallies ‘hate America events.’ Boy, does he have it wrong,” Sanders said. “Millions of Americans are coming out today not because they hate America. We’re here because we love America.”
A crowd is already starting to form outside Los Angeles City Hall
Let’s turn now to the West Coast, where CNN also has a crew on the ground in Los Angeles.
The main “No Kings” protest events aren’t scheduled for several hours, but we’re already seeing people gather outside LA City Hall and the nearby Grand Park, holding signs and waving both Mexican and US flags.
The city has been an epicenter for the resistance to President Donald Trump’s sweeping immigration crackdown.
Thousands in Chicago begin marching
Thousands have began marching in Chicago as part of the nationwide “No Kings Day” movement, many carrying Mexican flags and signs like “Hands off our Democracy” and “ICE OUT!”
The Chicago crowd swelled quickly, with people still streaming in as Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker made an entrance to chants of “JB! JB! JB!”
Among the crowd, Jonathan Englert of Minooka, Illinois, expressed deep concern. “It’s hard not to feel hopeless,” he says. “This is not what America is. It’s not what we stand for, and we got to fight for it right now, or we’re gonna lose it all.”
Dakota Englert, from Coal City, Illinois, said she came to stand up for basic humanity: “We all bleed the same color … I feel for the people that are being separated from their families, the people that are being hurt killed.”
Danielle Guinto, a mother of two, said she came for justice, at home and abroad.
She said she worries about the major federal changes to Medicaid and other health-related policies that could impact her children’s health, as well as the rising cost of living.
“I just don’t understand how you can rip food out of people’s mouths, how you can separate, rip people out of their homes,” she asked. “How can you look at a family with fear in their eyes and you’re just going to go take them away?”
Denver mayor says he will join thousands of demonstrators in his city to protest Trump
More than 50 “No Kings” protests are happening across Colorado today, according to Denver Mayor Mike Johnston. He told CNN’s Fredricka Whitfield that in his city, about 12,000 to 15,000 people are expected to demonstrate, and he plans to join them.
“We support their right to raise their voices, and they respect to do it peacefully,” Johnston said. “My daughter and son and I will be out there after I leave this interview.”
The mayor cited President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown as well as his tax and spending cuts package as among reasons why people are protesting today.
Johnston accused the president of coming “for the most basic protections that we expect in our city.”
Here's what we've heard from protesters across the country today
CNN is on the ground at several of the “No Kings” demonstrations that are being held across all 50 states today in opposition to President Donald Trump.
The protests have been a venue for all-encompassing outrage at the Trump administration. But gauging unofficially by the chants, signs and our conversations with attendees, some key themes stand out above the rest.
Many protesters have focused on Trump’s immigration raids and deployment of troops to US cities, perceived threats to democracy, opposition to billionaires, and cuts to federal programs — particularly health care.
Here’s why some attendees told CNN they joined the protests:
Atlanta: Joan Press, an attendee in her 50s who came to the rally with her husband, told CNN she was driven to attend by what she described at Trump’s threats to abortion rights, health care access and social security. “We are not going to be silenced,” she told CNN.
Chicago: Danielle Guinto, a mother of two, cited the war in Gaza, health care policy, immigration raids and tax cuts for billionaires among the reasons she was attending the demonstration. She said she wanted to tell her kids she was “part of this side of history.” Actor John Cusack also spoke to CNN, saying he was there to fight for labor rights and to resist Trump’s deployment of troops to US cities.
New York City: One New York attendee told CNN she’s been protesting since the 1960s and that now, “our entire democracy is being threatened” under Trump. Other attendees noted the strong presence of women in the crowd at the NYC protests. “There’s a very feminine energy,” a protester told CNN.
Washington, DC: Lee Ayres, who dressed in Revolutionary War-era clothing and a wig, told CNN that they “want all of America to realize the Declaration of Independence is about no kings.” Bobbie Castillo traveled miles from her hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska, to attend the demonstration — her first ever protest. Her fiancé, Michael Langfeldt, told CNN they are protesting the “hatred” shown toward immigrants and the administration’s deployment of the military to US cities.
The White House’s (brief) response: Reached by CNN for comment on today’s protests, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson wrote back: “Who cares?”
CNN’s Rafael Romo, Shimon Prokupecz, Brian Todd, Dugald McConnell, Julian Silva-Forbes, Veronica Stracqualursi and Betsy Klein contributed reporting.
Bill Nye, "The Science Guy" speaks at DC protest: "What's going on in our government is wrong”
Bill Nye, “The Science Guy,” rallied the crowd at Washington, DC’s “No Kings” protest, telling protesters that what they’re confronting is “the possible end of our Republic.”
“We are here to tell our lawmakers that what’s going on in our government is wrong. They must stop the abuses of this petulant president and his circle of sycophants,” Nye told the crowd at the “No Kings” protest in Washington, DC.
He argued that President Donald Trump and his associates “cannot tolerate dissent.”
“To them, our free speech is frightening. They are arresting people and denying due process in courts. They tried to silence television hosts,” Nye, a former TV host himself, said.
Nye, who’s the CEO of The Planetary Society, criticized the Trump administration for what he argued is a failure to accept scientific facts.
“Although the United States has been the world’s leader in science for decades, this president and the members of his Cabinet even fail to accept scientific facts. Contrary to Article One, section eight of the Constitution, they do not promote the progress of science. They suppress it to the detriment of our health, well-being and international competitiveness. It is a formula for failure,” he said.
Nye has been pushing back against the Trump administration’s cuts to NASA funding.
Here's a look at Times Square during today's protests
It’s hard to imagine New York City’s Times Square getting any more hectic, but the iconic area was packed today with “No Kings” protesters.
The crowd stretched for several blocks as it moved toward Lower Manhattan.
There were loud cheers and chants but ultimately a peaceful atmosphere as demonstrators waved signs opposing ICE, authoritarianism and billionaires.
The march has since moved toward Union Square, where it’s scheduled to end.
Actor John Cusack says message from Chicago to Trump is: “Go to hell!”
American actor John Cusack, who lives in Chicago and is known for being outspoken about Hollywood and the US government, said the city’s message to the Trump administration is: “Go to hell!”
“No, you can’t put troops on our streets. You can’t create enough chaos to invoke the Insurrection Act so you can stay in power. We all know what your plan is,” the actor said, addressing the president.
A large crowd gathered for the marquee speakers in Atlanta
A rally that kicked off the Atlanta “No Kings” protest featured high-profile speakers, including Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia.
The senator accused Trump of trying to “weaponize despair,” but — gesturing to the large crowd assembled for the demonstration — Warnock said the president is “getting his answer today.”
Here’s an aerial view of the crowd there a short time ago:
Watch: Chicago protester shares why she's attending "No Kings" rally
Danielle Guinto, a mother of two attending the “No Kings” protest in Chicago, said she wants to tell her kids someday that she was “part of this side of history.”
Guinto cited the war in Gaza, health care policy, immigration raids and tax cuts for billionaires among the reasons she was attending the demonstration.
We’re seeing a ton of costumes at today’s protests
Unicorns and chickens and frogs, oh my.
These are among the costumes demonstrators are sporting at “No Kings” protests across the country.
A 24-year-old demonstrator in an inflatable frog suit named Hailey said, “I think the inflatables really show that we’re not violent, we’re just trying to support our community.” The costume, she added, was a little bit hot.
“I think it’s hard to see a country that you love descend into fascism,” Hailey, who says she works for an AI startup, said. She came to join the protest from Connecticut.
She told CNN that she was inspired by Portland, Oregon, where demonstrators have faced off for weeks against federal law enforcement. Protesters have donned inflatable costumes at rallies outside an ICE facility — in part to dispute President Donald Trump’s characterization of the Democrat-led city as “war-ravaged.”
Here's an aerial view of the huge crowd at the Boston Common
We’ve been talking about the growing scale of the “No Kings” protests today in major cities — here’s a little perspective on that.
This is a view from above the Boston Common a short time ago:
Hundreds of people have gathered in Chicago's Grant Park
A large — and still growing — crowd has made its way into Grant Park in Chicago.
Today’s “No Kings” rally in the city is being held at the Petrillo Music Shell, the park’s well-known rally venue along Lake Michigan. It regularly serves as the venue for some of Chicago’s biggest music festivals, including Jazz Fest, Blues Fest and Lollapalooza.
Many people are carrying what appear to be homemade signs, and others are carrying pre-made “Hands Off Chicago” posters. There are lots of American flags in the crowd, along with a few Mexican and LGBTQ flags.
Nebraska couple attends first protest in DC: "Very powerful to be here"
Bobbie Castillo traveled miles from her hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska, to the “No Kings” protest in Washington, DC, for her first protest ever.
“It’s very powerful to be here right now. It makes me emotional,” she told CNN.
Her fiancé, Michael Langfeldt, told CNN that he’s participated in protests in Nebraska, but “nothing compared to this.”
Langfeldt said he’s protesting what he sees as “hatred” toward immigrants and the deployment of military to US cities.
“I feel like there’s a lot of overreach in the federal government, specifically in like the executive branch,” he said. “Congress doesn’t do anything about it.”
Castillo also expressed concern over what she feels is a threat to freedom of expression.
“It doesn’t seem like we’re able to peacefully or safely (express ourselves) right now, without fear of repercussions” from the government, work or families, she said. “It’s becoming so divisive … Personally, I don’t like it. It bothers me.”
Activist at DC protest says criticism from GOP is "ridiculous"
Dressed in Revolutionary War-era clothing and wigs, members of the group All in for Democracy shared their reasons for attending the “No Kings” protest in Washington, DC.
“I just see all of our institutions changing, and I don’t want us to change as a country and as a people,” said DC resident Lee Ayres, sporting a coat, wig and hat. “I want all of America to realize the Declaration of Independence is about no kings.”
Some top Republicans like House Speaker Mike Johnson have accused the protesters of being “anti-American” in recent days.
Bob Hoeft, who described himself as a former Republican voter from Burke, Virginia, called such accusations “ridiculous.”
“There’s a lot of lot less truth coming out of the Republican Party than there is just vitriol, trying to gain political favor, trying to anger Americans for their benefit,” Hoeft said.
"I'm hoping together, we can all save democracy," says NYC protester
One demonstrator at the “No Kings” march in New York City told CNN she’s been protesting since the 1960s.
But this time feels different, she told CNN.
One of thousands of protesters expected to attend the Manhattan demonstration, the demonstrator held a sign that reads: “We protest because we love America, and we want it back.”
She described feeling “very sad, a sense of loss, fear” under the Trump administration.
“I’m hoping together, we can all save democracy,” she said.
Organizer of DC “No Kings” rally calls on people to protest safely
Liz Cattaneo, an organizer of the “No Kings” rally in Washington, DC, said the safety of protesters on Saturday is especially important amid growing political violence across the country.
Cattaneo said it’s important that people come out despite potential fears about security “to show that we are not afraid.”
Cattaneo said nonviolence and safety are priorities for her and other organizers across the country.
“Our movement has always had a commitment to nonviolence and to peaceful demonstration,” Cattaneo said.
In preparation for Saturday’s national event, Cattaneo said volunteers underwent extensive training in de-escalation tactics.
“We have not left anything to chance. We have had nearly daily security briefings and training for volunteers across the country,” she said.
What it looks like outside Madison Square Garden right now
Some of the biggest crowds we’re seeing so far today are in New York, where “No Kings” protesters have packed the streets in some of the busiest parts of the city.
A march outside Madison Square Garden has featured a large banner reading, “No Kings” and “People Over Billionaires.” Protesters are chanting slogans into megaphones, including, “This is what democracy looks like,” and “No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here.”
There are signs referencing everything from yesterday’s George Santos pardon to workers’ rights (that placard says it is endorsed by the Writer’s Guild of America), and a variety of costumes, including various animals and unicorns.
Bagpipes and beating drums are making for a cacophony of sound, along with the constant chanting.
California governor closes portion of freeway amid artillery demonstrations at Camp Pendleton
A section of California’s Interstate 5 will be closed today “due to extreme life safety risk and distraction to drivers, including sudden unexpected and loud explosions,” as the United States Marine Corps celebrates its 250th anniversary at Camp Pendleton, the California governor’s office said.
Vice President JD Vance is set to attend the event celebrating the 250th anniversary celebrations, which will feature amphibious assault demonstrations.
The state said it received notice from event organizers asking for CalTrans signage to be posted along the I-5 freeway that would read: “Overhead fire in progress.” A decision to close a portion of the interstate from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. local time Saturday was then made, according to the governor’s office and information from the California Department of Transportation.
“Firing live rounds over a busy highway isn’t just wrong — it’s dangerous,” Newsom said in the statement.
The event at Camp Pendleton will also be attended by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan and General Eric M. Smith, commandant of the Marine Corps. Vance is the first Marine to serve as vice president.
Massachusetts lawmaker greets protesters at "No Kings" event
Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts is at a “No Kings” protest in the town of Haydenville today.
He shared photos on X showing him shaking hands with attendees.
“We will not back down to Donald Trump—protest is what this country was founded on,” McGovern wrote.
Why some demonstrators are wearing yellow
At protests across the US, some demonstrators are wearing yellow – a symbol of unity and a reference to other nonviolent resistance movements, according to organizers.
During Hong Kong’s 2014 political protests, demonstrators carried yellow umbrellas – first as a defense against police use of pepper spray, then as a symbol of a growing political movement. In South Korea, after the Sewol ferry tragedy left hundreds dead in 2014, yellow ribbons “evolved from memorial tokens into protest symbols demanding government transparency and justice,” according to the “No Kings” website.
And in eastern Ukraine, yellow ribbons served “as a signal of resistance and national self-determination amid invasion,” says the site. “Yellow Ribbon” activists have led nonviolent resistance movements in areas occupied by Russia.
Yellow “is a visible, optimistic banner that carries the weight of democratic struggle, nonviolent dissent, and a reminder that power must stem from the people, not from crowns,” reads the site.
Passing cars honk for protesters holding signs on Beltway overpass
Along with the larger events we’re monitoring today in major cities, we’re seeing small pockets of “No Kings” protesters crop up along busy thoroughfares, in small town squares and elsewhere around the US.
That’s the case in Silver Spring, Maryland, a town outside Washington, DC, where a group is waving their signs for passing traffic on an overpass over the Capital Beltway.
Photos: Protesters across Europe stand in solidarity with US demonstrations
We’ve also been keeping an eye on demonstrations in Europe this morning, where groups have held events in solidarity with the Americans attending today’s “No Kings” protests.
Crowds gathered outside landmarks and US embassies in Berlin, Paris, Rome and Sweden holding signs denouncing fascism and dictatorships, with some suggesting US President Donald Trump does not uphold the values of democracy.
Here are a few scenes from protests we’re monitoring:
California senator honors America’s founding ideals on "No Kings Day"
On “No Kings Day,” Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California delivered a message to people participating in rallies across the state, aligning the movement with the spirit of the American Revolution.
Schiff said the day marks a grassroots stand against authoritarianism and in defense of democratic values.
In a video shared ahead of the events, Schiff praised attendees for “standing up. Not just for yourself, but for your neighbors, and for an idea.”
The senator’s message drew a direct line from the present moment to the country’s founding, invoking the grievances laid out in the Declaration of Independence, and aimed his historical parallel squarely at President Donald Trump.
He reminded Americans that their role as citizens is not passive, but active, and that democracy is not inherited, but earned and protected by each generation.
“We have a people brave enough to govern themselves and wise enough to know that democracy only survives if we defend it,” he said.
Keep in mind: Schiff’s parallel between today’s demonstrations and the country’s founding principles comes as Republicans have attacked the protests as “anti-American.”
A band is playing in Atlanta as people gather for today's event
It’s a calm and organized scene here in Atlanta, where a band is playing as people gather in a parking lot behind the Civic Center for today’s “No Kings” protest.
We spoke with Joan Press, an attendee in her 50s who came to the rally with her husband. Press told CNN she was driven to attend by what she described as President Donald Trump’s threats to abortion rights, health care access and social security.
Organizers tell us the rally in Atlanta will be followed by a protest march.
CNN’s Maxime Tamsett and Matt Meyer contributed to this report.
We'll see some of the day's first major demonstrations begin soon
As we reach 10 a.m. on the East Coast, we’re keeping an eye on some of the first “No Kings” rallies expected to begin around the US.
Organizers in Atlanta slated a rally to begin at the top of the hour, followed by a protest march.
In New York City, a march is planned to begin around 11 a.m. ET.
That will be followed by a rally in Washington, DC, at noon ET and a rally and march in Chicago at 1 p.m. ET, according to organizers.
Of course, those are just a few key cities we’re watching, as there are more than 2,500 events planned in all 50 states.
CNN is on the ground around the country, and we’ll bring you insights on why protesters say they’re gathering as the day goes on.
How DHS is telling local law enforcement to prepare for protests
Ahead of today’s “No Kings” protests against the Trump administration, the Department of Homeland Security sent out an intelligence report warning law enforcement agencies across the country about the potential for certain events to become violent.
The report, which was obtained by CNN, did not indicate national security officials were aware of any specific and credible threats, nor did it identify any planned protests by name.
DHS said police should look out for certain indicators, including attendance by demonstrators “with a history of exploiting lawful protests to engage in violence” and attendees who have received paramilitary-like training.
The report recommended that local law enforcement communicate with transit agencies to be aware of increased travel to a particular area from people outside the region, and to consider establishing separate areas where protesters and counter-protesters can demonstrate at a distance from one another.
It also recommended that law enforcement work with liaisons from the protest organizers and any counter-protest groups to help establish legal guidelines.
What organizers are saying: While the Trump administration and some GOP officials have painted anti-Trump protests as the work of “violent left-wing radicals,” the organization behind the “No Kings” events, the Indivisible Project, says it is committed to “nonviolent action” and has trained tens of thousands of people in safety and de-escalation.
The group, which says the events will be attended by a broad coalition of participants of various ages and backgrounds, has said peaceful protests will serve as a contrast to the Trump administration’s show of force in Democrat-led cities.
Go deeper: CNN spoke to attendees at the last “No Kings” protests.
Watch: CNN asks protest organizer about GOP criticism
Ezra Levin, a co-founder of the Indivisible Project, spoke on our air this week about Republican criticism against the “No Kings” demonstrations his organization is helping lead.
Watch the interview below:
North Carolina attorney general emphasizes importance of peaceful protest
Ahead of the second iteration of the “No Kings” protests scheduled nationwide today, North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson urged people to protest peacefully and safely in a statement yesterday.
“Peaceful protest is one of the most important rights we have as Americans. It’s how people make their voices heard and stand up for what they believe in,” Jackson said.
The organization behind the “No Kings” events, the Indivisible Project, says it is committed to “nonviolent action” and has trained tens of thousands of people in safety and de-escalation.
How Trump has responded to the "No Kings" rallies
President Donald Trump responded to the second round of “No Kings” demonstrations, scheduled today, in an interview with Fox Business Network that aired yesterday.
He suggested Democrats have delayed negotiations to reopen the government for the widespread protest.
Some Republican leaders have labeled the protests as anti-American, while earlier this week, House Speaker Mike Johnson also claimed, without evidence, that the rallies have contributed to the ongoing government shutdown.
What to know about "No Kings" 2.0
More than 2,500 demonstrations across all 50 states are slated for today in the second round of “No Kings” protests, which aim to broadly reject what organizers describe as President Donald Trump’s “authoritarian” agenda.
That’s about 450 more events than were planned for the first go-round in June, when about 5 million people across the country took to the streets to protest Trump’s administration as he held a military parade in Washington.
Here are some key things to know:
• Central issues: The first round of protests came after the five-month opening blitz of Trump’s second term, which saw moves targeting birthright citizenship, protections for transgender people, student protesters, federal diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and more.
Over the summer, the administration has only “doubled down,” protest organizers say, including with mass immigration raids, the deployment of federal troops into Democratic-led cities, and the president’s retribution tour.
• Republican response: Some Republican leaders have labeled the protests as anti-American. House Speaker Mike Johnson claimed, without evidence, that the rallies have contributed to the ongoing government shutdown.
GOP Sen. Roger Marshall alleged “professional protesters” and “agitators” will show up, and House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested participants would be “pro-Hamas” and “Antifa people.”
• Organizers emphasize peaceful protest: Organizers say they are planning peaceful demonstrations aimed at providing a clear contrast to the administration’s show of force.
On its website and in materials for local organizers, the nonprofit organizer Indivisible Project has emphasized “nonviolent action.” The group says it has trained tens of thousands of people in safety and de-escalation.
Catch up here on the latest from the Trump administration
While we await news from those “No Kings” rallies due to get underway later today, let’s update you on some of the other recent developments we’re reporting out of the White House.
- President Donald Trump said on social media yesterday that he has commuted the sentence of disgraced former Rep. George Santos, who had been serving a seven-year term for the fraud charges that saw him ousted from Congress.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky left Washington yesterday after a meeting with Trump, having failed to obtain Tomahawk missiles for strikes on Russia. The US president later called for both sides to cease fighting and accept current battle lines.
- The University of Virginia joined USC, Penn, Brown University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in rejecting a Trump administration proposal to join a compact that would potentially give preferential funding in exchange for a list of changes to school policy.
- Trump cast blame on Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown yesterday as he prepared to attend a $1 million-per-plate political fundraising dinner at his Mar-a-Lago resort. The president has no scheduled public events today.
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