Thousands expected in L.A. for nationwide ‘No Kings’ day of protest

A grassroots protest movement that began as a modest online slogan has evolved into a nationwide campaign, with thousands of demonstrators expected to fill the streets of Los Angeles on Saturday.

The movement, known as “No Kings,” is organized locally by 50501 SoCal, a regional chapter of a larger national coalition that promotes civic engagement and nonviolent protest. Organizers say the effort was born out of concern over what they describe as growing threats to democratic institutions and executive overreach.

“We’re here to protect our democracy from this administration, from Donald Trump — a wannabe king,” said Hunter Dunn, an organizer with 50501 SoCal, adding that the group’s focus remains on “peaceful civic action.”

According to the organization’s website, 50501 began as a decentralized response to what it calls the “anti-democratic and illegal actions of the Trump administration and its plutocratic allies.” The name reflects its founding concept: “50 protests. 50 states. 1 movement.”

What began as a single day of coordinated demonstrations — more than 80 protests held across all 50 states — has since evolved into a recurring campaign of nationwide actions. The group says it has “mobilized millions of people” through a growing network of volunteer organizers and partner organizations dedicated to defending civil liberties and democratic norms.

The “No Kings” rallies first gained traction earlier this year following federal enforcement actions, including ICE raids and National Guard deployments in the Los Angeles area. In June, thousands joined protests across Greater L.A. — most of which remained peaceful — though a few incidents prompted Mayor Karen Bass to impose a temporary curfew in a one-square-mile section of downtown.

“We absolutely support and have to have peaceful protests,” Bass said at the time. “That is a part of our American way, and no one should engage in any type of vandalism, but the overwhelming majority of them have been peaceful.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom also urged participants to avoid unrest, saying, “If you participate, do so peacefully… because there’s one person that hopes you don’t and hopes there is disruption… and he will exploit that and take advantage of it.”

Despite those assurances, the movement has drawn sharp criticism from some conservative lawmakers. House Speaker Mike Johnson called it “the ‘Hate America’ rally,” while Sen. Josh Hawley, Republican of Missouri, said participants are “total hypocrites” who “aren’t interested in democracy.”

Organizers reject those characterizations. “First off, we’re pro-democracy and we’re incredibly peaceful,” Dunn said. “I’m not a member of an organization called Antifa… but I’m a proud anti-fascist.”

The Los Angeles gathering is one of more than 2,700 events planned across the country, including in Memphis, Portland, Washington, D.C., and Chicago. Dunn described the demonstrations as a show of unity among cities that have supported each other during past protests.

“We need to stand with those cities, the way that they stood with us on June 14,” he said, “and ‘No Kings’ is one way to do that.”