More than seven million protesters participated in the “No Kings” protest across the United States on Oct. 18, 2025. The “No Kings” protest is an ongoing opposition to President Donald Trump’s administration. Junior Signe Hoke attended “No Kings” protests in Lawrence earlier this year to express her opinion.
“Your duty as president is listening to the people that are in your country,” Hoke said. “That’s the problem. It’s not whether [Trump] won or not, it’s the fact that he isn’t listening.”
From June to Oct. of 2025, all 50 states have organized “No Kings” protests, with “No Kings” protests also stretching nationally. Hoke said the Lawrence protests were composed of people peacefully trying to have their message heard.
“It was people holding signs and trying to get their opinion across,” Hoke said. “It felt like a lot of determined people that were tired of what was happening.”
According to the “No Kings” website, the “No Kings” protest is one of the largest public political protests in American history. Hoke said that protests are a crucial way for people to express their opinions and share their personal beliefs.
The No Kings protests began after Trump’s inauguration. Since then, the protests have increased from five million to seven million protesters. Long-time Lawrence resident Ric Averill has attended protests since the Vietnam war, and he describes the ongoing problems.
“I’ve been very frustrated in the last few years with the clamping down on civil rights, women’s rights and voting rights,” Averill said. “All the things that we protested then, and we thought we had made some headway.”
According to the “No Kings” website, the United States permits free speech and public protests, granting the people a way to spread their beliefs. Sophomore Zacha Zavarse said that protests are a right that Americans have, and it needs to be protected.
“People are allowed to have their opinion,” Zavarse said. “It’s not that they’re lying and saying something didn’t happen. They’re just protesting against it.”
According to the “No Kings” website, the protest’s purpose is to prevent a president with unchecked power, while granting power to the people. Averill said that he believes it is important to attend protests, so people can express their beliefs, despite the dangers.
“You need to step up and say, ‘I’m willing to be counted among those that don’t approve of policing our own people with our own national guard,’” Averill said. “Killing international aid and doing everything that makes America not look like America anymore.”
The No Kings protest on Oct. 18 had 14 times as many people as Trump’s two inaugurations combined. Zavarse said that the amount of people who protested represents the strength of the American people.
“It shows how much power the people have,” Zavarse said. “How the people won’t be pushed away and silenced.”
