On October 18, 2025, a wave of activism swept across the United States as millions participated in the second large-scale "No Kings" protest, a coordinated demonstration against what organizers described as rising authoritarianism under President Donald Trump’s administration. The event, which spanned cities from coast to coast, drew an estimated seven million people nationwide, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other protest organizers, making it one of the largest single-day protest movements in recent U.S. history.
In New York City, the movement took on a particularly vibrant life. Police estimated that 100,000 people gathered in Times Square, where the atmosphere was charged but peaceful. No arrests were reported as of 3 p.m., the New York Police Department confirmed. Meanwhile, in Riverdale, a neighborhood in the Bronx, around 600 residents assembled at Seton Park, joining the national chorus of dissent. Children played and blew bubbles, while adults waved signs and sang protest songs—an intergenerational show of solidarity that, for many, felt both urgent and uplifting.
The "No Kings" protests were organized by a coalition of over 200 progressive organizations and grassroots groups. This October event followed a similar demonstration in June 2025, which, according to the ACLU, mobilized five million people across the country. The message was clear: many Americans are deeply concerned about the direction of their democracy and are willing to take to the streets to defend it.
Riverdale’s own turnout reflected a broader trend of local engagement. Dozens of residents traveled to Midtown Manhattan, while hundreds more chose to gather closer to home. Signs bearing slogans such as "Protest is patriotic" and "There is nothing more American than standing against Kings" dotted the crowd. Chants of "Show me what democracy looks like" echoed through the city, blending with the music and speeches that defined the day’s events.
Lynda Paull, an 82-year-old Riverdale resident with a long history of activism dating back to the Vietnam War era, captured the mood for many. "There’s never been a time like this, ever in my lifetime … where I felt truly deep in my chest, in my heart, we are losing democracy," she told local reporters, her words resonating with both older and younger activists alike.
Dan Guenzburger, a member of Northwest Bronx Indivisible and a veteran of past protests, drew parallels to earlier movements. "Vietnam War protests made a difference," he said. "They started small, and they increased until they started to impact public opinion. That’s why we’re here. We have got to mobilize the country." According to The Riverdale Press, such sentiments were echoed by many who see the current moment as a pivotal test for American democracy.
At Seton Park, the protest took on a communal, almost celebratory air. Marcelo Lopez, president of the Unity Democratic Club, led chants and speeches, keeping spirits high as the crowd swelled. In between addresses from community leaders, Indivisible member Helen Krim led renditions of "We Shall Overcome," accompanied by a small band. Drummer Jerry Kisslinger explained the motivation behind the music: "I really wanted it to be not just a peace rally, but an energy rally, a resistance rally — something that would give people confidence to stand up for what they believe in."
For many, the protest was about more than just resisting specific policies—it was about affirming shared values and the power of collective action. Danielle Herbert-Guggenheim, an educator, reflected on the importance of community: "I grew up in the Bronx at a time where we are not good if our neighbor isn’t. What’s happening with the immigrant community can easily happen to the Black community, to the LGBTQIA+ community." Her words underscored the intersectional nature of the movement, with participants voicing concerns about women’s reproductive rights, the separation of church and state, and the broader erosion of civil liberties.
Local elected officials lent their voices to the cause as well. U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres, Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz, and Council Member Eric Dinowitz all addressed the crowd at Seton Park. Council Member Dinowitz delivered a rallying call: "All of us are what stand between Donald Trump and being a dictator. We are in this together. We are in this because we love our country." Such statements, reported by The Riverdale Press, reflected a widespread sense of urgency and responsibility among the demonstrators.
As the protests unfolded, social media lit up with rumors and speculation about celebrity involvement. A viral post on Threads claimed that pop superstar Taylor Swift and NFL player Travis Kelce had donated $1 million to support the "No Kings" protests. However, according to The Economic Times and corroborated by India Today, these claims are entirely unsubstantiated. There is no official record or credible source confirming any donation from Swift or Kelce. Both have remained silent on the protests, and no major news outlet—including The Associated Press, CNN, or NBC News—has reported any such contribution.
While Taylor Swift is indeed known for her opposition to Donald Trump and for endorsing Democratic candidates—she publicly supported Kamala Harris in the 2024 election and Joe Biden in 2020—there is no evidence linking her to the "No Kings" movement, either through posts, donations, or public statements. The Economic Times reiterated, "Swift has not extended support to the 'No Kings' movement publicly, nor has she made any public donation to the cause."
Further confusion was sown by Florida Representative Anna Paulina Luna, who posted an image on X (formerly Twitter) listing alleged donors to the protest, including major philanthropic organizations such as Arabella Advisors, the Ford Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and George Soros’s Open Society Foundations. The list, originally shared by Seamus Bruner of Breitbart News, was presented in a sarcastic tone and has not been verified by any U.S. authorities. No government source has authenticated the claims, and the origins of the list remain unclear.
Amid the swirl of rumors, the heart of the "No Kings" protest remained focused on grassroots action and the voices of ordinary Americans. Allison Gervais and Nate Ethier, Riverdale residents who joined the Times Square protest with their dog Quinn, summed up the stakes: "I like to see people come out of situations like this with a renewed sense of the value and urgency of democracy," said Ethier. "Democracies collapse all over the world throughout the course of history. People think it can’t happen here. It can happen here, and people need to protect it."
As the sun set on October 18, the message from the streets was unmistakable: millions of Americans remain deeply invested in the fate of their democracy, willing to stand together in defense of their rights, regardless of celebrity rumors or partisan spin.
