Across the United States, a wave of activism is set to crest this Saturday, October 18, 2025, as over 2,000 "No Kings Day" protests are scheduled to take place in cities big and small. Organized by Indivisible and a coalition of progressive groups, these demonstrations are expected to draw millions, making it what organizers hope will be the largest single day of peaceful protest in American history. The movement, which began with a series of rallies in June, has gathered momentum as a pointed response to President Donald Trump’s administration and its policies.
Ezra Levin, executive co-director of Indivisible, appeared on MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show earlier this week to reassure potential participants about taking to the streets. "Let me tell you: It’s gonna be fun," Levin said. "It’s gonna be powerful, and it’s gonna be a part of history." He described previous protests as scenes of "moms and grandmas and kids and dogs and funny chants," emphasizing a sense of "joyous power out in the streets." According to Nexstar Media Inc., Levin also underlined the stakes: "If your First Amendment rights are under attack, and you decline to show up because of those threats, you don’t have First Amendment rights."
Chicago is gearing up for one of the largest gatherings, with a march set to begin at noon in Grant Park’s Butler Field. As reported by Axios, more than a dozen events will take place throughout the city and suburbs, including family-friendly "Chalk the Walk" parties, senior rallies, and smaller marches hosted by neighborhood groups. Organizers are encouraging participants to attend virtual safety and de-escalation meetings, with one scheduled for Wednesday evening. The timing in Chicago is particularly charged, coming amid controversial ICE apprehensions and threats of deploying federalized National Guard troops.
The breadth of support for "No Kings Day" is notable. The organizing coalition includes the ACLU, American Federation of Teachers, Common Defense, 50501, Human Rights Campaign, League of Conservation Voters, MoveOn, National Nurses United, Public Citizen, and SEIU, alongside Indivisible. Local organizers in Chicago declared, "Here in Chicago we know how to rise up, fight back, and support each other. It is more important than ever that we do that together on October 18th as we show the nation and the world that Chicago is united in opposing these illegal and unnecessary attacks against our neighbors, our communities, and our democracy."
Sheboygan, Wisconsin, is also preparing for its own "No Kings" rally at Peace Park, organized by Lakeshore Indivisible and Sheboygan Area Progressives. The event will run from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and will feature speakers such as Sheboygan Area School District Board of Education member Leah Hibl and Plymouth Common Council District 3 Alder John Binder, who plans to address air and water quality issues. Another speaker will focus on immigration and ICE. Attendees are encouraged to bring art and musical instruments, and the rally will double as a food drive for the Sheboygan County Food Bank, with donations being accepted at multiple locations throughout the week.
According to the Sheboygan Press, Indivisible has predicted that October 18 could mark the largest day of peaceful protest in U.S. history, with events planned in every state and even a few international locations. The movement’s roots trace back to the first "No Kings" protest in June, which coincided with Trump’s 79th birthday and a grand parade celebrating the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary. Protesters at that time criticized what they saw as an attempt by the president to project military might and assert authoritative dominance. Local activism has persisted throughout the year, with events like "May Day Strong" in May, "Good Trouble Lives On" in July, and weekly "We the People" protests keeping the momentum alive.
Nationally, the protests have drawn sharp criticism from Republican leaders. House Speaker Mike Johnson and House GOP Whip Tom Emmer have both labeled "No Kings Day" a "Hate America rally" in recent interviews on Fox News and Fox Business Network. Emmer, speaking with Fox Business Network’s "Mornings With Maria," asserted, "We call it the 'hate America rally' because you'll see the hate for America all over this thing when they show up." Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy went further on the same program, claiming—without presenting evidence—that protesters are being paid by the anti-fascist group antifa.
Levin, for his part, pushed back against such characterizations. He argued on MSNBC, "They've got to make some other name up for it because they understand, if they say 'No Kings,' how is that objectionable? How could anybody say that that's anything other than the most American thing since apple pie?" He acknowledged the tension, noting, "We’ve got an authoritarian regime who wants to crack down on free speech."
Actor Robert De Niro has lent his voice to the movement, appearing in a video posted by the Indivisible Project. De Niro drew a historical parallel, saying, "The original No Kings protest was 250 years ago. Americans decided they didn’t want to live under the rule of King George III. They declared their independence and fought a bloody war for democracy." He continued, "We’ve had two and a half centuries of democracy since then, often challenging, sometimes messy, always essential. And we fought in two world wars to preserve it. Now we have a would-be king who wants to take it away, King Donald I. F‑‑‑ that!"
In Sheboygan and beyond, the protests are as much about community as they are about resistance. The local event will include a food drive, with high-priority items like peanut butter, canned tuna, and cereal requested for donation. Drop-off points are available at Paradigm Coffee and Music and the Sheboygan County Democratic Party office throughout the week. Organizers hope that, alongside the political message, the rallies will foster a sense of solidarity and mutual support.
Meanwhile, the political divide over "No Kings Day" remains stark. While progressive groups frame the protests as a defense of democracy and a stand against authoritarianism, Republican leaders continue to dismiss the movement as unpatriotic or even subversive. This clash of narratives reflects the broader polarization defining American politics in 2025, with each side appealing to its own vision of the nation’s values and future.
As Saturday approaches, the scale and spirit of "No Kings Day" will be put to the test. Will it indeed become the largest day of protest in American history? Organizers, participants, and critics alike will soon find out, as streets across the country fill with citizens determined to make their voices heard—joyously, peacefully, and, they hope, powerfully.