No Kings Protests Spread Across the Country 

On Oct. 18, 2025, masses of Atlanta residents flocked to the streets to participate in the nationwide No Kings Protests. This October protest marked the second No Kings Protest to take place in Atlanta so far this year. The “No Kings” organization is a group that began this June that organizes protests across the country with the mission of declaring that the United States should have “No Thrones. No Crowns. No Kings.” The overarching theme of the marches and protests is the accusation that President Trump is acting more like a monarch than an elected official. To date, there have been more than 2,700 protests spanning across all 50 states. The events have drawn crowds with a total of more than 7 million attendees. 

The original protests in June began on June 14, 2025, the same day as the United States Army’s 250th anniversary, and President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. President Trump had planned a military parade for June 14 to celebrate the Army’s anniversary, but many complained that the parade mirrored monarchical behavior, prompting the No Kings protests in response. As a whole, protesters are using this opportunity to share a wide variety of grievances that they have with the current administration and political system. Ranging from topics surrounding immigration to constitutional freedoms, Americans are using this opportunity to express their right to protest. Meanwhile, as more and more protesters raise their voices about their concerns, the Trump administration is also sharing its opinion on the marches. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has outwardly called the No Kings protests “Hate America” rallies. In response, Democratic officials have mentioned the fact that the protests have remained peaceful. As protesters assemble in the streets, they arrive bearing signs with slogans and phrases that best depict their thoughts and feelings towards the United States’ Political situation. The No Kings protests were declared by the police to be largely peaceful, making them one of the largest peaceful protests in recent years. 

In Atlanta, many citizens came together to protest, rallying behind the city’s strong ties to civil rights history. The October protest in Atlanta began at the Atlanta Civic Center with a message from Sen. Raphael Warnock. Sen. Warnock shared the importance of coming together to fight for what one believes in and how group initiative is stronger than working alone. “Because when all of us stand together and raise our voices, we win,” said Senator Warnock. 

The demonstrations in Atlanta allow the Pace community to witness current events first hand. “I think the protests going on in Atlanta and across the country are really interesting, because they remind me a lot of what I’ve learned in my history classes. I also feel like it’s really interesting seeing all of these people expressing their rights to protest,” said Senior Sadie Ganz. The protests stand as a reminder for the constantly changing political climate in Atlanta and the United States as a whole during this time.