‘No Kings’ protesters ramp up preparations for mass rallies

An organization associated with the No Kings movement has stepped up its preparations in advance of the protest group’s next day of action.

Speaking to Newsweek, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which is supporting the protesters, outlined the measures it was taking to inform protesters of their constitutional rights before the No Kings movement’s scheduled demonstrations against President Donald Trump on October 18.

Why It Matters

No Kings previously coordinated 1,800 protests across the U.S. on June 14, the same day as Trump’s birthday and the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army. While many of the rallies remained peaceful, there were some instances of violence including a vehicular assault in Virginia.

The latest preparations show the organizers are becoming increasingly professionalized and structured as their movement continues to grow. They also suggest the movement is concerned about a response from the Trump administration, which is cracking down on some protests. Trump has sent federal troops to some U.S. cities including Los Angeles and has attempted to send troops to others like Chicago.

What To Know

The ACLU said that it had hosted around 15,000 people for training on the rights protesters have under the U.S. Constitution and civil rights laws. These rights include the right to assemble and protest under the first amendment.

The union said it planned to distribute 3 million cards in English, Spanish and eight other languages informing people of their protest rights ahead of the action.

Ellen Flenniken, deputy director of the ACLU Justice Division, told Newsweek: “President Trump and his allies are trying to intimidate us into silence, deploying armed troops to our cities and threatening their political opponents. But despite these threats, millions of people are anticipated to peacefully protest at more than 2,500 ‘No Kings’ events across the country on Saturday. That’s because the best way to protect our First Amendment rights is to keep using them.”

She added: “The ACLU and our partners are committed to helping people understand their rights and stay safe while protesting this weekend. We take the safety of ‘No Kings’ participants very seriously and continue to support local organizers to ensure peaceful and powerful events. 

“Together with the ‘No Kings’ coalition, we again offered safety and de-escalation training as well as ‘Know Your Rights’ workshops to help empower people as they gather with their communities,” said Flenniken. “When we exercise our rights with courage, even in the face of fear, we strengthen our power and make it harder for the Trump administration to take those rights away.”

It comes after the grassroots protest group hosted a 90-minute safety and security training on Thursday to help protest hosts “practice de-escalation for any scenarios that may arise.”

Meanwhile, other protest groups have coordinated recent events including a series of over 200 protests on September 20 called Make Billionaires Pay.

What People Are Saying

On its website, the No Kings group said: “June was just the beginning. The next wave of protests is here. On October 18, we gather in cities nationwide to reclaim democracy, reject fascism, and remind Trump that power belongs to the people.”

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson slammed the protests on Friday, saying on Fox News: “The theory we have right now, they have a ‘Hate America’ rally that’s scheduled for October 18 on the National Mall. It’s all the pro-Hamas wing and the antifa people, they’re all coming out. Some of the House Democrats are selling T-shirts for the event. And it’s being told to us that they won’t be able to reopen the government until after that rally because they can’t face their rabid base.”

When Trump was asked about the June protesters, he told a reporter: “I don’t feel like a king. I have to go through hell to get stuff approved. A king would say ‘I’m not going to get this … he wouldn’t have to call up [House Speaker] Mike Johnson and [Senate Majority Leader John] Thune and say, ‘Fellas you’ve got to pull this off’ and after years we get it done. No no, we’re not a king, we’re not a king at all.”

What Happens Next

The “No Kings” protests are scheduled to take place on October 18.