„No Kings“: Millions of Americans are taking to the streets to fight for freedom and democracy.

Under the name „No Kings“ waves of protests have swept the United States like the country hasn't seen since the post-election unrest. Millions of people are marching through the streets of major cities across the USA to express their disagreement with the policies of President Donald Trump. Organizers say it is a defense of democracy against authoritarian tendencies and a fight to preserve the balance of power in the country.

America without kings
Demonstrations are taking place at more than 2,600 locations across the country – from New York through Chicago to Los Angeles. In New York people filled Times Square, carrying banners reading „No Kings“ and „People before billionaires“. The atmosphere in the streets feels more like a festival than a political protest, with singing, impromptu speeches and street bands playing. All the gatherings, however, share one message: America is not a kingdom.

The people's voice against power
The protests are unfolding against the backdrop of a federal shutdown that has paralyzed government agencies and divided Congress. Many see the current situation as proof that the president is pushing executive power far beyond the bounds of the Constitution. “This is what democracy looks like!” chant the crowds, calling for a return to political balance and the preservation of civil liberties.

Famous faces and strong words
Famous politicians and public figures have joined the movement. Senator Bernie Sanders and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called the protests a key signal that „American democracy is still breathing“. Actor John Cusack also appeared in the crowd and from the stage sharply attacked the Trump administration, saying: “You can't create chaos to stay in power.”

A divided society
The White House's response was not long in coming. President Trump labeled the protests “hysteria organized by the left” and denied that he was behaving like a monarch. Republican leaders meanwhile accuse the demonstrators of stoking chaos and of being responsible for the ongoing government shutdown. For many Americans, however, the movement has become a symbol of courage and defiance against a government they see as a threat to the very foundations of the republic.

The protest that crossed borders
The demonstrations were not limited to American cities. Hundreds gathered in front of US embassies in London, Berlin and Madrid in solidarity with the American demonstrators. They chanted the same slogans and waved star-spangled flags. “The world is watching to see whether America will remain free,” one participant at the London protest said into a megaphone.

Waves of discontent have thus culminated in one of the largest civic movements since the start of the century. No Kings – no kings – became for millions not only the protest slogan but also a reminder that American democracy still has the strength to stand up to its own power.