LONG BEACH, Calif. — On Saturday Oct. 18, millions of Americans gathered in peaceful protests around the country. They were protesting for “no kings” in America and current government policies. While this protest was affecting those all over the country, it was also affecting our own neighborhoods. There was one protest in Long Beach, where hundreds of people gathered by the beach with signs and chanted, trying to make their voices heard. Some people even wore costumes and played music while singing and dancing. Cars drove by with signs on their windows, honking and waving to show their support. There were people of all races and diverse backgrounds. All ages were present: elderly, middle-aged, young adults and children, all united for the same cause.
There were multiple demonstrations of peace and calmness at the rally. Nobody was acting violently, and everyone was collected and calm. To demonstrate this peaceful nature, one young couple gave away flowers as a symbol of peace.
“When you are out in a (peaceful) protest, you should have symbols of that peace. And I don’t think there’s anything more symbolic of peace than a flower,” said 30-year-old protestor, Gabriela. “America is about free speech and liberty… for (my) unborn daughter, we want to make sure that she has the ability to protest…we protest today, so that she can protest tomorrow.”
People in attendance are protesting for change, specifically in how the country is currently being run and the laws that they believe unfairly control citizens. They believe that the new policies and actions of the current administration are more like those of a ruler or monarch than those of an elected official. Many posters and signs that people held expressed their anger and frustration towards these ruling actions, as well as the change that they want to see in our country.
“I am here to show my support for the movement that is trying to articulate the voice of so many Americans who don’t like what’s going on (in) the White House,” said another protestor, Kay Annenson, 69 years old. “I would like them to…make the country strong again (and) some place we can be proud of living in.”
Since 1776, America has prided itself on being a nation run on democracy where there are no kings or dictators. Many Americans fear that our country is headed in the wrong direction. These individuals think that it will only get worse if people don’t unite and stand up for what they believe in. Some protestors highlighted the importance of ordinary citizens coming together and organizing.
“The more (people) the better,” said 69-year-old protestor, Tim. “The grassroots is where it happens. The people is where it happens. It’s not the politicians, it’s the people.”
According to the organizers of this event, their mission is to show their voices in non-violent ways. They are trying to send a message that they are strongly united and nothing can silence them. Even Gavin Newsom, the California governor, urged people to go out and protest, posting messages to several social media platforms, such as X (Twitter) and Instagram.
“Today, Californians joined millions nationwide to say loud and clear: NO to authoritarianism. NO to assaulting our democracy. NO to censorship and fear. NO to hate and division. NO to corruption and cruelty. NO to kings. YES to a government by and for the people,” said Governor Newsom in a message posted to X.
Additionally, protest organizers voiced their outrage on their website, stating that they “won’t back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty.”
At the rally, various emotions were displayed and expressed through chants and slogans on signs. Some signs were angry and used profanity, while others were hopeful and positive. Both types, however, demanded change. For example, some signs had things written like “The only minority destroying our country are the billionaires,” and others had more positive things like “I love my country” and “Justice for all.”
Additionally, some posters used song lyrics or famous quotes to get their message across. One sign referenced a Taylor Swift song and used the lyric “Maybe this thing was a masterpiece until you tore it all up,” referencing the United States Constitution being violated. Another poster had an image of a tombstone that said R.I.P. and had the Constitution on one side, and the words “checks and balances” on the other.
In total, about 2,600 “No Kings” events were planned across the country, and they had a turnout of over 7 million people, more than the approximate 5 million citizens who attended the previous rallies in June. Many Republican politicians opposed these protests and commented that they were anti-American. Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, a member of the Republican Party, said that the protest on Saturday was a “hate America rally,” and President Trump himself commented that the rallies were a joke and that he is “not a king at all.”
Despite some politicians’ claims that the protests were anti-American, on this day, American citizens exercised their First Amendment rights, freedom of speech, and the right to assemble peacefully, which they are entitled to by law.
