Organizers of the nationwide demonstrations scheduled for Saturday are countering Republican leaders’ attempts to label them as anti-American, asserting that they have spent weeks instructing participants to uphold calm, legal, and nonviolent conduct, even in the face of aggression.
Organizers anticipate millions will participate in what they characterize as a peaceful protest against President Donald Trump’s increasing executive authority, thus refuting his forecast of “very few people” attending. These marches, set to occur in over 2,600 locations, mark the movement’s second large-scale event since June, coinciding with intensified warnings and military readiness from certain state and federal authorities.
Texas’s Republican Governor Greg Abbott authorized National Guard deployments in Austin, citing potential threats from “antifa-linked” protesters. Democrats in the state criticized him, alleging the Guard’s deployment was intended to intimidate demonstrators.
This escalating tension highlights a larger disagreement concerning the nature of public opposition during the Trump administration. While officials portray the demonstrations as a potential threat to public order, organizers view them as a crucial examination of the nation’s capacity to accept peaceful dissent and citizens’ resolve to protect their fundamental rights.
Due to the escalated rhetoric, organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union, Indivisible, MoveOn, and the American Federation of Teachers are implementing additional safety measures. These include emphasizing de-escalation tactics, ensuring community safety, and providing instructions on peaceful responses to aggression from law enforcement or counter-protesters. Diedre Schlifeling, the ACLU’s chief political and advocacy officer, commented, “They may attempt to portray this weekend’s activities as dangerous. However, the truth is that organizing and participating in peaceful protests is neither unlawful nor unsafe. It represents the pinnacle of patriotism and American values.”
The “No Kings” movement originated earlier this year in opposition to Trump’s broad claims of executive authority. Its slogan, echoing the Revolution-era repudiation of monarchy, has evolved into a powerful call to action for individuals who perceive the administration’s conduct as jeopardizing democratic institutions.
The movement’s event in June was predominantly peaceful, despite minor altercations between police and protesters in a few cities. Organizers intentionally refrained from staging a march in Washington, D.C., at that time because Trump was present for a military parade in the city, which he had advocated for to commemorate the Army’s 250th anniversary, coinciding with his 79th birthday. Organizers reported that approximately five million people participated in the nationwide protests.
Addressing journalists in the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump minimized the potential scale of the demonstrations. The President stated, “Their day is approaching. I understand very few individuals will be present, by the way. But they will have their moment, and they desire their day in the sun.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson labeled the protests against the Trump Administration a “Hate America rally,” asserting that it would attract the Democratic party’s “pro-Hamas wing” and “the antifa people.” Majority Whip Tom Emmer alleged that Democrats were “promoting the terrorist wing of their party.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent characterized the anticipated participants as “the most extreme left, the most fervent, and the most unstable elements within the Democratic Party.” Republican Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas indicated that the National Guard might be required.
During a press conference on Thursday, organizers accused Republicans of attempting to deter participation. Leah Greenberg, co-founder of Indivisible, one of the organizing groups, stated, “They are now attempting to malign millions of Americans who are coming out to protest, in order to rationalize and suppress peaceful dissent. This is the archetypal authoritarian strategy—to threaten, slander, and deceive—but we will not be cowed.”
Schlifeling further noted, “We do not foresee any necessity for the National Guard to be deployed; however, should the Trump Administration try to do so as a means to intimidate peaceful protests, we are ready. We have conducted extensive preparations and ‘Know Your Rights’ training sessions nationwide. Just yesterday, a single session drew 18,000 participants.”