Kamal Ghorui
Large crowds took to the streets on Saturday across the United States and parts of Europe in “No Kings” rallies, protesting the war in Iran and the actions of president Donald Trump. From big cities to small towns, people gathered to voice anger over multiple issues, with Minnesota emerging as the centre of the protests.In St Paul, thousands packed the Capitol lawn for the flagship event. Musician Bruce Springsteen headlined the rally and praised residents for resisting a recent surge in immigration enforcement by US authorities. He performed “Streets of Minneapolis,” a song written after the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents. Reflecting on the moment, he said, “Your strength and your commitment told us that this was still America… this reactionary nightmare… will not stand.”In Minnesota, the main rally featured Robert De Niro, singer Joan Baez, actor Jane Fonda, and Senator Bernie Sanders. A large banner read, “We had whistles, they had guns. The revolution starts in Minneapolis.” The protests stretched across the country, from New York City to small towns like Driggs with more than 3,100 events registered across all 50 states.Most gatherings remained peaceful, but there were clashes in Los Angeles, where police used tear gas after some protesters threw objects near a federal detention centre. Authorities said arrests were made when people refused to disperse.In Washington, DC, hundreds marched past the Lincoln Memorial to the National Mall, holding signs reading “Put down the crown, clown” and chanting “No kings.”
No Kings Protest in Washington (AP photo)
The rallies drew sharp criticism from Republican leaders. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson dismissed them as the work of leftist funding networks and said they lacked real public support. The “only people who care about these Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions are the reporters who are paid to cover them,” Jackson said in a statement. The National Republican Congressional Committee also criticised the protests. “These hate America Rallies are where the far-left’s most violent, deranged fantasies get a microphone,” NRCC spokesperson Maureen O’Toole said.The protests were not limited to the US. Demonstrations were held in several countries. In Rome, crowds marched while criticising Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and opposing recent military actions involving Iran. In London, people carried signs reading “Stop the far right” and “Stand up to racism.” In Paris, several hundred people, including Americans living abroad, gathered at the Bastille.
