US President Donald Trump has vowed to clamp down on dissent and has deployed troops in several US cities, with his allies alleging that the decentralized antifascist network, Antifa, is behind planned demonstrations. Critics say the administration is seeking any pretext to move against its opponents.

Despite the heavy security presence, millions of Americans are expected to march on Saturday in a second wave of “No Kings” protests denouncing Trump’s perceived authoritarianism.

The first round of demonstrations in June drew several million participants across more than 2,000 locations. Organizers say the latest protests, set to take place in over 2,500 cities and towns, will likely surpass those numbers.

Organizers call for courage amid threats

“Their goal is to dissuade you from participating,” said Ezra Levin, cofounder of Indivisible, one of the key groups behind the movement. “That doesn’t mean that everybody has the same threat level… but it does mean we’re going to need to see a lot of courage out there on Saturday.”

More than 200 organizations have joined the October 18 protests, including the American Civil Liberties Union, Public Citizen, the American Federation of Teachers, SEIU, MoveOn, United We Dream, the Human Rights Campaign, and the League of Conservation Voters. The protest coalition 50501, which calls for coordinated actions across all 50 states, is also a partner.

According to the Harvard Crowd Counting Consortium, 2025 has already seen “far more protests” than the same period in 2017, with the June “No Kings” marches ranking among the largest single-day demonstrations since Trump took office, second only to the 2017 Women’s March.

'We refuse to give up'

The No Kings movement says its message is straightforward: Trump is acting like a monarch, and Americans reject kingship. Organizers cite what they describe as the president’s “increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption,” including mass deportations, attacks on healthcare, and favoritism toward billionaires.

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Amid a rising climate of intimidation, especially following the killing of right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk, Trump declared Antifa a terrorist organization and vowed to crack down on left-wing groups. Activists have responded by organizing safety trainings and marshal networks to protect demonstrators.

Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen, said many vulnerable communities are weighing whether to attend. “They’re making choices like that every day when they decide whether to go to school or whether it’s safe to go grocery shopping,” she said. “But I also think that the fact that people have to make that calculus is part of the reason for our protest.”

Cities under federal pressure

Chicago has become a flashpoint in Trump’s campaign against Democratic-led cities. A federal judge recently blocked the deployment of National Guard troops there, though immigration enforcement operations have intensified. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in response to concerns about enforcement at protest sites, “As it does every day, DHS law enforcement will enforce the laws of our nation.”

In Portland, Oregon, where courts similarly blocked Trump’s attempt to send in troops, demonstrations have taken on a creative edge, featuring costumed protesters and musicians. “Trump is sending militarized agents into our cities, muzzling voters and showering billionaires with handouts,” said Dannelle D. Stevens of Miller Street Indivisible. “That’s not democracy. That’s tyranny. And we will not meet it with silence.”

Chicago’s Saturday protest is expected to be among the largest. “Trump is using our tax dollars to attack and declare war on our city and on the people that live here,” said Denise Poloyac of Indivisible Chicago. “We’re asking people to lean into their courage.” Over 150 safety marshals will help monitor the rally route through Grant Park, organizers said.

Republican rhetoric escalates

Trump allies have sought to discredit the demonstrations by linking them to Antifa and foreign influence. House Speaker Mike Johnson described the protesters as “the pro-Hamas wing of the Democrats,” while Minnesota Congressman Tom Emmer called the rallies the “hate America rally.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi claimed, “They are organized, and someone is funding it… We are going to find and charge all of those people who are causing this chaos.”

Levin dismissed those claims as politically motivated. “The Trump administration is nervous about demonstrations that threaten its power,” he said. “So, in a weird way, it’s a compliment of our relevance and power.”

Lisa Gilbert countered that “the violence is coming from the administration through their militarized crackdowns… not from protesters.” She added, “The president wants us to be scared, but we will not be bullied into fear and silence.”

Looking beyond the streets

Organizers say the protests aim to show the breadth of opposition to Trump’s policies while strengthening networks for sustained resistance. “These events help people realize they’re not alone,” Levin said.

Beyond mass demonstrations, activists are calling for continued civic engagement and targeted boycotts. Claude Cummings Jr., president of the Communications Workers of America, urged participants to support a boycott of T-Mobile, which he accused of being “one of the worst union busters in America.”

“We know boycotts can work,” Cummings said in a statement. “We need to keep showing these companies that there’s a cost for embracing Trump’s un-American actions.”

Gilbert encouraged Americans to remain active after the protests. “If you’ve never called your senator before, you do that. If you’ve never thought to boycott because of political issues, you do that,” she said. “It’s really asking everyone to activate just a little bit more and to stay engaged.”