The message was loud and clear across the country this Saturday. Americans took to the streets by the thousands for the “No Kings” protests, creating a stark split screen of peaceful, star-studded solidarity in the Midwest and intense clashes on the West Coast.

The Flagship Rally in Minnesota

Saint Paul hosted the massive flagship event, drawing major political and cultural heavyweights. Bruce Springsteen took the stage at the Minnesota State Capitol to perform “Streets of Minneapolis,” anchoring a lineup that included Governor Tim Walz, Senator Bernie Sanders, Representative Ilhan Omar, and acting legend Jane Fonda.

A Nationwide Chorus

The energy in Saint Paul rippled outward. Rallies popped up in states from Florida to Washington state, and even internationally in Rome. The crowds were diverse and determined. People lined main streets in lawn chairs, handed out water, and cheered as passing cars honked in support.

In Washington D.C., protesters banged on overturned buckets to a rhythmic chant telling Congress to do its job. The visuals were just as colorful. The crowd featured everything from waving Palestinian flags to people dressed in the red robes from The Handmaid’s Tale and even an inflatable Pikachu costume.

The handmade signs captured the mood of the crowds:

• Nashville, Tennessee: “NO KINGS, YAS QUEENS!”
• Reno, Nevada: “He’s gone too far.”
• West Bloomfield, Michigan: “We the People have had enough!” carried by 73-year-old Robin Gillis, who marched with her dog, Elly. As Gillis told the local press, “We love America, and we are the real patriots, here.”

The White House Pushback

The administration is brushing off the nationwide demonstrations. When asked about the crowds, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson dismissed the movement entirely. She stated, “The only people who care about these Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions are the reporters who are paid to cover them.”

Clashes in Los Angeles

While most of the country saw peaceful marches, the situation in Los Angeles turned violent. By Saturday evening, the LAPD declared an unlawful assembly near the Metropolitan Detention Center.

Things escalated quickly along Alameda Street. The Department of Homeland Security reported that two federal officers were hit with cement blocks and required medical attention, leading to two arrests for assaulting federal law enforcement. In response, federal authorities used non-lethal measures to push back crowds that had been repeatedly warned not to throw objects or attempt to tear down a gate.

By the end of the night, reporters on the ground saw dozens of people zip-tied, with police estimating that up to 60 individuals were detained in the fallout.