On Saturday, October 18, demonstrators around the United States and the world gathered to protest President Donald Trump’s policies. The recent “No Kings” protests followed a similar series of protests earlier in Trump’s term, including the first official “No Kings” marches in June.

The crowds were significant in their size, scope, creativity, and diverse causes. Below is an exploration of what protests looked like here in San Diego, across the United States, and beyond.

Astounding crowds in San Diego, around the US, and beyond

50,000 people filled the streets of downtown San Diego for the Waterfront Park protest, according to 10 News.

80,000 people in San Diego County protested altogether, with demonstrations spread across San Diego County. Demonstrators organized as far north as Carlsbad and Vista, close to CCHS in Carmel Valley, as far south as Chula Vista, out east in Ramona and Borrego Springs, and more.

Overall, around 2500 protests were organized around the US. The “No Kings” cause spread beyond America, too. Demonstrations occurred in Canadian border cities like Vancouver and Toronto, Central America, all over Europe, and in Australia.

A map of all official protest locations is available to view on the No Kings website.

From metropolises to small spaces, protesters created diverse, creative, and purposely entertaining displays

ABC 7 covered the variety of protests that happened around the United States and beyond. Major cities saw large marches, including in New York City’s Times Square, the Boston Common, and Grant Park in Chicago. State Capitol buildings, courthouses, and smaller public spaces also saw demonstrations.

Protesters brought creativity to each demonstration. Many carried banners and homemade signs, and bands played on the streets. On San Francisco’s Ocean Beach, hundreds of protesters arranged themselves to spell out “No King!” and other phrases.

“Some [San Diego protesters] were in like, inflatable costumes,” Grace Chaves, a journalism student at Point Loma Nazarene University, shared with PLNU’s student publication, The Point. “Honestly, it was really fun, and I wasn’t necessarily expecting that for a protest. … There were a lot more, like creative signs that I saw.”

These costumes have become a trend across the country – particularly, inflatable frogs. In Portland, Oregon, these have become a sign of resistance after Trump increased military presence there.

The humorous nature of some of these displays was intentional. Protesters intended to highlight what they called theatrics under Trump’s administration, with him characterizing American cities like Portland as “war zones”. “So much of what we’ve seen from this administration has been so unserious and silly that we have to respond with the same energy,” Glen Kalbaugh, a Washington protester donning a wizard hat and holding a sign with a frog on it, shared with ABC 7.

Protests featured a multitude of causes

For protesters in San Diego, popular concerns included deportations without due process, and the separation of families facing deportation; the federal government shutdown, leading to Americans being laid off without pay; and Proposition 50, the ballot measure to counter Republican states’ efforts to gain more House seats by temporarily redistricting California in favor of Democrats. (Prop 50 did pass in the Tuesday, November 4 election, with nearly 64% of voters in favor.)

Protesters also advocated for the constitutional rights to free speech and free press, an end to the deployment of troops to American cities, and the preservation of rights for women and the LGBTQ+ community.

Patriotic symbols, like American flags, filled the crowds. Overall, the atmosphere reflected concern and hope for the nation. “We’re here because we love America,” Senator Bernie Sanders said to a crowd in Washington. Sanders countered what Republican critics said about the protests, with House Speaker Mike Johnson calling them the “Hate America Rally”.

Why these protests mattered so much to people

Many protesters found camaraderie in the energized crowds. People who have been on the sidelines and wanted to oppose Trump developed more confidence after taking part. Jessica Yother, an Alabama mother of four, described Trump’s America as “an America that I don’t recognize”. But the march she attended in Birmingham gave her hope. “It was so encouraging,” Yother told ABC 7. “I walked in and thought, ‘Here are my people.’”

“Everyone was… getting along,” an anonymous protester shared with The Point. “It didn’t seem like the anger came from a place of hatred.” They observed people marching and smiling, and believed the atmosphere was one of love and acceptance. With bystanders waving from buildings above, many protesters felt a sense of unity.

The “No Kings” protests were certainly polarizing, as the events under Trump’s presidency have been. No matter what one’s view on the demonstrations are, we can acknowledge that they created momentum among concerned people. Now, we can watch to see where this momentum goes beyond the marches.