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People participate in a "No Kings" national day of protest in New York on October 18, 2025.
(Photo by Timothy A.Clary/AFP via Getty Images)
Some Signs I Saw at the No Kings Rally
If we are going to save the country, it’s clear it’s going to have to be done by the millions of people like those who attended this rally.
Oct 19, 2025
The rally was in Livermore, California, a burgh of about 85,000, 50 miles to the east of San Francisco. This is a small, exemplary sampling of the many hundreds of signs carried by the many thousands of protesters.
“Memo to the fascists: peaceful protest is not violent insurrection.”
“ICE is Trump’s Gestapo.”
“When cruelty becomes normal, compassion becomes radical.”
“If you love America, this is how you show it.”
“No Dick-tators.”
“Super callous fragile racist lying nazi POTUS.”
“No faux-king way we’re gonna take this.”
“It’s bad enough that even introverts are here.”
“The reason you should care is not that it could happen to you, but that it’s already happening to others.”
“Hate never made a country great.”
“So many concerns; so little cardboard.”
“If I had a nickel for every time Trump lied, I wouldn’t need Social Security.”
“No kings. No felons. No pedophiles.”
“When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty.”
“No troops in our cities.”
“Only YOU can prevent fascist liars”
“If you’re doing what’s right, why do you need to wear masks?”
“Citizens, not subjects”
“In a democracy, the opposition is not ‘The enemy within’”
“I’d rather be a fierce patriot than a loyal subject."
“Sorry, Trump; we are NOT intimidated.”
“Trump: Is Netanyahu blackmailing you? Release the Epstein files.”
“Orange lies matter.”
“The best way to protect our rights is to exercise them.”
“We are the King family and even we say ‘No Kings.’”
“Protest while you still can.”
“Freedom is not a state of mind. It’s an act.”
“If you love America, this is how you show it.”
“Trump: you can’t arrest all of us.”
“I will defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”
“Nobody paid me to be here. This is the 'Free' part of ‘Freedom.”
“Ikea has better cabinets than Trump.”
“Democracy dies in silence.”
“USA; King-free since 1776.”
“Why does Trump release Santos but not the Epstein files?”
“Trump is the real outside agitator.”
“Liar. Con man. Pedophile.”
“Not antifa. Just anti-fascist.”
“I don’t bow, to Kings, or anybody.”
“Silence is complicity.”
“Hey, Kristi Noem: We’re not animals. Don’t treat us like your puppy.”
“OMG GOP WTF.”
“Stop pretending your racism is patriotism.”
“The manifesto of resistance is called ‘The Constitution.’”
“Freedom doesn’t wear a crown.”
“I believe Stormy Daniels.”
“Hope is stronger than fear.”
“I’m not taking civics lessons from a 34-time convicted felon.”
“Power of the people is stronger than the people in power.”
“In a time of pervasive lying, truth-telling becomes a revolutionary act.” ~George Orwell
Trump has learned how to neuter those centers of power that might challenge him: law firms, universities, media, etc. His press secretary has called Democrats, “terrorists” and “criminals,” a predicate for silencing or eliminating them. If we are going to save the country, it’s clear it’s going to have to be done by the millions of people like those who attended this rally. Get YOUR signs ready. It’s going to be a long march.
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Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It's never been this bad out there. And it's never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed, the threats we face are intensifying. We need your support now more than ever. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Will you donate now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
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Robert Freeman
Robert Freeman is the Founder and Executive Director of The Global Uplift Project, a leading provider of educational infrastructure for the developing world. He is the author of The Best One Hour History series whose titles include World War I, The Cold War, The Vietnam War, and many others.
The rally was in Livermore, California, a burgh of about 85,000, 50 miles to the east of San Francisco. This is a small, exemplary sampling of the many hundreds of signs carried by the many thousands of protesters.
“Memo to the fascists: peaceful protest is not violent insurrection.”
“ICE is Trump’s Gestapo.”
“When cruelty becomes normal, compassion becomes radical.”
“If you love America, this is how you show it.”
“No Dick-tators.”
“Super callous fragile racist lying nazi POTUS.”
“No faux-king way we’re gonna take this.”
“It’s bad enough that even introverts are here.”
“The reason you should care is not that it could happen to you, but that it’s already happening to others.”
“Hate never made a country great.”
“So many concerns; so little cardboard.”
“If I had a nickel for every time Trump lied, I wouldn’t need Social Security.”
“No kings. No felons. No pedophiles.”
“When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty.”
“No troops in our cities.”
“Only YOU can prevent fascist liars”
“If you’re doing what’s right, why do you need to wear masks?”
“Citizens, not subjects”
“In a democracy, the opposition is not ‘The enemy within’”
“I’d rather be a fierce patriot than a loyal subject."
“Sorry, Trump; we are NOT intimidated.”
“Trump: Is Netanyahu blackmailing you? Release the Epstein files.”
“Orange lies matter.”
“The best way to protect our rights is to exercise them.”
“We are the King family and even we say ‘No Kings.’”
“Protest while you still can.”
“Freedom is not a state of mind. It’s an act.”
“If you love America, this is how you show it.”
“Trump: you can’t arrest all of us.”
“I will defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”
“Nobody paid me to be here. This is the 'Free' part of ‘Freedom.”
“Ikea has better cabinets than Trump.”
“Democracy dies in silence.”
“USA; King-free since 1776.”
“Why does Trump release Santos but not the Epstein files?”
“Trump is the real outside agitator.”
“Liar. Con man. Pedophile.”
“Not antifa. Just anti-fascist.”
“I don’t bow, to Kings, or anybody.”
“Silence is complicity.”
“Hey, Kristi Noem: We’re not animals. Don’t treat us like your puppy.”
“OMG GOP WTF.”
“Stop pretending your racism is patriotism.”
“The manifesto of resistance is called ‘The Constitution.’”
“Freedom doesn’t wear a crown.”
“I believe Stormy Daniels.”
“Hope is stronger than fear.”
“I’m not taking civics lessons from a 34-time convicted felon.”
“Power of the people is stronger than the people in power.”
“In a time of pervasive lying, truth-telling becomes a revolutionary act.” ~George Orwell
Trump has learned how to neuter those centers of power that might challenge him: law firms, universities, media, etc. His press secretary has called Democrats, “terrorists” and “criminals,” a predicate for silencing or eliminating them. If we are going to save the country, it’s clear it’s going to have to be done by the millions of people like those who attended this rally. Get YOUR signs ready. It’s going to be a long march.
From Your Site Articles
- Organizers Ramp Up Push for Oct. 18 No Kings Actions Against 'Wannabe Dictator' Trump ›
- 1,800+ 'No Kings' Rallies Planned Across US as Trump Deploys Military to Crush Protests ›
- No Kings Movement Announces Next Day of Nationwide Actions for Oct 18 ›
- Millions Rise Up to Say in Unison: 'No Kings!' 'No Dictator!' ›
- As Trump Escalates Attacks on Dissent, Oct. 18 'No Kings' Protests Set to Be Even Bigger Than June ›
- 'No Kings' Rallies Against Trump Authoritarianism Could Be 'Largest Protest in US History' ›
- Opinion | On No Kings Day, a New America Came to Life | Common Dreams ›
Robert Freeman
Robert Freeman is the Founder and Executive Director of The Global Uplift Project, a leading provider of educational infrastructure for the developing world. He is the author of The Best One Hour History series whose titles include World War I, The Cold War, The Vietnam War, and many others.
The rally was in Livermore, California, a burgh of about 85,000, 50 miles to the east of San Francisco. This is a small, exemplary sampling of the many hundreds of signs carried by the many thousands of protesters.
“Memo to the fascists: peaceful protest is not violent insurrection.”
“ICE is Trump’s Gestapo.”
“When cruelty becomes normal, compassion becomes radical.”
“If you love America, this is how you show it.”
“No Dick-tators.”
“Super callous fragile racist lying nazi POTUS.”
“No faux-king way we’re gonna take this.”
“It’s bad enough that even introverts are here.”
“The reason you should care is not that it could happen to you, but that it’s already happening to others.”
“Hate never made a country great.”
“So many concerns; so little cardboard.”
“If I had a nickel for every time Trump lied, I wouldn’t need Social Security.”
“No kings. No felons. No pedophiles.”
“When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty.”
“No troops in our cities.”
“Only YOU can prevent fascist liars”
“If you’re doing what’s right, why do you need to wear masks?”
“Citizens, not subjects”
“In a democracy, the opposition is not ‘The enemy within’”
“I’d rather be a fierce patriot than a loyal subject."
“Sorry, Trump; we are NOT intimidated.”
“Trump: Is Netanyahu blackmailing you? Release the Epstein files.”
“Orange lies matter.”
“The best way to protect our rights is to exercise them.”
“We are the King family and even we say ‘No Kings.’”
“Protest while you still can.”
“Freedom is not a state of mind. It’s an act.”
“If you love America, this is how you show it.”
“Trump: you can’t arrest all of us.”
“I will defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”
“Nobody paid me to be here. This is the 'Free' part of ‘Freedom.”
“Ikea has better cabinets than Trump.”
“Democracy dies in silence.”
“USA; King-free since 1776.”
“Why does Trump release Santos but not the Epstein files?”
“Trump is the real outside agitator.”
“Liar. Con man. Pedophile.”
“Not antifa. Just anti-fascist.”
“I don’t bow, to Kings, or anybody.”
“Silence is complicity.”
“Hey, Kristi Noem: We’re not animals. Don’t treat us like your puppy.”
“OMG GOP WTF.”
“Stop pretending your racism is patriotism.”
“The manifesto of resistance is called ‘The Constitution.’”
“Freedom doesn’t wear a crown.”
“I believe Stormy Daniels.”
“Hope is stronger than fear.”
“I’m not taking civics lessons from a 34-time convicted felon.”
“Power of the people is stronger than the people in power.”
“In a time of pervasive lying, truth-telling becomes a revolutionary act.” ~George Orwell
Trump has learned how to neuter those centers of power that might challenge him: law firms, universities, media, etc. His press secretary has called Democrats, “terrorists” and “criminals,” a predicate for silencing or eliminating them. If we are going to save the country, it’s clear it’s going to have to be done by the millions of people like those who attended this rally. Get YOUR signs ready. It’s going to be a long march.
From Your Site Articles
- Organizers Ramp Up Push for Oct. 18 No Kings Actions Against 'Wannabe Dictator' Trump ›
- 1,800+ 'No Kings' Rallies Planned Across US as Trump Deploys Military to Crush Protests ›
- No Kings Movement Announces Next Day of Nationwide Actions for Oct 18 ›
- Millions Rise Up to Say in Unison: 'No Kings!' 'No Dictator!' ›
- As Trump Escalates Attacks on Dissent, Oct. 18 'No Kings' Protests Set to Be Even Bigger Than June ›
- 'No Kings' Rallies Against Trump Authoritarianism Could Be 'Largest Protest in US History' ›
- Opinion | On No Kings Day, a New America Came to Life | Common Dreams ›
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