Millions of people across the country are preparing to join No Kings 2, a nationwide day of protest organized by the 50501 Movement and local partners. In Charlotte, Indivisible CLT and other community organizations will host a rally and 1.1-mile march on Saturday, October 18, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at First Ward Park (301 E. 7th St.).
The No Kings movement began earlier this year with a coordinated series of protests held on June 14, coinciding with Flag Day, the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, and President Donald Trump’s birthday. Organizers said that event, which drew an estimated five million participants nationwide, was the largest single-day protest mobilization since Trump took office. Demonstrations filled city streets from New York to Los Angeles, with marchers carrying American flags and banners declaring “No Kings.”
The protests were organized by the 50501 Movement, a national coalition of volunteers that stands for democracy and against what it calls the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration. The name 50501 represents “50 states, 50 protests, one movement.” The group’s website states that it was founded by “everyday Americans” who reject political corruption, voter suppression, and the concentration of executive power.
Organizers say the October protests come in direct response to a wave of new federal actions since the summer, including the deployment of the National Guard to several U.S. cities, the government shutdown and renewed efforts to centralize executive authority. Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff, recently claimed during a live CNN interview that Trump had “plenary authority” to send federal forces anywhere in the country. Legal experts have described that phrase as meaning “broadly construed and often limitless” power.
According to the No Kings website, the movement’s message is rooted in the nation’s founding ideals. “The president thinks his rule is absolute,” it states. “But in America, we don’t have kings, and we won’t back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty.” All No Kings events are explicitly nonviolent. Participants are expected to de-escalate any potential confrontation and act lawfully. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, are prohibited.
In Charlotte, Saturday’s rally will include speakers, music, and opportunities to connect with local advocacy organizations. A 1.1-mile march through Uptown will follow. Organizers are asking participants to support the local nonprofit Nourish Up, which fights food insecurity, by donating online at nourishup.org/donate.
Additional No Kings rallies will take place the same day in Concord, Cornelius, Gaston County, Denver, Monroe, and Waxhaw. A complete list of protest sites is available at nokings.org.
For more information about the Charlotte march, visit indivisibleclt.org/events.