Thousands of protestors of all ages filled Penn State’s Old Main Lawn on Saturday afternoon as part of the nationwide “No Kings” Day of Action, a coordinated, nonviolent movement opposing President Donald Trump’s administration.
More than 2,500 such events were held across the United States, uniting millions of protesters under the “No Kings” banner. The day of action, organizers said, aimed to reaffirm constitutional democracy and reject the concentration of power in the hands of any one leader.
The local rally was organized by Keystone Indivisible, in coordination with a coalition of national organizations including the ACLU, American Federation of Teachers, Common Defense, Human Rights Campaign, Indivisible, League of Conservation Voters, MoveOn, National Nurses United, Public Citizen and the Service Employees International Union.
The event began shortly after noon, with attendees filling the lawn in front of Old Main to hear from community organizers, union representatives and university faculty. Organizers estimated the attendance at 3,000.
Many participants carried signs reading “Billionaires are parasites,” “No kings, No billionaires, No tyranny,” “Hands off Mother Earth,” and “Impeach, Convict, Remove,” to name a few.
Throughout the rally, the crowd broke into chants and songs demanding justice, accountability and Trump’s impeachment.
“This is bigger than political parties,” Keystone Indivisible leadership team volunteer Christine Warner said. “The administration is defying court orders, deporting American citizens, disappearing people off the streets, and using our tax dollars to fund power grabs while cutting services that working families depend on every day. This country doesn’t belong to billionaires and strongmen, it belongs to the people. Enough is enough.”
Another Keystone volunteer, Maren Larson, urged the crowd to lead with optimism and solidarity.
“We lead with hope, not fear,” she said. “Authoritarians want us to feel powerless. They rely on fear and division to keep people from showing up. Well, I guess we showed them. When we come together, we build power and change outcomes.”
Other speakers included Dotty Delafield of Keystone Indivisible’s action team; Matt Yarnell, president of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania; and Michelle Rondino-Colocino, a Penn State professor and president of the university’s American Association of University Professors chapter. Each speaker emphasized the movement’s focus on democratic participation, constitutional law and equality.
“This movement is about protecting democracy for everyone,” Rondino-Colocino said. “It’s about showing up, staying engaged, and refusing to be silent in the face of injustice.”
After more than an hour of speeches, performances and chants, the demonstrators began marching through downtown State College. The crowd, which stretched for several blocks, moved along College Avenue, South Garner Street, Beaver Avenue and Allen Street before returning to campus.
Marchers largely remained on sidewalks, waited at traffic lights and kept the protest peaceful. Supportive honks and cheers greeted them from onlookers and passing cars. There were no apparent counter-protests in the area.
Saturday’s event marked the second nationwide “No Kings” protest. The first took place in June, when demonstrators across the country, including in State College, rallied against what they described as ”authoritarian politics” and an attempt by Trump to turn his birthday celebration into a “military parade-style coronation.” That initial day of action drew an estimated 5 million participants across all 50 states.
Organizers reiterated that the “No Kings” movement is ongoing and rooted in nonviolent resistance. Volunteers trained in de-escalation worked with local partners and State College police to ensure community safety throughout the day.
The march concluded and the crowd dispersed shortly after 2 p.m.
“We believe in a multiracial, inclusive democracy – one where everyone has equal rights and power, no matter who they are or where they live,” Larson said. “Democracy only works when ordinary people stand up and make their voices heard.”
