Rallies organised by the No Kings network took place in cities and communities across the United States on Saturday, with organisers encouraging voters to cast their ballots early ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
Hundreds of events were scheduled nationwide. While organisers described the demonstrations as nonpartisan, the gatherings were part of a broader movement that has staged marches and protests for nearly two years in opposition to President Donald Trump and his administration.
In Washington, a band performed for a crowd estimated at several hundred people gathered near the Lincoln Memorial. Despite the cold weather, attendees danced to the music while holding signs carrying messages including “VOTE EARLY” and “HANDS OFF MY VOTE!”
In Atlanta, City Councilman Michael Julian Bond urged participants to encourage friends, relatives, and other members of their communities to vote.
“The Constitution gives you one power, right? That is the power to vote. Are you gonna use that power?” he asked the crowd.
“You don’t see Superman giving up his power,” Bond continued. “You don’t see Black Panther giving up his power. You don’t see Wonder Woman giving up her magic lasso. So why would you give up your right, your power, your obligation to vote? Be a super hero, use your power. Go to the polls and vote.”
The demonstrations came amid heightened political and legal disputes over voting procedures and election security.
Trump has for years expressed scepticism about mail-in voting and has repeatedly claimed, without evidence, that fraud involving mail ballots contributed to his defeat in the 2020 presidential election.
The Trump administration escalated its challenge to mail voting this week when the Justice Department sued California election officials. The federal government is seeking a court order preventing the state from counting certain mail-in ballots cast by people it has identified as “likely” noncitizens until their immigration status can be verified.
The Justice Department issued another warning on Friday, saying local officials involved in processing and counting ballots submitted by voters suspected by the federal government of being noncitizens could face criminal investigations and possible prosecution.
The developments have drawn concern from Democratic lawmakers.
Earlier on Friday, Democratic Senators Alex Padilla of California, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Dick Durbin of Illinois sent a letter to Attorney General Todd Blanche, asking the Justice Department to pledge that it would not seize ballots or other election-related materials before the midterm election results are formally certified.
