No Kings Day 2.0: Power Belongs to the People
On October 18, 2025, nearly 7 million people across the world stood up with a single message: No Thrones. No Crowns. No Kings. From small towns to global capitals, from high schoolers to elders, a movement rooted in love, resistance, and collective memory swept the streets of more than 2,700 cities in one of the largest single-day protests in U.S. history.
A Tipping Point of Truth
Months after the first No Kings Day on June 14, 2025, which began as a national act of protest against authoritarianism, ICE raids, and the erosion of democratic norms, the October 18th action emerged as a full-scale uprising. It came in the wake of growing alarm over the second Trump administration’s crackdowns: militarized troop deployments, attacks on press and protesters, escalated prosecutions, and unrelenting assaults on marginalized communities.
It became clear to millions that this was no longer about politics. It was about the survival of democracy itself.
Cascadia Joins the Streets
From Eugene to Seattle to Vancouver, Cascadia rose again with clarity and conviction. In Portland, thousands gathered downtown, many dressed in yellow and carrying signs that spoke to justice, joy, and the refusal of empire. In Seattle, Constitution banners, Cascadia flags, and handmade art lined the streets. Statues of Liberty walked alongside families, frontline workers, and musicians, all united in a shared cry: we do not consent to dictatorship.
Despite heightened tensions nationwide, the gatherings across Cascadia remained largely peaceful, powerful, and creative. Organizers prioritized de-escalation and community care, and many cities reported zero arrests.
We Remember Who We Are
This movement has never been about one person or presidency. For many in the bioregion, the phrase "No Kings" evokes a deeper memory of resistance to colonial rule, corporate power, and environmental destruction. We remember that this land has never had kings, but has always had land stewards. We remember that real power lives in community. We remember that democracy is not guaranteed. It is a living agreement that must be cultivated and defended.
The Work Ahead
October 18 was not the end. As organizers continue to coordinate across issue areas, a nationwide rapid response network is forming to defend against rising authoritarian threats. Cascadia is uniquely positioned to lead in this moment. Not only in resistance, but in regeneration. Already, our communities are building the systems that will replace the failing ones: community-rooted governance, bioregional stewardship, solidarity economies, and cultural revival rooted in place rather than party.
In This Bioregion, We Resist Differently
We resist by remembering that the river holds more power than the dam. We resist by holding the tension between despair and possibility. No Kings Day 2.0 was not only an act of defiance. It was a commitment to design a future where power flows from the ground up. A future shaped not by rulers, but by relationship.
Take Action
Visit nokings.org to access safety guides, organizing tools, and upcoming events. Learn your rights. Keep showing up. Remember that we are not waiting for kings to fix this. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.
In service to people and place,
Ashley Bonn, M.S.Ed. (she/her)
Communication & Events Coordinator
Portland, OR (Chinook/Multnomah land)
