Taking Back the Crown

Parisa Bahrami • January 1, 2026

Centuries after the United States won its independence from Great Britain’s monarchy in the Revolutionary War, Americans have once again begun fighting for a country free of kings through a series of “No Kings” protests. The protests, held on June 14 and Oct. 18, were a part of a nationwide movement that sought to defend First Amendment rights and fight against President Donald Trump’s administration. Which protestors believe is unfairly detaining immigrants without warrants, increasing the cost of living and threatening to overtake elections (No Kings). Over 7 million Americans attended more than 2,700 protests held across the country, with 2 million more protestors than the previous No Kings Day on June 14 (National Broadcasting Company). Those who participated in the protests expressed feelings of indignation toward the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and National Guard deployment that flooded across the U.S., as well as cuts to federal programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid (CNN). On the other hand, Trump and his administration have defended these actions by saying they are necessary for the country in times of economic hardship and crisis, dismissing protestors that claim him to be a king or dictator. These issues are sparking political unrest as more individuals feel obligated to fight against these changes (NBC).

People of all ages, including students at Peninsula, participated in one of the thousands of No Kings protests across the country. Junior Abigail Choi, who was present at both the October and June protests, shared what the atmosphere was like at the October protest.

“[The atmosphere] was really positive– obviously the signs [we were holding] were [expressing] large topics, but it felt like everyone was happy and enjoyed being there. I wasn’t scared at all, especially because I was protesting in Torrance, and it was overall a great experience for [all the protestors].”

Beyond the surface-level aspects of the protest, there were still deeper values for why many students attended them. For instance, Senior Isaac Kim, who attended the June protest, described what he saw in the meaning of the protest’s title, “No Kings.”

“When I think of the phrase ‘No Kings,’ I think of Thomas Paine,” Kim said. “He wrote in [his pamphlet] Common Sense that in America, only the law is king. I believe that the slogan really embodies what America is and what it stands for. It was established in the country’s founding that the people have the ability to rule themselves and that we, as citizens, have our own autonomy and our own beliefs that we have the right to express.”

The idea of the law being the only “king” in the U.S. resonated with many who attended the No Kings protest. Slogans like “Democracy not Monarchy” and “The Constitution is not Optional” were circulated throughout the event (British Broadcasting Corporation). These slogans showcase how protestors aimed to highlight their freedom of speech and assembly as well as their fight against Trump’s idea of the Constitution, in which he is uncertain whether the values should be upheld or not (NBC).

There has still been some confusion on what the actual objective of the No Kings protests was. Junior Madalynn Olmos, who did not attend the protest, felt that the specifics on what the protest was initiated for were unclear in the media.

“Protests are definitely a great way to make change in the United States, but you should be clear on what you’re trying to change,” Olmos said. “So far I haven’t seen any other context on the protest except for the title, “No Kings.” If [protestors] made it more specific on what they were trying to accomplish, it would be easier to comprehend their goals.”

However, the principal goal of the No Kings protest, to emphasize the importance of democracy in the U.S. and to protect the rights of the people who make up the country, can be readily found. Based on this, many critics are warning Trump that his actions are threatening this democracy’s survival through these protests (BBC). As the country faces obstacles such as troop deployments in cities and the government shutdown, No Kings protestors persist in fighting for their rights as American citizens (CNN). The No Kings protests stood as a peaceful way for people to declare their opinions, and continue to stand as a message and lasting symbol for those who are affected by the measures of Trump’s administration (No Kings).