Thousands attend “No Kings” protests

LILY MALAMIS
PHOTOGRAPHER

AUDREY HESTER
COPY EDITOR

11/3/2025

On June 14, 2025, there were protests across the country as a part of the No Kings movement. This movement comes from the efforts of numerous organizations throughout the United States, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and American Federation of Teachers, to protest the actions and policies of Donald Trump and his administration.  

On Oct. 18, 2025, another protest took place in hundreds of cities across the country—in every state and in the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Marina Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Estimates suggest that anywhere from five to seven million people attended, making it the most highly-attended protest in the United States since the previous No Kings protest in June.  

In Michigan, protests occurred in dozens of cities including Grand Rapids, Holland, Muskegon, Traverse City, Cadillac, Flint, Ann Arbor, the Detroit area, Lansing, Sault St. Marie, Mount Pleasant and Alma.  

“It is crucial for members of the public to protest. It is one of our Constitutional rights, and expressing our current events and policy is one of the most powerful ways to show politicians that we want change,” said Blaze Rybicki (‘26).  

“Attending protests offers a valuable opportunity to share your thoughts about important issues with the rest of a community. It also sends messages to elected officials about concerns that people would like to have addressed, which is critically important in a democracy,” said Sandy Hulme, the Arthur L Russell Professor of Political Science at Alma College.  

Alma College’s students will inherit the world that this administration, and subsequent ones, build. This means it is even more crucial that they participate in these types of events and interact with the world they will one day be leading themselves.  

“Alma students should care about protesting as we are asked to live lives that bring people together […] People protesting against inequality is one of the best ways to fight against corrupt or negligent governments that wish to hurt our poorest, most disenfranchised, or most vulnerable populations,” said Rybicki.  

“College students have a certain amount of power, as the next generation. Attending protests is a great way for us to learn about current events and learn how to organize future protests,” said Theo Fein (‘27).  

“Look to the college’s mission statement: ‘Alma College seeks to prepare graduates who think critically, serve generously, lead purposefully and live responsibly as stewards of the world they bequeath to future generations.’ I’d love to see our students find ways to lead their communities in making the world a better place for the future, and possibly taking part in a protest can be a part of that journey,” said Steuard Jensen, Professor of Physics at Alma College.  

“Protesting is not a sign of rebellion, it is a sign of patriotism. It is believing in the promise of America, that life liberty and the pursuit of happiness can come to all of us. The American dream is thought of as dead, but our generation will revive it with hard work and deep empathy,” said Rybicki. 

“Organize. Keep up to date on what’s going on in our country and in world politics if you can. If it is safe for you to be loud, why be silent?” said Fein.