Thousands rally in Kansas City at second “No Kings” demonstration
On Saturday afternoon, hundreds (and by some accounts thousands) of people gathered at the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri, for the second wave of the nationwide “No Kings” protests — a coordinated effort of demonstrations held in over 2,600 U.S. locations. ([Reuters][1])
On Saturday afternoon, hundreds (and by some accounts thousands) of people gathered at the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri, for the second wave of the nationwide “No Kings” protests — a coordinated effort of demonstrations held in over 2,600 U.S. locations. (Reuters)
The local event, organized by Indivisible Kansas City’s founder Beverly Harvey, kicked off around 2 p.m. and emphasized that the movement was about defending democracy — not creating a spectacle. “We’re not going to bow down to a dictator,” she told the crowd. “We’re going to rise up… until this dictatorship is gone.” (KCUR)
Attendees brought creative signs, costumes and props to the Plaza: among them unicorn outfits, dinosaur suits, and a person in an oversized green “Shrek” costume. One attendee, Michael Bentley of Olathe, told the local reporters:
“We just want to make sure marginalized people feel heard… they’re being stripped away.” (KCUR)
The protest focused on concerns about what organizers and participants described as the current administration’s expanding executive power, weakened institutions, and threats to civil rights — including immigration enforcement crackdowns and cuts to social services. Harvey said organizers believed the protest was necessary amid a protracted federal government shutdown and heightened tensions over government-action in cities. (KCUR)
While nationwide organizers estimated the total turnout at nearly 7 million participants across the U.S. on Saturday, including this event in Kansas City, no official local crowd-count was released. (Reuters) Kansas City’s rally was attended by a broad cross-section of citizens — longtime activists, former Republicans, parents with strollers, and students — indicative of the protest’s emphasis on inclusivity.
The local police department and city officials coordinated with the organizers to manage traffic and ensure public safety, treating the protest as a planned gathering with standard protest procedures. (Axios) By the end of the afternoon, there were no major incidents or arrests reported in Kansas City.
Despite the peaceful tone, the demonstrations are occurring within a highly polarized national climate. Republican leadership, including Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House, criticized the “No Kings” protests as rooted in a Marxist or anti-American ideology, calling them “hate-America rallies.” (Politico)
Back at the Plaza, though, the mood was energized. Protesters chanted, waved U.S. flags, and handed out signs and stickers to passers-by. Many expressed a firm belief that playing defense for democracy was not enough — they said they were there to build momentum and sustained civic action.
As one participant, Naomi Shipp, put it:
“We’re in bad trouble… I am here because I don’t know what else to do.” (KCUR)
The Kansas City “No Kings” gathering underscores a broader shift in American civic engagement: when protest is not just against a policy or candidate but framed as defending a political system. Whether this wave of demonstrations will translate into policy change, electoral impact or sustained organizing remains a question. But for Saturday at least, the message was clear: the crowd meant to be seen, heard, and counted.