‘No Kings’ march returns to the streets for “Vote Early”

Mayor Ras Baraka joined hundreds in Newark for No Kings rally in downtown Newark on March 28, 2026. Photo credit, Josie Gonsalves for Public Square Amplified.

On October 17th, the No Kings movement will hold its next nationwide day of action under the theme “Vote Early,” pushing Americans to participate in early voting ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. Over 40 events are planned in New Jersey, including action in Newark, Weehawken, Montclair, Princeton, and New Brunswick, among other locations. Events will include opportunities to support and protect elections, connect with surrounding advocacy groups, and engage in other civic participation efforts. Following the upcoming movement, No Kings plans to discuss election defense, push for final voter turnout, and plan continued mobilization.

​In Newark, the grassroots organization People’s Organization for Progress (POP) will hold a rally at the Lincoln Statue, on 12 Springfield Ave, starting at 12 PM. The Newark-based organization has also been involved in all three previous No Kings demonstrations, dating back to June 2025.

​The South Orange and Maplewood-based grassroots organization SOMA Action is another group leading a local No Kings event. “October 17 is about making sure every person in this community has a plan to cast their ballot — and encouraging them to cast it early,” said Erika Malinoski, Co-President of SOMA Action. The organization plans to host the event at Spiotta Park in South Orange Village, starting at 12 PM.

Indivisible Ocean City, New Jersey, a local chapter of Indivisible, also plans to host a rally from 12 PM to 2 PM on the 9th St Causeway, from Ocean City to Somers Point. “Now, together, it's time to activate our power in the single most direct and strategic way we can: by turning historic people power into voter power and driving early voting and election protection on a massive No Kings scale,” the group said in a news release.

The upcoming protests follow three previous No Kings movements, which drew an estimated 20 million attendees in total across large-scale and local demonstrations.

The first No Kings movement began on June 14th, 2025, focusing on issues including the loss of civil rights, authoritarian policies, and corruption. Over 5 million people organized, coinciding with President Trump’s birthday and the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary parade. Just a few days earlier, Trump deployed over 2,000 National Guard troops to quell immigration protests in Los Angeles, prompting further interest in the No Kings movement.

The rally was followed by another in October of the same year, drawing nearly 7 million attendees, and then continued in March of 2026, marking the largest single-day nationwide demonstration in American history. Across all states, more than 8 million people arrived at over 3,300 events urged by issues including ICE’s fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, immigration policy, and the Iranian war, among other national matters.

“Since the 2024 election, I have spent much more time browsing the news. I have read all about the things Trump is doing that are tearing apart this country, such as giving billions to ICE and Israel, very little support for Ukraine, trying to rewrite our history, and more recently, blocking CNN from the White House. These have motivated me to take what action I can and make my voice feel heard,” said a student identified by the pseudonym John, who participated in the June and October 2025 No Kings protests. “I have not yet made plans to attend the upcoming protest, but I would very much like to participate”, he continued.

This October, the movement’s focus on early voting comes amid the midterm elections. Currently, the Republican Party holds both the House and Senate majorities by a slim margin, with the smallest number of seats in the House needed to control it—218 out of 435 voting members. In the Senate, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents have 53, 45, and 2 seats, respectively. Organizers state that the focus on voting will allow Americans to reclaim power and politically express themselves without intimidation, and No Kings pledged to invest in local communities to do so.

For young people who have participated in No Kings before, the movement offers an opportunity to connect with others and engage in politics together. Avery, a student who attended the 3rd No Kings rally in 2026, said, “I felt it was important to get out there. I was asked to chant during the march by one of my friends in my school’s YDSA chapter. There were people there ranging from communists and anarchists to “brunch liberals” to discontented soldiers and center-right people.” When asked about whether they would attend the upcoming No Kings rally, Avery said, “I’d be open to going.”

Beyond uniting those from diverse political backgrounds, younger participants see No Kings as a reminder that collective organization can lead to local and national change.

Lars, another student who participated in the 2025 No Kings protests with family, shared, “Every person who attends these makes a difference; every person counts. The message of No Kings has been represented around my community, and I will continue to stand with it.” Lars plans to attend the upcoming rally with family again, if possible.

​Drawing on his first No Kings protest, John recalled, “I remember standing outside Brian Fitzpatrick’s office in Bucks County, PA, with my dad, waving an American flag in my hand. It was cold and raining the entire day, yet we and hundreds of others stayed put and held up our signs for over 4 hours. We were located next to a busy intersection, and almost everyone who drove by honked their horns and yelled out the car window in support.”

​Ultimately, No Kings demonstrates that collective action can inspire continued civic engagement. “I hope that [young people] can take away that political participation starts at the ballot box. Protesting and organizing are fundamental parts of a democracy, and just like voting, they need to be used to maintain a democracy,” Avery continued. “I hope they see No Kings as an encouragement to get involved in more movements— or even organize their own.”

Find a local No Kings event near you.