In Washington D.C., Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Chris Murphy of Connecticut spoke. Bill Nye, the beloved children’s show host, also gave a speech slamming Trump and his cabinet for failing to accept “basic scientific facts.”
“They do not promote the progress of science. They suppress it, to the detriment of our health, well being, and international competitiveness,” he said. “It is a formula for failure.”
Fired U.S. Agency for International Development workers also joined the No Kings rally at the capital, including Amanda Nature.
Nature, 41, of Washington told NBC News: “The common adage is that 50% of the country voted for this. But 50% of the country didn’t vote for a government shutdown and the dismantlement of the government and services that people rely on.”
In Santa Monica, California, former second gentleman Doug Emhoff shared a photo of himself with his son Cole at the No Kings protest.
Protesters march at a No Kings protest on Saturday in Chicago. Scott Olson / Getty Images
People take part in a No Kings protest in Las Vegas on Saturday.Ty ONeil / AP
In Chicago — where high-profile clashes between residents and federal immigration authorities have unfolded in recent weeks — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker shared a defiant speech.
He called out Trump and Homeland Security adviser Stephen Miller for “coming for the immigrants, and for Black and brown people, and for LGBTQ people and for their political opponents.”
“History will judge us by where we choose to stand right now, today. Future generations will ask: ‘What did we do when fellow human beings faced persecution? When our rights were being abridged? When our Constitution was under attack?’” Pritzker asked. “They’ll want to know whether we stood up or we stayed silent.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren addressed thousands at the Boston Common, saying: “Standing up to a wannabe dictator? That is patriotism. Peacefully protesting to protect our democracy? That is patriotism!”
Overall, the protests have been peaceful, though some leaders, including in Texas, have said they would mobilize the National Guard to monitor for potential unrest.