From Denver to Erie to Longmont, Coloradans turned out in the tens of thousands for No Kings Day, standing together against authoritarianism with laughter, costumes, and conviction.
No Kings Day, Denver, Oct. 18th, 2025, photo by Shavonne Blades
NO KINGS DAY: DENVER + ERIE
By Shavonne Blades
It was a day of love and joy, filled with color, laughter, and purpose. When it was time to name the photo files, I couldn’t help but giggle at the titles I needed to choose: Cookie Monster, a unicorn, a T-Rex. It fit the spirit of the day. But beneath the smiles, the message was clear: Americans are rejecting the authoritarianism of the current administration.
As a local indie, we couldn’t be in every town that had a protest (there were so many of them), but we did make it to Denver and Erie, and photographer Kenneth Wajda covered Longmont for us.
Colorado State Capitol, No Kings Day, Oct. 18th, 2025, photo by Shavonne Blades
Across the Front Range, the energy was undeniable. In Denver, more than 25,000 people are reported to have turned out—exceeding the June No Kings Day—and the march stretched for several blocks. Denver had a visible police presence, but the day remained peaceful throughout the protest. In Erie, at least a thousand Erieites turned out, and in Longmont, an estimated 6,000 joined in, an impressive turnout for a town of about 100,000.
No Kings Day, Erie, CO, Oct.18th, 2025, photo by Shavonne Blades
In Denver, we didn’t see many pro-Trump counter-protesters, and there weren’t many in Erie either—but in a smaller town, even a handful stood out more. Police presence was constant at the Erie protest, with officers repeatedly driving by, but they too remained peaceful. One man tried to start a fight and even put his hands on a protester, but the situation stayed calm as the protester walked away rather than react.
The most unsettling encounter came with two teenage boys proudly wearing MAGA hats. They were polite and cordial; that wasn’t the issue. What was troubling was their message. One of the boys asked why people were so focused on Trump, and the crowd told him it was because he’s been eroding the principles of democracy. He asked how Trump was doing that. When they explained Due Process, he asked, “Does everyone get Due Process? Even illegal immigrants? Pakistanis?”
It was a question that revealed more than it asked. The exchange was deeply troubling—not because of malice, but because it showed how far we’ve drifted from understanding the very Constitution so many claim to defend. Two elderly veterans, patient and kind, stepped in to continue the conversation. They’d seen this country fight fascism before. Let’s hope their words reached them.
It’s a strange balance; joy in the streets, gravity beneath it. It took Hitler just 53 days to dismantle Germany’s government. Trump has not succeeded yet, but the United States is slipping faster down the slope toward fascism.
Protests light the spark, but the real work begins when the marches end — in the daily, determined defense of democracy.
No Kings Day, Longmont, CO, Oct. 18th, 2025, photo by Kenneth Wajda
LONGMONT: RISES UP
By Kenneth Wajda, Photojournalist
The start time for the No Kings protest in Longmont was scheduled for 1:00 p.m. By noon, protesters were already assembling at 6th and Main, and others were beginning to fill Roosevelt Park.
No Kings Day, Longmont, CO, Oct. 18th, 2025, photo by Kenneth Wajda
By early afternoon, the crowd at Roosevelt Park—which had grown significantly—turned and marched toward Main Street, right past Colorado Chapter 434’s monument to Purple Heart veterans.
Along Main Street, for the next two hours, there was a steady cacophony of car horns, plus waves, peace signs, and thumbs up raised out of car windows and sunroofs to show support for the protesters. Some drivers even created their own signs and joined in with those who lined the main street from below 5th Street past 6th Street and up toward Longs Peak Avenue.
Crowds at the last No Kings rallies were estimated at 5,000 people. This event appeared even better attended—perhaps 6,000—many carrying signs and standing up to a Republican administration they feel has gone too far and is on the brink of destroying American democracy.
There was a small police presence. Two officers were parked next to the Pumphouse Brewery and were seen chatting with folks while standing beside their cruisers. The crowd was peaceful and respectful. At one point, a police cruiser drove down Main Street and received a thumbs up from protesters in the crowd.
The signs were direct, clever, and sometimes funny. The main message: America got rid of its last king in 1776, and there isn’t going to be another one. They want this administration to back off the ICE raids and military presence in U.S. cities. And they want Donald Trump to know they are not going to let an authoritarian regime rise in America without a fight—without standing up for democracy.
No Kings Day, Longmont, CO, Oct. 18th, 2025, photo by Kenneth Wajda
As the Purple Heart monument reads:
“My stone is red for the blood they shed. The medal I bear is my country’s way to show they care. If I could be seen by all mankind, maybe peace will come in my lifetime.”
No Kings Day, Denver, Colorado, Oct. 18th, 2025
Photos by Shavonne Blades
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No Kings Day, Longmont, Colorado, Oct. 18th, 2025
Photos by Kenneth Wajda
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No Kings Day, Erie, Colorado, Oct. 18th, 2025
Photos by Shavonne Blades
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