Thousands of No Kings protests held for nationwide early voting ‘day of action’

Thousands of “No Kings” protests are being held across the country on Saturday for a “nationwide day of action” amid the start of the early voting period in many states.

Previous country-wide protest days led by the No Kings Coalition have been aimed at denouncing President Trump and his administration’s policies. The Oct. 17 day of action was announced by the organizing group last month as a coordinated effort to boost early voting mobilization.

At an event in Washington, D.C., protesters marched from the White House to the U.S. Capitol carrying a banner with the message “Your vote is your voice.” Others held signs that said “Pro-American, anti-Trump” and “Hands off my vote.”

At an event in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday, local civic engagement group Texas Organizing Project representative Teresa Cox urged Texas voters to cast their vote during the early voting period, which kicks off in the Lone Star State on Monday.

“Voting is one of the most important ways we participate in our democracy, so learn about the issues, research the candidates and make your own informed decisions because your vote belongs to you,” she told the gathered crowd, according to feed shared by local outlet ABC8 .

“Not a political party, not an organization, not anybody standing behind a microphone, but you,” she continued. “We must continue showing up, asking questions, educating our neighbors and holding our institutions accountable because democracy isn’t something we practice every few years; it’s something we participate in every day.”

At an Atlanta rally, city council member Michael Julian Bond encouraged the crowd to exercise their civic duty during Georgia’s early voting period , which runs from Oct. 13-30.

“The biggest lie that’s been told recently is that Election Day is in November. No, Election Day is early voting,” he said in a speech shared on the No Kings Coalition’s website . “Every day of early voting is Election Day.”

In March, over 3,000 “No Kings” demonstrations were held across the country in response to the Trump administration’s decision to begin military operations against Iran.

At two nationwide organizing days last year, organizers said around five million people turned out last June and seven million people came out last October to protest the Trump administration.