Nevada’s streets swelled with voices and purpose as thousands joined the unprecedented “No Kings” protests, challenging the actions of President Donald Trump’s administration. On a sunlit Saturday, Nevadans from all walks of life marched boldly but peacefully, determined to defend democratic principles — and prove that in the Silver State, no one wears a crown (even if the hairdo’s impressive).
A Statewide Wave of Protest
- “No Kings” wasn’t just a Nevada affair; it was a movement echoing nationwide, with an estimated 2,700 protests held across the country and millions participating. But in Nevada, nearly a dozen rallies rose up, dotting locations from Reno to Las Vegas, Carson City, Elko, Pahrump, and Mesquite, according to the official “No Kings” website.
The biggest turnout? Downtown Reno, where organizers pegged attendance at a jaw-dropping 18,000, according to the Reno Gazette Journal. Carson City demonstrations were counted in the hundreds — some say several hundred, others put it above a thousand, as reported by Carson Now.
Las Vegas Finds Its Voice (and Keeps Its Cool)
Las Vegas was hardly left behind in the action. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department estimated 2,000 protesters gathered downtown, rallying peaceably under the Indivisible Las Vegas banner. If you recall June’s inaugural “No Kings” rally, which drew 8,000 people, this event was part of a multiplying movement — and just one of four scheduled in the metro area that Saturday.
Later in the afternoon, the Las Vegas Strip played host to its own protest, with 700 people amassing outside the New York, New York casino — and not a single arrest in sight. Indeed, Metro Police reported only one instance of disorderly conduct among downtown attendees. The atmosphere was peaceful and unmistakably diverse, uniting Nevadans of all ages, ethnicities, and abilities. (No glitter cannons, but plenty of democratic spirit.)
- Metro officers in riot helmets lined closed streets, barring both cars and more rallygoers from entering. Kathy Blair, an Indivisible Las Vegas organizer, criticized what she termed an overreaction: “They just want to flex their muscle.”
- Blair couldn’t help but offer a touch of dry comic relief, observing the law enforcement presence perched on the rooftop: “There are actually fewer snipers compared to the June event,” she quipped, adding, “They’re wasting taxpayer dollars up there.”
- According to Blair, the visible show of law enforcement may have chilled turnout: “I guarantee a lot of people did not come out because they were scared of law enforcement’s presence. A lot of people didn’t RSVP because they didn’t want to put their name down.”
What’s Behind the Outcry?
The grievances were as varied as the signs waved in the Nevada breeze. Protesters expressed deep concerns, including:
- Disappearing immigrants at the hands of officers
- The deployment of federal troops into US cities
- Allegations that the Justice Department had been ordered to target political enemies
- Efforts to roll back health care and social services
- Defunding medical research
- What federal judges have described as an “unprecedented disregard for the rule of law”
One attendee summed it up, “We feel like we had to come out. I think the biggest thing is free speech, the (Jimmy) Kimmel thing, the Pentagon press thing. I can’t believe it.” Apparently, free speech is as Nevada as neon and slot machines.
Support was widespread for Congressional Democrats, who at the time were locked in a funding standoff that shuttered the government for nearly three weeks — their focus being a push to renew Obamacare subsidies.
Unprecedented Numbers, Unbowed Purpose
Throughout these gatherings, all three of Nevada’s Democratic U.S. House members addressed crowds outside the Lloyd George Federal Courthouse, though only those closest could actually hear them thanks to street and sidewalk restrictions. Still, that didn’t dampen the mood. Despite closed roads, riot helmets, and police lines, the protests remained overwhelmingly peaceful. The “No Kings” message was clear: Nevadans reject authoritarian overreach, and they’re not afraid to say it — as long as the event has a permit (and, fiddlingly, sidewalks aren’t blocked).
In the end, the “No Kings” protests became more than just rallies. For Nevada, it was a chorus of voices, a patchwork of beliefs, and a living lesson in civic participation. The crowds may disperse, but the message hangs in Nevada’s sage-scented air: this is no kingdom, and power belongs with the people. Who’s ready for the next chapter?
John is a curious mind who loves to write about diverse topics. Passionate about sharing his thoughts and perspectives, he enjoys sparking conversations and encouraging discovery. For him, every subject is an invitation to discuss and learn.
