Crowds of people lined Watson Park as part of Lawrence’s third “No Kings” protest, one of many being held Saturday across the country.
“No Kings” mobilized millions of protesters for the first time in June of 2025, and the nationwide protests have continued as many members of the public continue to speak out against the Trump administration.
Protesters began showing up before the protest was set to begin at 3 p.m., gathering on the corner of Sixth and Kentucky streets before expanding down the blocks and across the way at Constant Park. Most hoisted up signs or flags while others brought their children and dogs. Some even dressed up as “King Trump,” fit with orange makeup, a crown and a robe.
After this year’s ICE activity, including ICE coming to Lawrence, and Trump’s war in Iran, protesters had multiple concerns on their minds.
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“Our country’s going downhill fast,” said Mary Ann Tindell, who has lived in Lawrence for 15 years. “This is the worst I’ve ever seen it, and I was here through the Vietnam War and all that.”
Tindell is 80 years old, and this protest was her first. Tindell hopes for Congress to listen to the protesters and ensure people in power are being held accountable for their actions.
For Vivian Otto, a sophomore at Johnson County Community College, being at the protest hit personally.
“I’m a first-generation immigrant. My mom and dad came here all the way from East Africa in pursuit of a greater life,” Otto said. “Just seeing the messaging that is coming out about immigrants is horrible.”
This was also Otto’s first protest, offering her a chance to “become part of the next generation who eventually makes a change.”
“I feel very brave, and I feel proud. I feel proud that so many people showed up,” Otto said. “I feel powerful, you know? I feel like I have a voice and a say.”
Chris McKitterick, who has lived in Lawrence for more than 25 years, also felt a personal connection to the protest. McKitterick’s young son sat atop McKitterick’s shoulders, holding his own handmade sign.
“When he was born, the world was not quite in this position, and now we’re looking forward to what? A collapsing economy, United States being more and more isolated from the world, and something that’s looking a lot more like a world war building,” McKitterick said.
“I do not want him to grow up in that, so very personal feelings about all of this, besides not wanting to live in a world like that myself, means a lot more when you have a little person who didn’t ask for that.”
McKitterick has attended past No Kings protests, and while he remarked that this one felt “less happy” as “things are getting worse in the government,” he was pleased to see more young people attending.
Brothers Xavier and Daniel Murray, both recent KU alumni and Lawrence residents, voiced more of the young person’s perspective and encouraged their generation to get out and get involved.
“There’s one thing about posting online, and there’s another about actively going out and making face-to-face interactions and be like, ‘Oh, OK, we’re all in this together,’” Xavier said.
Daniel agreed, stressing the importance of community.
“Definitely, we need more young people out here,” Daniel said. “If you’re a young person who is considering going to a protest, but you’re scared, or you don’t know somebody, this is the friendliest place you can go, like everybody is smiling, people are happy to talk.”
“Just show up. You don’t need to have all your ducks in a row. You don’t need to have a sign, you don’t need to have a speech prepped,” Xavier added. “You don’t need to know the slogans, you don’t even need to shout. You can just be a body there, and that will help the protest.”
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Hannah Loub (she/her), reporting intern with The Lawrence Times since January 2026, is a journalism and global and international studies major at the University of Kansas. She is currently the lead digital producer for KUJH and worked as a beat reporter for the University Daily Kansan. Read her work for the Times here.
Nathan Kramer (he/him), a multimedia student journalist for The Lawrence Times since August 2024, is a senior at Free State High School. He is also a news photo editor for Free State’s student publication, where he works as a videographer, photographer and motion designer. See more of his work for the Times here.
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