In Kentucky’s second largest city of Lexington, the NO KINGS rally was lively but peaceful, filling the city’s courthouse plaza and ending with a march through downtown.
Outside Kentucky’s state Capital in Frankfort, a similar atmosphere…chanting, music and dancing, bubbles and demonstrators dressed in costumes or wearing inflatable mascots. The events felt much like a festival.
Gina Moralaes said having her voice heard was the most American thing she could ever do.
“I think a lot of people are so discouraged that they’ve just shut their mouths, and silence is deadly," Moralaes said.
The nationwide rallies were organized to oppose the policies and what demonstrators see as the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration. Organizers coined the slogan "No Kings" at their first event this past summer to symbolize a rejection of autocratic rule and a defense of democratic principles.
Protestors accuse the Trump administration of government overreach, acting with disregard for the Constitution, ignoring court orders, and attempting to consolidate power.
Jerry Thiedich attended the Lexington rally and held a sign that read 'I protested in 1972, Deja Vu.' Thiedich said he wanted to tell lawmakers "we want equality and good things to happen to everybody, not just the rich people."
Congressman Andy Barr released a statement on Friday in regards to Trump's actions in office and the NO KINGS protests:
President Trump dominated the 2024 election in Kentucky and is doing everything that Kentuckians sent him back to the White House to do: cutting taxes, securing the border, ending wars, and Making America Great Again. I’m honored to work with him to enact the America First Agenda.
29 NO KINGS rallies were held across Kentucky.
While we are waiting for official numbers, The Lexington Herald Leader estimates several thousand marched through downtown Lexington to cap off the event.