Protesters took to the streets to speak out against the policies of President Donald Trump’s administration in “No Kings Day” rallies around the country on October 18. According to CBS News, nearly seven million people attended the more than 2,700 events planned from coast to coast to sound off against everything from ICE raids, the deployment of National Guard troops in the nation’s cities to the administration’s attacks on the media.
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Some Republican leaders went on the offensive, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, who called the protests “Hate America” rallies during an October 17 press conference. But most of the footage from the “No Kings” events appeared to show peaceful exercises in free speech.
According to a report from the NYPD, over 100,000 people showed up to protest without incident in New York City:
Thousands who turned out to protest in Orlando, Florida didn’t appear to be spreading violence.
But Black people’s reactions to the protests were mixed. Some on social media said they were sitting this one out, like one TikToker who made it plain that she had already done her part to protest with her vote in the November 2024 election.
“And as a Blk woman I’m supporting with prayers because I already went out in November,” she captioned a videoo of her doing her makeup.
Another Black TikToker argued that while Black people support the idea of the protests, we can’t afford to put our lives on the line in the current political climate.
“Just know that we are standing in solidarity with you. Just know that we are with you in spirit, but we cannot physically be out on the front lines because they will be using us as target practice,” she said. “I’m sure that you are well aware of your privilege and I need you to use it immediately.”
But one TikToker said that now is not the time for Black people to sit on the sidelines, especially when the administration’s policies are directly impacting our communities.
“All y’all Black people that’s saying ‘Why is Black people protesting? Y’all Black folks need to stay at home,’ this is our home,” he said. “When you stay home, I want you to remember your side of history. Because every day when we wake up in D.C., in Chicago, in Memphis, in LA, in Portland, we in the thick of it every f*ing day. “
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