Reno's No Kings rally draws 18,000 protesters Saturday

About 18,000 people attended the Oct. 18 "No Kings" rally in downtown Reno, organizers announced Saturday afternoon.

Rallygoers gathered today in Reno’s City Plaza near the metal “Believe” structure to protest what they consider overreach by President Donald Trump.

It was part of about 2,700 “No Kings” rallies planned nationwide with millions anticipated to hit the streets.

Some Republicans are calling the protests unpatriotic. House Speaker Mike Johnson said they are being driven by “the pro-Hamas wing and the Antifa people.”

No Kings organizers say such rhetoric has inspired a spike of interest.

“The minute they started lying and scaremongering about our events, our numbers went ballistic,” said Kimberly Carden of Indivisible Northern Nevada.

Reno police report 4 medical incidents and 1 arrest at No Kings rally

Reno police reported one arrest and four medical calls at the No Kings rally.

Officer Christopher Johnson said the arrest was for an individual with a felony and misdemeanor warrant.

Organizers 'beyond happy' at turnout for Reno No Kings rally

"It's always a surprise to see how many folks turn out, but then again, we knew it was growing and going to be huge — bigger than last time,” Carden said.

“People are so angry at this regime, as well as some of our elected officials who continue to capitulate.”

She said people in Nevada are hurting financially because of Trump administration policies and that it’s likely to get worse.

The crowd size “takes our breath away,” Carden said, “but then we think ‘well, of course this huge crowd showed up.’”

Carden said that Indivisible Northern Nevada and its partner organizations — 50501 Northern Nevada, Indivisible Carson City, Bans Off Our Bodies, Biggest Little Action Group, the Northern Nevada Central Labor Council and Third Act Nevada — are grateful to everyone who attended.

"We are beyond happy that this was such a joyous and unifying event for our community,” she said. “This was the largest, lawful, nonviolent protest (nationwide) in American history, and Northern Nevadans showed up in droves to be a part of it. So many different people coming together with one voice to say ‘No Kings.’ It was incredible."

'All of it, really'

When asked why she attended Saturday’s “No Kings” rally in Reno, Rebel McAtee said, “It’s all of it, really.”

She gave a sigh to indicate the breadth of concerns she has with the Trump administration.

“It’s immigration,” McAtee said. “It’s using our money to fund Argentina but not pay for health care in America.”

Her children Torin, 13, and Emery, 10, chimed in with their own concerns. Torin held a sign reading, “Power to the people, not over the people.”

Giving a hint to her name, Rebel said, “I come from a political family so (bringing the family to a protest) is how I was raised. I want my kids to think about what’s going on in the world with (Trump) trying to be a king when it’s supposed to be ‘we the people’ and him ignoring all of our laws and walking over all over the Constitution.”

Trump 'not helping out his own country,' says rallygoer

Jo Figueroa brought her elementary-school-age daughter and two cousins to the “No Kings” rally Saturday in Reno to help them understand that what the Trump administration is doing is not how this nation is supposed to work.

“Just like it says here,” she said, pointing to words on her daughter’s handmade sign: “No thrones, only peace and love.”

She fears her family’s rights are in danger, and she also said she doesn’t understand why President Donald Trump is helping out other countries like Argentina.

“But he’s not helping out his own country, the communities right here. What about all of us that need it?” 

Woman goes topless at Reno No Kings rally to advocate for women's rights

Danielle Beasom captured some attention when she stood on a wall on the edge of City Plaza during the “No Kings” rally Saturday and took off her top.

Underneath were strategically placed “No Trump” stickers. She hoisted an American flag above her head with two hands.

Next to her was a music speaker playing songs by Bob Marley, Ice Cube, Prince and others.

“I've noticed huge censorship on women's bodies and women's rights — abortion — being attacked,” she said.

“I feel like the woman's body is always heavily regulated, but even more so in fascism. And I feel like coming out here and being a little risqué is a really good way to protest and push back against basically getting put into ‘The Handmaid's Tale,’” she added, referring to Margaret Atwood’s book about women’s lives under an authoritarian government.

Veteran at Reno's No Kings rally: Democracy 'under threat'

Veteran George Bush — yes, the same name as the presidents — said he attended Saturday’s “No Kings” rally in downtown Reno in part because he doesn’t respect President Donald Trump.

“I've got something personal against the current president because he dodged the draft five times,” he said. “I went to Vietnam because I felt it was our duty. His absence — his failure to make that one choice — to me describes his total character.”

Bush was impressed by the turnout filling City Plaza, the Virginia Street Bridge over the Truckee River and surrounding streets.

“I came out,” he said, “because I strongly believe that the nation is under threat — the democracy part of our nation — is under threat by a man I will never ever respect.”

Trump administration doesn't fit with conservative values, says Republican

Andrew Morss wore a Revolutionary War-era outfit to the “No Kings” rally Saturday in downtown Reno to stand up for the Constitution.

“I'm a Republican,” he said. “I voted for (Donald) Trump twice. But what he’s doing to the country is not what we fought for.”

How Trump is acting does not fit with conservative values, Morss said.

“We’re seeing constitutional rights being eroded, we’re seeing the boundaries of the executive branch being stretched beyond what we’ve seen before,” he said. “If we don’t stand up now and exercise a voice, those rights can be taken away. It’s important we stand up for all people, all Americans, and not the vision that the Trump administration is pushing on us.”

Reno's No Kings rally winds down after speeches, chants

A crowd in the thousands began to disperse about 1 p.m. Saturday after a "No Kings" protest against the Trump administration in downtown Reno.

Attendees were in an upbeat mood, many stopping to take photos of each others' costumes and signs.

A number of elected officials and prominent political activists spoke to the crowd in City Plaza, getting the crowd amped up with chants and call-and-response questions.

Veronica Frenkel, a former Washoe County School Board member and member of the nonprofit group Tu Casa Latina, spoke about her memories of Chile as a young girl where a dictatorship used masked agents to snatch people off the street.

She warned about the same thing happening in the United States with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents grabbing people in the Reno area.

She urged people talk to Hispanic neighbors who might be fearful of going out to do simple things like buying groceries and offering to help them.

Then she led the crowd in a chant of “The people united will never be divided.”

With chants and music, No Kings rallygoers head to Reno City Plaza

Organizers with bullhorns lead chants of “no kings," “this is what democracy looks like" and "hey hey, ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go."

Thumping music also made a soundtrack for the march coming from a Bluetooth speaker at the corner of Liberty and Virginia streets. Selections included Ice Cube's “Arrest the President“ and P!NK's "Dear Mr. President."

Most people carried signs over their heads as they marched.

Some used humor, such as “the bigger the ballroom, the smaller the dictator“ — a reference to Trump's plans for a $200 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom adjacent to the White House.

Others were statements of fact, such as “I support my country and its Constitution,“ and “Hey Mike Johnson I’m here because I love America,“ referring to the recent comments by Republican elected officials that protesters hate America.

The range of topics covered in signs was wide. They included public lands, immigration, the Middle East, the Epstein files, Bad Bunny and much more.

Crowd at Downtown Reno's No Kings protest grows ahead of march

People are streaming in every minute from side streets to the downtown Reno federal building where a march is about to begin. Virginia Street is closed from Stewart Street to First Street.

Federal police are gently asking people to keep off the delicate lawn in front of the building. Reno police on motorcycles and in SUVs are parked at a close distance from the main action.

Someone shouted “make room for the banners“ as people lug 20-foot rolled-up signs into the crowd.

Some people are wearing clown outfits, and there is a large inflated chicken caricature of Donald Trump in the midst of people crowded onto Virginia Street. Signs read “more clowns, less kings.“

No Kings preparations underway at Reno's City Plaza

Participants in Reno's No Kings rally plan to march from the Bruce R. Thompson Federal Building to Reno City Plaza, about one-third of a mile up Virginia Street, at 11 a.m.

See a live camera view of Reno City Plaza below.

When and where is Reno’s Oct. 18 No Kings protest?

In Reno, the No Kings event will start unofficially about 10 a.m. Saturday at the Bruce R. Thompson Federal Building, 400 S. Virginia Street.

A brief welcome program will feature a mariachi band, a sage blessing and remarks from organizers. There will also be a food drive on behalf of the Northern Nevada Member Assistance Program, the charitable arm of the Northern Nevada Central Labor Council.

At 11 a.m., protesters will march north on Virginia Street toward City Plaza, where the Believe sign is located across from City Hall.

There will be music and speakers who will address administration policies on health care, Medicaid, immigration, veterans affairs, the environment and other topics.

Among the elected officials scheduled to speak are Alexis Hill, Angie Taylor, Selena LaRue Hatch, Erica Roth and Natha Anderson.

The event will conclude at 1 p.m.

When and where are 'No Kings' protests in Nevada, Reno, Tahoe, Truckee, Las Vegas?

According to the nokings.org map website and other social media announcements, here are the Nevada and Tahoe-area events currently planned Saturday, Oct. 18. Links are to RSVP, which is not required.

• Reno: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. starting at Bruce R. Thompson Courthouse and Federal Building, 400 S. Virginia Street, and moving to City Plaza at 10 N. Virginia Street.
• Carson City: 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Nevada State Capitol Building, 101 N. Carson Street.
• Kings Beach, California: 1 to 3 p.m. at Steel Orb Structure Roundabout.
• Truckee, California: 3 to 4 p.m. at Donner Pass Road and California 89.
• South Lake Tahoe, California: 3 to 5 p.m. at Lakeview Commons.
• Susanville, California: 2 to 4 p.m. at 1615 Main Street.
• Woodfords, California: 3:30 to 6 p.m. at California 88 and California 89.
• Elko: noon to 1:30 p.m. at Main City Park, 1405 Idaho Street.
• Hawthorne: 10 a.m. to noon at 1055 F Street.
• Pahrump: 10 a.m. to noon near intersection of Highway 160 and Highway 372.
• Las Vegas early: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. organized by Indivisible Las Vegas at the federal courthouse, 333 S. Las Vegas Boulevard.
• Las Vegas late: 4:30 to 6 p.m. near New York-New York Hotel & Casino, 3790 S. Las Vegas Boulevard.
• Henderson: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. near intersection of Coronado Center Drive and South Eastern Avenue.
• Mesquite: 10 a.m. to noon. Event address is private. RSVP for location details.

What is 'No Kings' protest on Oct. 18?

"No Kings is a peaceful national day of action and mass mobilization in response to the increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption of the Trump administration, which they have doubled down on since June," Nokings.org said on its website.

The name "No Kings" comes from organizers' belief Trump is acting like a monarch rather than the leader of a democracy.

"They are targeting immigrant families, profiling, arresting and detaining people without warrants; threatening to overtake elections; gutting health care, environmental protections, and education when families need them most; rigging maps to silence voters; ignoring mass shootings at our schools and in our communities; and driving up the cost of living while handling out massive giveaways to billionaire allies, as families struggle."

- from USA Today

What are your rights at Nevada No Kings protests?

Masks and costumes are just fine at public protests in Nevada.

Only if you're suspected of a crime can police ask you to remove your mask or costume, according to the ACLU of Nevada.

The ACLU also says that, unless suspected of a crime, you don't have to turn over your phone. And you're not required to reveal your pin code.

If arrested or if you believe your rights were violated at a protest, the ACLU of Nevada has activated its Protest Rights Hotline at 702-659-7535 around Saturday’s No Kings rallies. It also has an online form at aclunv.org to report protest rights violations.

What's the forecast for Reno and Carson City 'No Kings' protests?

For downtown Reno on Saturday, the weather is expected to be sunny with calm winds and a high near 72.

The hourly forecast puts the temperature at about 60 degrees when the event begins at 11 a.m.

Carson City has the same forecast, but its No Kings rally near the Legislature starts early at 8:30 a.m. At that time, temperatures are only expected to be in the 40s.