The No Kings movement began in June of 2025 as a protest against the abuse of power that had started during Donald Trump’s second presidential term. Since then, there have been two other larger waves of No Kings protests. The first one, which started the movement, was held on June 14th, which is President Donald Trump’s birthday. This held deep significance, as Trump’s birthday parade drew about 200,000 people, while the No Kings drew around 5 million participants nationwide. People across the media reported that they RSVP’d for Trump’s parade under multiple false names, only to not show up at all, leaving empty seats that represented the lack of his support. The second wave was on October 18, 2025, with over 7 million people participating. The most recent one was held on March 28, 2026, with an estimated 8-9 million participants. These protests emphasized that America has no monarchy and that the United States was built on democracy.
Many school-aged children and young adults have held their own forms of protest as well, by walking out of class, refusing to attend class at all, or participating in a silent protest and then refusing to speak or participate in school or any other academic activity. These actions show that younger generations are not only aware of political issues but also willing to take risks to feel seen or heard. The students of Santiago High School have conducted two protests in the last 6 months: an anti-ICE walkout and a No Kings protest. Over a thousand people attended the first walkout. This shocked the organizers, who hadn’t expected the level of support it received. It demonstrated how quickly a shared concern could bring people together, especially in a school environment.
Unfortunately, since the second protest was on the Friday before Spring break, many students had exams and early finals and could not attend. About 40-50 students walked out of their classrooms and around the outside of the school. Soon after the students left, the school announced that anyone who walked out would not be allowed back on campus to take the bus and would have to find their own ride home. This announcement was not made at the first protest; it wasn’t until parents and guardians complained that this rule was implemented. Many students were left stranded on the street afterward; luckily, other students and parents took them home.
The organizers of the No Kings protest at Santiago High School played an important role in bringing attention to these issues. Despite facing challenges, they coordinated and organized a peaceful protest and encouraged other students to participate. Their efforts highlight the importance of student activism and its impact, even if the number of students involved is small compared to nationwide protests. The students all wish to encourage others to speak out about real-world issues that they might see. Overall, the No Kings movement, both nationally and within schools, reflects an increasing drive to speak out against injustice and defend democratic principles.
Websites such as https://www.nokings.org/ spread information about organized events and any plans that are beginning to emerge.
