Demonstrators Gather Outside Philadelphia City Hall For No Kings Vote Early Campaign
Demonstrators gathered outside Philadelphia City Hall on Saturday as part of a nationwide “No Kings: Vote Early” day of action, with organizers encouraging people to take their frustration to the polls this Election Day, WPVI reported. The movement, which has previously organized protests against President Donald Trump and his administration, is now shifting its focus toward increasing voter participation in the midterm elections.
“It takes one person to start a revolution, and here we are,” said Dana Shensky of Northeast Philadelphia. Protesters held signs and chanted outside City Hall, calling for change and urging others to make their voices heard. “I’m very sad that I’m still marching because we should not be,” said Deborah Stanton of Philadelphia.
The events, called "No Kings: Vote Early," will take place Saturday, Oct. 17, at 10 locations across Philadelphia, including nine of the city's 10 satellite election offices and City Hall. https://t.co/aEdWj67I0b
Organizers hope the demonstrations will translate into greater voter turnout. “I hope it’s much improved over typical midterm elections,” said Ken Garrett of Center City. Similar rallies took place along Route 70 in Cherry Hill and Bancroft Parkway in Wilmington, where demonstrators also encouraged people to check their voter registration status ahead of the election.
“We need to have a fair and just election; we need to make people aware of what’s at risk at this election,” said Benjamin H. of Northwest Philadelphia. While organizers described Saturday’s events as nonpartisan, the shared message centered on civic engagement and encouraging people to take an active role in shaping the country’s future. “If we don’t change things we are just going backwards and nobody wants to go backwards. I want my children, grandchildren to have a better life,” Stanton said.
National Turnout Push Across All Fifty States
With midterm elections 17 days away, supporters of the “No Kings” movement gathered across the country Saturday to encourage voter participation as early voting nears, WABC reported. Participants wore crowns representing the Statue of Liberty as part of the group’s “No Kings: Vote Early” campaign. “Democracy is not and should not be a partisan issue,” said volunteer Dina Heller.
The “No Kings” movement began in 2025 as a series of protests against President Donald Trump and what organizers described as authoritarian uses of power. With less than three weeks until Election Day, organizers said Saturday’s events were focused on voter engagement and turnout. More than 2,000 local events were planned in all 50 states, including dozens across the tri-state area and multiple gatherings in each of New York City’s boroughs. Hundreds of people gathered in Manhattan’s Washington Square Park to listen to music, hear speakers, including Al Sharpton, and register voters.
Allen Hobbs, who attended the Manhattan rally, said the effort was aimed at defending constitutional principles. “We want to have, a support for our Constitution. We see this as a bipartisan issue and defense of the Constitution,” Hobbs said. Another attendee, Valerie Corbett, emphasized the importance of voter participation, particularly among younger voters. “It’s very important that we all vote. Not a particularly that Democrats get out, but more importantly that young people get out. Young people get out and vote, okay,” Corbett said.
Targeted Registration Drives In Competitive Districts
In Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, participants at a smaller event marched along Bay Ridge Parkway carrying Statue of Liberty torches and distributing pamphlets with voting information. Organizers noted that Bay Ridge is located within New York’s 11th Congressional District, which includes all of Staten Island and parts of southern Brooklyn, making races there more competitive than in many other parts of the city. Heller added that she hoped the campaign would encourage people who may feel disconnected from the political process to participate. “I think a lot of people lately have been discouraged like their vote doesn’t matter so I think not everybody has always been represented if people stay home,” she says.
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