On the morning of Oct. 18, thousands of protestors marched through downtown to El Presidio Plaza as part of the second nationwide “No Kings” protest. 

Organized by a coalition of more than 200 progressive organizations, the movement was first held on June 14, drawing up to 4.8 million participants across more than 2,100 locations. This weekend’s demonstrations marked its return, with organizers expecting even larger turnouts across all 50 states and in several European cities.

Bennett Burke, media spokesperson for Mobilize Tucson, opened the rally outside Tucson City Hall by introducing more than two dozen community partners representing labor unions, educators, healthcare advocates, environmental groups, faith-based organizations and social justice coalitions.

The coalition, though ideologically varied across the left, was united in its criticism of the Trump administration and its calls for Tucson and the University of Arizona to resist federal overreach. Many speakers also condemned the ongoing delay in swearing in Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva, who won a special election to represent Arizona’s 7th Congressional District on Sept. 23.

The protest came less than 24 hours after students gathered outside the University of Arizona Administration building, demanding that the UA reject the “Compact for Academic Excellence” that the Trump administration asked it to sign in exchange for priority federal funding.

Faculty Senate Chair Leila Hudson, whose motion to reject the compact passed with 40 of 49 votes, spoke at the downtown protest as the UA has yet to issue a formal response.

“I do not speak for the University, but I speak through it, at it, to it and in spite of it,” Hudson said, drawing cheers. “As the University of Arizona struggles to respond to executive threats and extortion and the Trump administration’s offer that we ‘can’t refuse,’ we will always stand up to protect our imperfect but invincible university and the rights of its community.”

Tucson Mayor Regina Romero stood alongside Hudson and organizers, urging the crowd to keep building coalitions to protect the city.

“It’s not some theoretical question about where we’re heading; fascism is here. It is right here,” Romero said. “The first act in fighting tyranny is to not obey in advance […].  [Resist with] love, rights, and the law behind us.” 

Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva spoke next, greeted by chants of “swear her in.” Grijalva, who has pledged to be the 218th signature on a bipartisan House petition to force a vote on releasing confidential files related to Jeffrey Epstein, centered her remarks on love of community.

“I am so grateful to each and every one of you for continuing to stand in unity and solidarity,” Grijalva said. “We have to stand up for those who cannot be here, who are afraid of this administration. People are disappearing literally off our streets. We need to come together as a community and stand up for those who cannot.”

Grijalva called for stronger representation for Arizona’s 7th Congressional District and urged the crowd to stay mobilized ahead of the midterms.

“We are the 99% that they don’t care about, so we have to remind them that we are here, we are not going anywhere and that we are going to make some changes in this next election,” Grijalva said. “Arizona deserves a voice in Congress.”

In addition to the two dozen groups that formed a coalition to organize the rally, students and community members built camaraderie over shared goals and live music played by other protesters. 

Susan Lyman, a snowbird from Michigan who plans to make Tucson her permanent home after seven years of visiting, said she hopes the energy at Tucson City Hall reaches the nation’s capital.

“My real hope is that the biggest part of this march is going to happen in Washington,” Lyman said. “That’s where I marched against the Vietnam War when I was in my early 20s, and that’s where it’s effective.”

UA junior Deana Nguyen brought a faith-based perspective. “Jesus tells us to love our enemies and neighbors as ourselves, not just those like us. Love like Jesus would,” Nguyen’s sign read. 

“I don’t know how there is any debate that what’s happening and how people are being treated is not ok. It’s not loving, it’s not kind and it’s not why our country was built,” Nguyen said.

Also in the crowd was UA alumna Dr. Laurie Bergstrom, who voiced concern about the future of healthcare if Affordable Care Act tax credits aren’t extended in the ongoing budget negotiations.

“People will show up in emergency rooms, and as physicians, we will take care of patients because that’s what we do, but there won’t be reimbursements to hospitals and hospitals will go under,” Bergstrom said.

Bergstrom, who runs her own practice treating rheumatological conditions, added that other independent healthcare providers are at risk as well.

“As those premiums go up, if it doubles, I can’t afford to provide healthcare for my employees,” Bergstrom said. “It trickles down. As ACA fails, ultimately, private healthcare will fail too.”

John, a 74-year-old protestor in a flamingo costume, reflected on how his identity as a Vietnam veteran and a member of the LGBTQ community brought him to “No Kings.”

“I was the senior case manager from the Tucson AIDS Project and watched all of my friends die of AIDS and have to fight to get the money that they need for research and medicine,” John said. “I think the PTSD from that experience was worse than my Vietnam experience, so it is great to see people out here coming together as one.”

John mentioned he has worn the flamingo costume for 27 years, mainly in the San Diego Pride Parade. He was one of many protestors dressed as animals, from blow-up unicorns to tiger onesies.

Another protestor, Joe, who also declined to share his last name, wore an alien costume and explained the array of animals symbolized the movement’s peaceful nature.

“As far as being in a costume, it’s to show the absurdity of calling us violent. It would be almost impossible to do anything violent in a costume like this,” Joe said.

The movement’s emphasis on nonviolence appeared to counter remarks by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who on Oct. 16 claimed that “the Democrat Party’s main constituency are made up of Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens and violent criminals,” after criticizing New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s comments on Hamas following Trump’s ceasefire deal in Gaza. Critics condemned the timing of her remarks, arguing they were meant to intimidate and misrepresent ‘No Kings’ demonstrators. 

Despite national tensions, the Tucson march remained orderly, with crowds fizzling out around 10:15 a.m. Many drifted toward Tucson Meet Yourself, a multicultural folklife festival downtown happening simultaneously, bringing unicorn suits and live music to the scene.