The “No Kings” protests that took place last weekend in the US have garnered attention for potentially being one of the largest single-day protests in the nation’s history. Data journalist G Elliott Morris estimated a turnout between four to six million people, constituting around 1.2-1.8% of the US population. This figure surpasses the previous record set by the 2017 Women’s March. Despite the unofficial nature of Morris’s tally, it aligns closely with estimates from other sources, such as Ezra Levin of Indivisible.

Comparisons were drawn to past significant protests like the March on Washington in 1963 and the Earth Day protests in 1970 to provide context for the scale of the recent demonstrations. The 3.5% rule proposed by political scientists Erica Chenoweth and Maria Stephan, stating that nonviolent movements with at least 3.5% popular support tend to succeed in initiating change, has fueled discussions on the potential impact of the “No Kings” protests.

While the protests have energized participants for future demonstrations, there is recognition that sustained change requires more than just large-scale mobilizations. Levin emphasized the importance of ongoing grassroots organizing and genuine engagement in democracy beyond protests.

The sheer size and impact of the “No Kings” protests have prompted reflections on the role of mass mobilization in effecting social and political change, with organizers and participants looking towards continued activism and engagement in the democratic process.