Hundreds of residents from Hattiesburg and surrounding communities joined millions across the nation on Oct. 18 during the “No Kings” protest, a nationwide demonstration opposing the actions of the Trump Administration. The local protest took place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at City Hall, stretching across two city blocks.
According to the No Kings website (2025), “On October 18, more than 7 million of us rose up at more than 2,700 events in all 50 states.” The “No Kings” protest captured the spirit of defiance against absolute power and inherited privilege, rallying people around the idea that leadership should be earned, not bestowed by birthright. Rooted in anti-monarchical sentiment, the movement became a broader symbol of resistance to political and social hierarchies that placed a select few above the rest. Demonstrators used the phrase “No Kings” to call for equality, accountability, and shared governance—values that stand in stark contrast to systems built on control and subservience.
House Majority Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the nationwide protest during a press briefing on Friday, referencing it as anti-American.
“I encourage you to watch. We call it the ‘Hate America’ rally,” Johnson said. “I bet you see pro-Hamas supporters.”
However, in South Mississippi, the tone was far from what Johnson described. Hattiesburg police officers were set up to monitor the event and ensure no violence erupted. Protesters in Hattiesburg carried signs promoting unity and democracy, with some adding a touch of humor and creativity to the demonstration. Among the crowd were participants dressed as the “Resist Frog,” the Lorax, an inflatable dinosaur and many others. One demonstrator, dressed as Lady Liberty, said this protest was meant to symbolize community, strength, and freedom. “It’s both to show that we as a community are together in being against this and standing up for our rights,” said the Lady Liberty protester. “(We) are letting the people around us know that they are not alone, and we are all in this together, and just because we are from the South does not mean we are pro-Trump.”
The event was filled with chants and cries to save democracy and remind the public that America has no kings. As vehicles passed the protestors, most were honking in celebration of the protest, but not all were happy with what was going on. Following the cheers, a black jeep drove through the streets making several blocks to blare the “Y.M.C.A.” by Village People and criticized the protestors. The crowd combated the disruption through the cries “Shame! Shame! Shame!” as the driver continued to invoke the crowd. The crowd began to disperse at 5 p.m. and continued their protest as they drove back through the block for one last chant.
On Monday, House Speaker Mike Johnson chimed in once more in another press briefing after being asked about the protest.
“Congratulations, they didn't burn any buildings down,” Johnson said. “Thats a big achievement for the left.”
Following the “No Kings”protest, an AI video was put out on President Donald Trump's personal social media page mocking the protesters that was held over the weekend. The video portrayed Donald Trump wearing a crown flying a fighter jet with the words “King Trump” across the side and showed Trump dropping feces on the protestors. This video brought outrage to the public.The shared content was brought up in a follow-up briefing as Mike Johnson held the stage.
“He is using satire to make a point,” Johnson said. “He is not calling for the murder of his political opponents," he continued.
With the outrage against I.C.E. and use of the national guard in blue states, over 7 million came out to protest. The second “No Kings” protest surpassed the initial stand against the administration that was held in June. For more information on the protest, you can check out the website at nokings.org.
