Crowds of people gathered along Perkins Road on Saturday, Oct. 18, joining demonstrators in thousands of other cities across the country for the No Kings Protest — a coordinated, nationwide day of action opposing President Donald Trump’s policies and warning against the slide toward authoritarian rule.
According to the No Kings Coalition, more than seven million people participated in demonstrations across the United States. In Louisiana, protests took place in ten cities, including Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Alexandria, New Orleans, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Leesville, Hammond, Ruston, and Monroe.
Baton Rouge Joins the National Wave
The Baton Rouge protest — organized by Indivisible Baton Rouge — was part of the second-ever No Kings Parade, a grassroots protest movement launched earlier this year by Indivisible and a coalition of pro-democracy organizations. Their message was direct: reject corruption and authoritarian politics wherever they appear.
From early afternoon through sunset, hundreds of peaceful protesters filled the sidewalks and medians of Perkins Road, waving handmade signs and chanting as passing drivers honked in support.
“We are disgusted with the way this country is going under an authoritarian president who thinks he’s a king, not a president,” said Jerel Giarrusso, a member of Indivisible Baton Rouge’s leadership team. “We’re also disgusted with Congress for letting him get away with it.”
A Cross-Section of Voices
For Tarek Dalton, 26, the protest was personal. “Immigration rights,” he said when asked what brought him out. “I work with a lot of people who are migrants, and it hurts to see those people get attacked daily on the internet.” Dalton added, half-smiling, that what he most wanted to see was “Jeff Landry’s reaction. I know he’s squirming right now. I know he hates this.”
Haley, 25, of Denham Springs, said she attended to “make our voices heard.” She described the protest as an act of civic responsibility:
“Sometimes when our power is taken away from us, our words are the best tool that we have to fight for what we deserve. Donald Trump needs to be reminded that he is the president to all of us — not just Republicans. We’re all Americans, and we’re a lot more similar than people think.”
Haley said she hoped the event would also light a fire under her own party. “I want to see more action from the Democratic Party,” she said. “As good as they sound, there’s a lot of all bark and no bite. I’d like to see some real change — a real push. We have got to fight back.”
Nearby, John Pojman said he came to show support for democracy itself. “It’s a scary time when people are worried about peacefully protesting and expressing their opinions, and we have to stand up,” he said. “That’s why I’m here.” His takeaway from the day: “There’s just a lot of good people who are concerned about the future of our country.”
Peaceful Protest, Clear Message
Organizers emphasized that the demonstrations were peaceful by design, reflecting a commitment to non-violence and unity across political divides. The No Kings movement, according to Indivisible, took shape earlier this year as a response to what it calls “corrupt, authoritarian politics” spreading across national and state governments.
Saturday’s event showed that the movement’s reach extends well beyond Washington. In Louisiana — a state not typically associated with large-scale liberal demonstrations — Baton Rouge’s turnout signaled a growing appetite for direct action and public accountability.
The No Kings rally may have been national in scope, but in Baton Rouge it felt distinctly local — neighbors and strangers standing side by side, united by concern for the country’s democratic future. The message was simple but forceful: America has no kings, and it’s up to ordinary people to keep it that way.
