WASHINGTON D.C. – Americans took to the streets across the country Saturday in one of the largest coordinated demonstrations of the year, under the banner of the “No Kings” movement, to protest the policies and conduct of President Donald Trump.

Organized protests were planned in over 2,500 cities across all 50 states, drawing huge crowds from major metropolitan centers to smaller communities. The nationwide rallies were aimed at making a definitive statement about the limits of executive power. Thousands of demonstrators filled iconic locations, including New York City’s Times Square and the National Mall in Washington, D.C., marching to reject the President’s agenda and policies.

The core message of the movement was aimed directly at the executive, with participants stating they wished to “make clear that there are no kings in America.”

The demonstrations had been the focus of intense political scrutiny in the preceding week. Republican lawmakers and top surrogates spent the days leading up to the event decrying them as “hate” rallies and “Hate America” rallies. However, reports indicated that RSVPs to demonstrations spiked after GOP leaders started condemning and mischaracterizing them.

The nationwide events, which included a diverse coalition of activists and everyday citizens, were described by observers as boisterous but peaceful. Specific signs reflected various grievances against the administration. For instance, a demonstrator in D.C. was photographed holding a box labeled “Classified Epstein Files,” a reference to President Donald Trump’s refusal to release files related to the late sex trafficker.