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No Kings day: Alaskans rally with creative signs, costumes and animals to protest Trump
Posted
Corinne Smith
Protesters are seen at the No Kings rally in Anchorage on Oct. 18, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
Alaskans came out to protest the Trump administration as part of the nationwide No Kings protest on Saturday, with speeches, songs, and increasingly creative flair — signs, slogans, and costumes, some as inflatable animals like eagles and polar bears.
In downtown Anchorage, protesters filled Town Square Park, and the crowd spilled over to line W 5th and W 6th avenues, where they waved signs and passing cars honked in support.
“It’s a matter of we are losing our rights,” said Keri Lord of Anchorage, dressed in a long cape and crown for the no kings theme. “And we are headed towards fascism, and it needs to stop now.”
Thousands gather at Town Square Park in downtown Anchorage for the second No Kings day protest to denounce the Trump administration and its policies on Oct. 18, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
There were speeches, chants, poetry and songs. The crowd also showed support for the evacuees of the devastating storm in western Alaska, and urged donations and continued aid for relief and recovery efforts. Non-profits and advocacy groups hosted tables along the Atwood Concert Hall with educational materials and hot coffee.
“It’s great to see so many people come out,” said Karan Gier, matching Lord in a cape and crown, holding a sign reading “No troops in our streets.“ And from all ages. That’s what’s especially wonderful. We’ve seen that all summer, because we’ve been to all of (the protests) all summer long. And it makes your heart feel good to see this. We’re not a silent majority. We are loud.”
At least 25 communities held events throughout the state for No Kings day, including Kotzebue, Nome, Fairbanks, Talkeetna, Healy, Wasilla, Anchorage, Girdwood, Soldotna, Kenai, Homer, Seward, Dillingham, Kodiak, Valdez, Haines, Gustavus, Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan and others.
Around 45 protesters rallied in Healy, pop. 723, in the Denali Borough of Interior Alaska for the second No Kings day protest on Oct. 18, 2025 (Photo by Michelle Femrite)
Alaskan’s protest signs shared on social media and in Anchorage used humor and satire to mock and condemn President Donald Trump, his cabinet, and recent moves to expand executive powers as authoritarian. Speakers denounced cuts to federal funding and social services such as Medicaid, disregard for the rule of law, and the ongoing government shutdown.
Many protest signs denounced the deployment of U.S. military troops in Democratic-led cities across the country, and the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement violently arresting immigrants and U.S. citizens.
“I love this country, and I think we should be better,” said Kathryn Schild, a life-long Anchorage resident. “I’m appalled at what we are doing to our friends and our neighbors and our loved ones.”
“And this is what we can do, right?” she said. “We have a voice, we can call, we can protest, we can stand up, and we can demand that our government work for us.”
Click on photos to see gallery.
A protester in an inflatable polar bear costume seen at the Anchorage event for the second No Kings day protest on Oct. 18, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
Karan Gier and Keri Lord protest at the second No Kings day of action in Anchorage on Oct. 18, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
Inflatable costumes are seen at the No Kings day protest in Anchorage on October. 18, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
A large crowd gathers in Anchorage for the second No Kings day of protest on Oct. 18, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
Protesters in Anchorage as part of the second No Kings day of action on Oct. 18, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
Erin Jackson-Hill, an organizer and executive director of Stand Up Alaska, a nonprofit social justice organization, rallies the crowd at the second No Kings protest in Anchorage on Oct. 18, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
Protesters gather on the stairs and balcony of Atwood Concert Hall in Anchorage overlooking the crowd for the No Kings protest on Oct. 18, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
Protesters dressed in frog costumes - in solidarity with a Portland protester who was tear gassed in an inflatable frog costume - demonstrate at the No Kings protest in Anchorage on Oct. 18, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
A protester in a taco costume hangs a sign disputing claims and criticisms about protesters at the second No Kings day on Oct. 18, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
Protesters are seen holding signs reading "Proud Veterans" at the second No Kings rally in Anchorage on Oct. 18, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
Protesters are seen at the No Kings rally in Anchorage on Oct. 18, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
Protesters are seen at the No Kings rally in Anchorage on Oct. 18, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
Protesters are seen at the No Kings rally in Anchorage on Oct. 18, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
A dog in a taco costume is seen at the No Kings protest in Anchorage on Oct. 18, 2025. Protesters wore taco costumes and held taco-themed signs in reference to "Trump Always Chickens Out" mocking the president's pattern of flip flopping on tariffs. (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
Protesters are seen at the No Kings rally in Anchorage on Oct. 18, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
Aubrey Wieber, executive director of the non-profit advocacy group 907 Initiative, holds a sign criticizing US Sen. Dan Sullivan at the No Kings protest on Oct. 18, 2025. Wieber also participated in the silent protest during Sullivan's address to the Alaska Federation of Natives the day before. (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
Protesters in Anchorage at the second No Kings protest on Oct. 18, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
Protesters line W 5th Ave in downtown Anchorage for the second No Kings protest on Oct. 18, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
Protesters in inflatable costumes reference US Sec. of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. false claims about Tylenol, at the No Kings protest in Anchorage on Oct. 18, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
Protesters hold a sign calling for Alaska US Sen. Dan Sullivan to take action against the Trump administration's overreach of executive power at the No Kings protest in Anchorage on Oct. 18, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
Kathryn Schild protests at the second No Kings protest in Anchorage on Oct. 18, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
Protesters demonstrate in downtown Anchorage for the second No Kings protest on Oct. 18, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
Hundreds gather at Juneau, Alaska’s Overstreet Park amid rain and fog for the local No Kings protest on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
A totem pole stands above protesters at Juneau, Alaska’s Overstreet Park during the local No Kings protest on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Keywords
Justice,
Anchorage,
Donald Trump,
federal government shutdown,
nationwide protest,
No Kings protest,
rule of law,
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
