By Miranda Pelletier
Thousands of Kansas Citians gathered at the Plaza on Oct. 18 for “No Kings Day” — a nationwide event in protest of the Trump Administration. The event was the second mass mobilization this year bearing the “No Kings” name.
The PBS News Hour Oct. 20 reported some 7 million Americans in 2,500 cities attended the protests. The rally at Mill Creek Park, organized by Indivisible Kansas City in collaboration with other local groups, was just one of many locations across the metro where citizens against fascism made their voices heard.
A diverse crowd of activists marched around the Plaza chanting demands. Handmade protest signs covered a wide array of topics from immigration enforcement to women’s rights to federal funding cuts, and participants donned an even wider array of costumes. Dozens of organizations tabled at the event, including PeaceWorks KC and the Green Party. Tablers shared calls to action for protestors to keep the momentum going and not let their energy stop here.
Representing PeaceWorks and Physicians for Social Responsibility and catching the attention of passersby in a bright yellow banana costume, PeaceWorks KC Vice Chair Ann Suellentrop educated attendees about Kansas City’s role in producing nuclear weapons. “Some people don’t know they’re making parts for nukes right here at the National Security Campus,” Ann said.
Many protestors made the connection between US-produced weapons and the genocide in Gaza. With the threat of nuclear warfare still looming, now it is more important than ever to demand an arms embargo and speak out against the weapons contributions being made in our own backyard.
Support for Palestine appeared to be at an all-time high for large Kansas City events. Keffiyehs, flags, and watermelons appeared around every corner, signaling hope that the tide has finally turned and being against genocide is a very popular opinion.
From the domestic use of military on unarmed protestors to Trump’s attacks on Latin America to the continued Israeli aggression in the Middle East, it’s clear Kansas City is fed up and embracing the anti-war movement.
–Miranda Pelletier is a peace activist and artist who grew up in the KC metro and frequently attends local events. (c) 2025, Miranda Pelletier, Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 4.0 International License
