Thousands of marchers gathered in the City of Madison Oct. 18, participating in the second No Kings Day protest, a movement taking place across the world. Protesters marched from McPike Park to the Capitol building to hear speeches from over a dozen individuals of different backgrounds including elected officials, faith leaders and advocates.
The march from McPike Park to the Capitol was organized in part by Madison Area Democratic Socialist of America. DSA members advocated for change for various issues, including stopping American tax dollars from going to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, removing tax cuts for billionaires and redirecting tax dollars to social programs.
During the initial gathering at McPike Park, participants socialized with one another and listened to speeches by Madison Area DSA members.
Participants expressed concern about the consolidation of power by the president. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees member Harry Richardson said that AFSCME was there in solidarity with unions across the city and country to protest against the seizure of individuals’ and Congress’ constitutional rights and powers.
“We’re here to say ‘no kings, no bosses, no billionaires,’” Richardson said.
Former chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin Ben Wikler spoke to the crowd on the importance of the upcoming elections including the Supreme Court election in April and the governor election next November. There is an opportunity to have pro-democracy, pro-freedom and pro-working people in the majorities — people must be ready to vote in these upcoming elections, Wikler said.
Speaker Rev. Judge Everett Mitchell, Dane County Circuit Court judge and local pastor, touched on a number of topics, from civil rights to the impact of social media on societal issues. He said social media is training people’s minds to forget and become incentivized to injustice, and individuals are losing their control of time.
“We are not going back, the only way is for us to go forward,” Mitchell said. “Because right now, we are living in the redefinition of our democracy. Right now, our legal systems are being retooling, reconfigured and realigned to incentivize ultimate power.”
Co-host of WORT Radio’s weekly Salamat Rowan Attala spoke on the censorship of those involved in Palestine solidarity and Palestine liberation work. Attala said this is an important time for free speech, freedom of the press and the right of the people to assemble.
U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan spoke on the impacts of the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill, including cuts to food assistance programs, loss of access to Medicare and giving tax breaks to wealthy donors.
“That’s what this country is about: the many, not the few, united against the tyrannical government,” Pocan said. “We will win in the end because the people united will never, ever be defeated.”
