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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsStatistical significance of 6 million "No Kings" protesters.
From Google AI:
A common benchmark for mass movements is the "3.5% rule," first researched by Erica Chenoweth. This descriptive statistic suggests that no government has withstood a challenge from 3.5% of its population mobilized in peaceful protest.
Here is how the numbers from the "No Kings" protests compare to this benchmark:
In the U.S., 3.5% of the population is equivalent to about 12 million people.
The estimated turnout of 4 to 6 million participants in the June 2025 rallies represents 1.2% to 1.8% of the U.S. population.
While a significant show of force, the protest falls short of the 12 million person threshold often cited as a benchmark for inevitable change. However, Chenoweth has noted that many movements have succeeded with even less participation.
A larger protest does not guarantee political change, which depends on factors like momentum, organization, and leadership.
The 6 million may not be considered enough to "effect a political change" but I'll wager it's significant enough to piss off Trump...


JBTaurus83
(722 posts)Any credible numbers yet? I saw someone report that here in Philly where I attended there were only 15,000. I can tell you that way more than that can fit around Independence Hall and the place was packed with a long march from City Hall.
Septua
(2,905 posts)The 4-6 million was for the June No Kings day. Whether credible or not, the links below are saying 7 million for yesterday. If valid, the percentage would be 2%.
https://www.google.com/search?q=how+many+no+kings+day+protesters+yesterday&oq=how+many+no+kings+day+protesters+yesterday&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCTI2MTM5ajBqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/no-kings-protest-photos-cities-demonstrations-rcna238041
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/no-kings-protests-trump-news-10-18-25
usonian
(21,791 posts)He's not a deep thinker, a copycat fascist.
The "Before" photo.
FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!
You've seen the "After" photo. I don't post it here.
He had his Epstein moment.
303squadron
(760 posts)Were talking here about an ongoing, well-organized campaign with a clear goal that shifts among various tactics as needed. Chenoweth, 2021
In other words, it cant just be one event. It has to be ongoing.
librechik
(30,925 posts)mopinko
(73,085 posts)200-250k is what cbs said. 2.7 m population.
the line of ppl was 2 miles long.
were pissed here. wait til the goons start showing up in more towns.
WarGamer
(18,047 posts)It's mobilizing, motivating and energizing VOTERS for 2026 and 2028.
Trump will be in office for 3 years and 3 months more... no way around that.
But he can be effectively stymied in January, 2027 with a good election in 2026.
gulliver
(13,566 posts)The protest is completely insignificant, if not a backfire. It's face time, some venting, some humor (the most effective part) and copious quantities of oxytocin in the air. But it will be forgotten by Wednesday.
A protest might mean something practically and politically if you could get some sort of metric about the protesters. I'm not sure we have the technology for that yet. To win elections solidly, I think the Democratic Party would want to see a representation metric (for the protest) of true voters who care about true issues and what those issues are. That would be how you would judge the protest statistically in my opinion. Raw counts don't matter.
Septua
(2,905 posts)Google AI statement:
That's not some kind of statistic Trump wants to own, leading to more shooting-himself-in-the-foot propaganda.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mmx6kBiMycg
gulliver
(13,566 posts)I think it will be forgotten by Wednesday. For now, Trump is playing the protest as a foil and a straight man to his ends. It would be vastly different if we weren't in the ubiquitous media world of today. A huge protest of this kind back in the '70s would have meant a lot. Now it just looks like a flash mob put together from phone apps.
I don't think it should have been titled "No Kings." To me, it is a misfire, not unlike "No Oligarchs." Too clever by half, so the sentiment loses its emotional punch. The sentiment for today, in a world where no one has heard of a tyrannical king and few fully appreciate the complex system of oligarchy, is "no dictators."
I'm being critical. A lot of people did a lot of work. I know people who went. More power to them.
Septua
(2,905 posts)