Protestors at 'No Kings' Rallies Craft Powerful Symbols of Resistance

The crown, used at No Kings protests, joins a long history of resistance symbols in other movements.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 9:05pm

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An abstract, fractured painting in bold, contrasting colors depicting a crown-like shape, representing the visual language of protest movements.The crown, a symbol of autocracy, has become a prominent visual motif in the 'No Kings' protest movement, joining a long tradition of resistance imagery.Indianapolis Today

Millions of people attended 'No Kings' rallies across the U.S. this past Saturday, protesting the Trump administration's policies and signaling that regime change was coming. The visual language of the rallies has become increasingly rich, with inflatable baby Trumps, Handmaid's Tale costumes, and hand-painted resistance memes, including the prominent use of crowns - a nod to Trump's abuse of power. While some question the long-term impact of the protests, history shows that resistance movements often generate meaningful energy and produce powerful symbols that resonate for years.

Why it matters

The 'No Kings' protests are part of a long tradition of resistance movements using creative, grassroots visual language to communicate their message and build solidarity. From the Suffragette color system to the Solidarność typeface in Poland, these symbols have the power to shift the ground beneath those in power and endure as iconic representations of the struggle for change.

The details

The 'No Kings' rallies saw more than 8 million people turn out at thousands of events across the U.S., protesting the Trump administration's policies on immigration, the war in the Middle East, and signaling a desire for regime change. The visual language of the protests has become increasingly creative, with protestors using inflatable baby Trumps, Handmaid's Tale costumes, hand-painted resistance memes, and prominently featuring crowns - a nod to Trump's perceived abuse of power. While some question whether the energy of the protests can be harnessed into electoral victories, history shows that resistance movements often serve as 'condensers of unformed thought,' helping disparate stakeholders find each other, debate, and generate meaningful energy in communities under siege.

  • The 'No Kings' rallies took place on Saturday, March 30, 2026.

The players

Jeremy W. Peters

A reporter for the New York Times who questions whether the protests can turn their energy into electoral victories.

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What they’re saying

“'Can the protests harness that energy and turn it into victories in the November midterm elections? How can they avoid a primal scream that fades into a whimper?'”

— Jeremy W. Peters, Reporter

The takeaway

The creative, grassroots visual language emerging from the 'No Kings' protests taps into a long history of resistance movements using symbols and imagery to communicate their message, build solidarity, and shift the balance of power. While the long-term impact remains to be seen, these protests are part of a tradition that has produced enduring icons of struggle, from the Suffragette color system to the Solidarność typeface.