I hate America - hardly. But it wasn’t one person speaking ... It was millions, collectively united as one.

From sea to shining sea and beyond our nation’s shores, people rallied together in rural, urban, local, national and global fronts on Oct. 18, in peaceful demonstrations, dubbed by grassroots organizers, as “No Kings Day 2.0.”

Their decree: The nation belongs to its people, not to kings, in protest of what they claim is abuse of power, government overreach, and a litany of other violations, including loss of civil liberties, such as freedom of speech, since the current president took office.

It was one of the largest, single-day nationwide demonstrations in U.S. history, as nearly seven million Americans gathered in more than 2,700 cities and towns in all 50 states, standing shoulder to shoulder in nonviolent defiance of authoritarianism, according to various media reports.

In fact, the peaceful gatherings were 14 times larger than both of President Trump’s presidential inaugurations combined, an unprecedented moment of unity and resistance, they said.

“It was literally historic,” according to Ezra Levin, co-executive director of Indivisible, a progressive movement and organization in the United States initiated in 2016 as a reaction to the election of Donald Trump as president.

The nationwide event was sponsored by a coalition of more than 200 organizations, including 50501 Movement, the American Civil Liberties Union, The American Federation of Teachers, and funded by a mix of progressive foundations, unions and grassroots donations, according to news reports.

However, in advance of No Kings Day, key Republican officials, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., referred to the demonstrations in whatever means available as “Hate America” rallies.

“I encourage you to watch – we call it the ‘Hate America’ rally – that will happen Saturday,” he reportedly said to televised audiences, distorting their message of dissent.

“The regime did their damndest to smear us, scare off organizers, and dissuade people from showing up. They called us violent communists. They labeled it a ‘Hate America’ rally. They wanted conflict, and they wanted it to be a bust. They failed,” Levin, said, recapping the event.

“It was joyful. It was peaceful. And it was patriotic. The Trump regime tried to paint ‘No Kings Day’ as a ‘Hate America’ protest, but what we saw on display was the best of what this country is meant to be – a nation that refuses to succumb to intimidation, a people that fiercely defends our freedoms and says in one voice, across generations, religions, races, gender identities, and nations of origin: We are all Americans, and we will not bow to kings,” he said.

Which could explain the influx of inflatable frogs, dinosaurs, unicorns, ducks and the like at rallies nationwide. Participants were asked to wear yellow, the first color on the spectrum visible to the human eye and an historic symbol of non-violent resistance, to stand out, as well as funny costumes, a trend originating in “war-torn” Portland, Ore., to de-escalate tension between protestors and ICE agents ordered there.

“From rural communities to major metropolitan centers, the message was clear: America will not be ruled by fear, force, or one man’s power grab,” Levin reiterated, in a message to media.

Defiant, yet not violent, which is their creed.

In fact, there were no reported instances, save one arrest of a protestor, who reportedly donned a lewd costume, mocking the president, according to news accounts.

“Our commitment to nonviolence was important for sending the right message to the country this weekend, and it’s also important for protecting ourselves from the slander, threats and attacks from the regime in the future. When they come at us, they are coming at the organizers of the largest peaceful protest in American history; a protest that was about one single thing: opposing monarchical rule in America,” Levin said.

But it’s not the first time this year, “the people” have spoken.

This is the third mass demonstration since President Trump's return to the White House, and it comes as the government shutdown has closed federal programs and services, amid escalating tariffs, with everyday people feeling the pinch.

“While the Republican-led government shutdown continues to wreak havoc, forcing hundreds of thousands of families to go without pay and cutting off critical services, the people they represent are stepping up to lead. Across districts, neighbors are organizing, marching, and demanding a government that serves the many, not the powerful few,” he said.

And their voices are getting louder, as the rallies grow larger and the movement gathers momentum.

Compared to similar rallies, “The Hands Off” demonstrations in April had an estimated 3 million protestors at 1,300 events, and the “No Kings” rallies in June, had an estimated 5 million at 2,100 events, said organizers of the mass mobilization, buoyed by global support.

Counting among them, thousands within the Cornhusker State.

In addition to Omaha and Lincoln, protests were planned in the Nebraska cities of Alliance, Beatrice, Chadron, David City, Fremont, Grand Island, Hastings, Kearney, Norfolk, North Platte, Ogallala, Scottsbluff and Wayne, according to news reports.

In Omaha, crowd estimates ranged from 4,000 to 8,000 attendees, according to Kevin Gibbs, advisory board member of Indivisible Nebraska, who led the organization from November 2018 to July of this year.

“The event was a resounding success, and showed that Omaha and our community can peacefully stand up and speak out to defend the country from those who would undermine it with dictator-like power grabs,” he said.

Locally, the rally was hosted by a variety of community groups, including 50501 Omaha, Indivisible Nebraska, Women's March Nebraska, Like Minded Friends, Move On, and the Omaha Metro Visibility Brigade, among other progressive organizations.

“To have such a strong showing indicates that Nebraskans are not only upset, but motivated to take action. It should serve as a wake-up call to elected officials that sitting idly by while power is usurped by the president won't be met with forgiveness from the electorate,” Gibbs said, encouraged by the growing amount of support.

“Protesting is the most visible and visceral thing that citizens can peacefully do to be heard by their elected leaders. It's not all that will be done, but it is a reminder that a problem needs to be addressed,” he added.

But are they effective …

“While members of the present-day GOP can try to downplay the protests, they can't help but notice them. The size and popularity of these protests, even in the absence of an individual leader coordinating them, shows that the people collectively are upset about the state of the nation and where it is heading. These representatives can't in good faith pretend that their constituents support their actions unilaterally when they show up as visibly as they have for this event,” he noted.  

In this case, volume does speak words.

This time, the rally was held in Turner Park, off of 31 and Farnam Sts., with pockets of protestors gathered in other highly, trafficked areas of the city.

“No Kings 2.0” was a follow-up to a similar event, held June 14 at Tom Hanafan Park in Council Bluffs, which concluded with a march in solidarity across the Bob Kerrey Bridge, over the Missouri River into Omaha, uniting the two cities.

“It brought the battle to a new location, and was bigger and louder than the event preceding it. While the message was largely the same, the administration has given a new laundry list of king-like behavior to object to,” Gibbs said.

“Just like the original, the purpose of the rally is to voice dissent against an executive branch that is exceeding the bounds of its power and a Congress and Supreme Court that are abdicating their respective responsibilities to act as a check on that power. As the Trump administration continues to break norms, laws, and defy judicial orders, we're calling on our elected representatives to stand up and take action to keep the president in line with the limitations of his office,” he added.

More than a dozen speakers – from Douglas County Commissioner Roger Garcia to North Omaha Cat Lady Caerhl Irey – addressed the crowd, many dressed as costumed characters, amid the sea of cleverly-worded, mostly home-made signs, touting various causes, with pleas for justice and civility to prevail – all amid music, food, and impromptu dance party at the conclusion of the event.

In addition, the “No Kings” charitable drive benefitted CIRA (Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement) by providing them with a supply of winter clothing, as well as number of local food banks with a large assortment of nonperishable goods.

“Attendees were overwhelmingly generous,” Gibbs said.

However, valiant, their efforts to safeguard our nation’s democracy, are far from over.

“To everyone who attended and to everyone who still wants to take part, this is a long journey we are all on together. Thank you for helping it come together. Events like this help renew our faith in one another and help us reclaim a power that those in elected positions abuse all too often. Together we can take the power back,” he said.

“Those interested in being involved in other events with the organizers should reach out to the respective organizing groups or look for upcoming events for them. One resource we have is a community calendar for local activism events that can be found on our website, as well as many other group websites.

“Depending on the level of assistance a volunteer is willing to provide, some groups will be focusing on the next demonstrations, and can use volunteers to help plan and execute those events while others like Indivisible Nebraska will be transitioning into voter rights initiatives and campaign support related to the upcoming midterm elections. Volunteers in that effort may undertake phone banking, canvassing, and other volunteer activities to expand our message,” he added.

To learn more, please visit their web site: indivisiblene.com