On Saturday, demonstrators across the United States took part in No Kings rallies protesting President Donald Trump, with artists playing a key role in creating protest visuals. In New York City, activists including Susan Sarandon and Mark Ruffalo carried a yellow banner by graphic designer Ange Tran reading “People Over Billionaires,” while Brooklyn artist Julie Peppito led an art build with Indivisible Brooklyn, producing around 100 signs featuring slogans like “people power” and a red sun design. The protests, organized by the 50501 movement alongside Indivisible and MoveOn, drew an estimated 5 to 13 million participants nationwide, making it the largest action since Trump took office in January.
This article matters because it highlights how visual artists are actively shaping the imagery and messaging of contemporary protest movements, demonstrating the enduring role of art in political activism. The scale of the No Kings protests—overshadowing Trump’s military parade in Washington, D.C.—underscores the cultural and political divide in the U.S., with artists and cultural workers contributing to a counter-narrative against the administration. The coverage also reflects the growing intersection of grassroots organizing, social media, and creative expression in mass demonstrations.