Across the nation 2,100 “No Kings Day” protests against President Donald Trump’s military parade for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and his 79th birthday in Washington, D.C., drew millions of participants. Initial estimates ranging from 5 million to 11 million participants make No Kings Day the largest protest in American history.
As impressive as that is, the real success of the protests were how they spread to smaller towns, according to Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel Jr., who spoke at the event at the No Kings event at the Brighton Mill Pond. There, an estimated 1,200 people gathered, many of whom expressed frustration with U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, for not hosting town halls. In Howell, an estimated 300 people demonstrated in front of the Howell City Hall.
Hertel called the turnout a sign of “Democratic resilience,” and said he is going to make sure these “loud voices” and stories translate into more Democratic wins in 2026.
“I am laser-focused on making sure that we are leading in a direction toward victory in 2026,” he said.
The mood at the Livingston County events was celebratory, and no major incidents were reported.
While many driving by in Howell tooted their horns in support of the protesters, the Howell Police Department stopped vehicles revving their engines, and at least one driver who was attempting to “roll coal.” (For those unfamiliar with the term, rolling coal is when a diesel engine is modified to produce black or gray smoke.)
