More than 30,000 people crowded onto the lawn of the R.I. State House on Saturday to protest the Trump administration and its growing authoritarianism.

Rhode Island DSA joined the Free Palestine contingent, organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, because we’re fighting for more than just the pre-Trump status quo. As socialists, we believe that to truly defeat Trump we must defeat the system that created him — which means fighting capitalism, imperialism, and both parties of the ruling class.

Although No Kings Day was organized by groups linked to the Democratic Party, such as Indivisible, Rhode Island’s second No Kings protest was more combative and politically diverse than the last iteration in June. Pro-Palestinian activists successfully pressured the event organizers to allow a Palestinian speaker, and her speech on the genocide in Gaza was a significant shift from the tone of the last No Kings Day event. Rhode Island DSA members also found that many attendees were receptive to our message that the working class needs a party of its own.

Prior to gathering at the State House, a tsunami of protestors marched, waved a variety of signs, and engaged in chants that ranged from “Free Palestine!” to “No Kings No Clowns.” While not as united or politically independent as socialists might hope, No Kings Day was charged with an eagerness for change — revealing a genuine need and opportunity to form a class-independent political movement.