No Kings rallies across US push early voting ahead of midterms

Demonstrations organised by the No Kings network, which opposes US President Donald Trump, took place on Saturday in cities and towns across the United States, aiming to encourage early voting ahead of the midterm elections.

The group had more than 3,000 events planned nationwide under the banner No Kings: Vote Early. Organisers described the gatherings as nonpartisan, though they built on nearly two years of previous No Kings marches held by people critical of Trump's presidency.

According to organisers, the goal was to bring communities together to plan early voting and make sure every eligible voter understood their options, while also giving people a chance to make their voices heard. Supporters of early voting say it reduces the risk of problems arising on election day itself.

In Washington, DC, a crowd of a few hundred people gathered at the Lincoln Memorial despite cold weather, with a band performing as attendees danced and held signs urging people to vote early and protect their voting rights.

At a rally in Atlanta, City Councilman Michael Julian Bond encouraged the crowd to spread the message about voting before the November 3 general election, framing the right to vote as a form of power that should not be surrendered, comparing it to fictional superheroes who never give up their abilities.