No Kings 2: Iowa City Did It Again

On October 18, 2025, over a thousand people filled the Pentacrest and marched through downtown Iowa City for No Kings 2. The rally was part of a nationwide movement that brought millions of people into the streets across all 50 states. Data journalist G. Elliott Morris estimated turnout at 5 to 6.5 million and called it “very likely the biggest single-day protest event since 1970.”

Johnson County heard that call loud and clear.

At the Pentacrest

The crowd gathered at the Old Capitol to hear from local leaders, organizers, and community members. The energy was high and the atmosphere upbeat, with creative signs filling the lawn.

After the speeches, demonstrators marched through downtown. The crowd was so large that it took nearly an hour for everyone to complete the route.

Local Voices

The rally featured speakers who connected national issues to what’s happening right here in Johnson County:

• Iowa Sen. Janice Weiner reminded the crowd that it is “American as apple pie to stand up to would-be dictators and kings.”
• Iowa Rep. Adam Zabner pointed to the detention of Iowa City resident Jorge Gonzalez Ochoa, arrested by ICE agents in September, as an attack on the community. “These actions are designed to make Trump seem all powerful,” he said. “There is another story.”
• Eva Castro, Gonzalez Ochoa’s mother-in-law, spoke about his continued detention. “We’re fighting for his asylum, and we’re fighting for his freedom.”
• Alejandra Escobar of Escucha Mi Voz called on the crowd to keep organizing: “We’re fighting for democracy in these authoritarian conditions.”
• Steve Schmidt, the political commentator, also delivered remarks at the Old Capitol.

Across Iowa and Beyond

Iowa City was one of more than 40 communities across Iowa that held No Kings 2 rallies, with over 12,000 Iowans participating statewide. Davenport saw 4,000 to 5,000. Waterloo turned out around 3,000. Even smaller communities like Storm Lake, Clinton, and Maquoketa held their own events.

Nationally, over 2,500 events took place in every state. By any measure, it was a historic day of civic participation.

In the News

Local and regional outlets covered the Iowa City rally:

• The Daily Iowan and photo gallery
• KCRG
• Little Village Magazine
• Iowa Public Radio

Get Involved

The momentum from No Kings 2 is proof that this movement is growing, not fading. Keep it going:

• 5 Calls App — Makes calling your representatives easy with phone numbers and scripts ready to go.
• Subscribe to our newsletter — Stay informed about upcoming events and ways to take action.
• Follow us on social media — Find us on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and Reddit.

Thank you to everyone who showed up, to the organizers and speakers who made it happen, and to the communities across Iowa that stood together. Over a thousand people at the Pentacrest, tens of thousands across the state, and millions across the country. That’s not a moment. That’s a movement.