More ‘No Kings’ protests planned across KY. When and where in Lexington and beyond
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- No Kings organizers schedule protests across Kentucky cities this weekend.
- Local coalitions and national organizers ask participants to wear yellow.
- Groups cite alleged authoritarian overreach, urge peaceful assembly and rights.
Protestors with the No Kings movement will return to public venues again this weekend in Kentucky and across the nation to oppose what they describe as authoritarian power grabs by President Donald Trump’s administration.
Several protests are scheduled throughout Central Kentucky, and many more will take place across the state Saturday, Oct. 18.
In Lexington, a No Kings event is planned from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Plaza downtown. Similar events are popping up in Louisville, Bowling Green, Frankfort and more.
After a wave of demonstrations on Flag Day in June, which coincided with a massive military parade in Washington, D.C., and the president’s 79th birthday, No Kings protestors are mobilizing again across the country. Some 2,500 events are planned for Saturday, according to Indivisible co-founder Leah Greenberg. Participants are being asked to wear yellow at the events.
Organizers say they’re responding to overreach by the Trump administration.
“At a time when this authoritarian regime is painting dissenters as violent domestic terrorists we will gather in a peaceful assembly to show the world that America does not endorse the callous, hate-filled, dehumanizing, autocratic policies of this Administration,” Craig Blair, a participant and the founder of Peaceful Bluegrass Resistance told the Herald-Leader in a statement Wednesday.
According to Blair, the list of local organizations participating includes Bluegrass Activist Alliance, Lexington-Fayette NAACP, League of Women Voters-Lexington, Progress Kentucky, Peaceful Bluegrass Resistance, Gathering for Democracy, Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, Abolish Slavery Kentucky, 50501 KY, KY AFT 120 United, Bluegrass Democratic Socialists of America and Kentuckians for the Commonwealth.
“Peaceful Bluegrass Resistance has staged over 200 protests around central Kentucky in the past 8 months without violence and without hate,” Blair’s emailed statement reads in part. “Along with our coalition partners, we look forward this Saturday to providing a safe, peaceful atmosphere where concerned Kentuckians can exercise their Constitutionally protected rights.”
The mass protests come as a government shutdown over federal spending enters its third week with no signs of resolution. The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents some 820,000 federal workers, is calling on its members to join Saturday’s events.
If you are heading out to join the protests, make sure you know your rights when attending a public demonstration.
Where are No Kings protests taking place in Kentucky Oct. 18?
As of Oct. 15, No Kings organizers have 25 planned events throughout Kentucky. The protests are peaceful.
“We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events,” the No Kings website states.
Protests are planned at the following locations in Kentucky, among others:
- Lexington: 1 to 4 p.m. EDT downtown at Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Plaza, 120 North Limestone. Speakers begin at 2 p.m.
- Louisville: Noon to 2 p.m. EDT at Locals Food Hub & Pizza Pub, 822 East Broadway. This is one of several No Kings events in the Louisville area.
- Bowling Green: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT at Alumni Avenue and Kentucky Street.
- Frankfort: 2 to 4 p.m. EDT at the Kentucky State Capitol, 700 Capital Ave.
- London: 3 to 6 p.m. EDT at the Laurel County Court House, 101 South Main St.
- Morehead: Noon to 2 p.m. EDT at Fountain Park (Kentucky 32 & East Main Street, across from the Wendy’s)
- Owensboro: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT at 212 St. Ann St.
- Paducah: 2 to 4 p.m. CDT at 2915 Park Ave.
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This story was originally published October 16, 2025 at 4:45 AM.