Columbia joins third No Kings day of action as concerns over policy and elections grow

The state saw a large demonstration when protesters converged in Columbia on Saturday as part of the third nationwide No Kings mobilization. Organizers had expected up to 3,000 coordinated events across the country, and the day included more than 40 gatherings in Missouri from Jefferson City to St. Louis. In Columbia, an estimated 2,500 people assembled in front of the Boone County Courthouse for speeches, music and poetry reflecting a broad array of grievances.

The event was one in a series: organizers say roughly 5 million people joined No Kings demonstrations last June and about 7 million attended rallies in October. This third nationwide action, described by participants as the largest yet, blended local concerns with national policy debates, and organizers treated the day as both protest and civic rehearsal ahead of future elections.

How the Columbia gathering unfolded

The courthouse plaza became a platform where elected officials, students and community members took turns addressing the crowd. Speakers ranged from poets and musicians to a current city council member and former local officials, each linking local organizing history to the current moment. The crowd held signs and listened to commentary that touched on everything from the conflict in Iran to the release of high-profile investigative files; these topics were woven together under the banner of opposition to what participants described as authoritarian tendencies in the administration.

Voices from the crowd

Family groups were visible throughout the afternoon. Katie Mericle attended with her children, Maissie and Leo, and a family friend’s daughter, Eliza Weir, age 10, each carrying homemade signs. Mericle said multiple issues drove her to join the rally, noting that the political climate has personal effects on households. Her son, identified as a 14-year-old, specifically criticized the use of ICE agents, arguing that the agency has been deployed to remove people who should not be targeted.

Students and younger participants

University of Missouri student Lauren Replogle told the crowd she attended in part because of immigration policies that she views as mass deportation efforts. Replogle said in-person activism feels more empowering than consuming national events online and that young voters should translate local action into electoral participation as they become eligible to vote.

Policy concerns, history and political strategy

Local leaders framed the protest within a longer tradition of civic action. Columbia City Council member Vera Elwood reminded attendees of earlier movements in the city—from veterans’ rights campaigns after World War II to Civil Rights sit-ins and student protests during the Vietnam era—and recent labor organizing at the university. Elwood used those examples to argue that local activism has produced concrete gains, countering claims that grassroots movements are ineffective.

SAVE America Act and voting rules explained

Former City Council member Karl Skala focused on the proposed SAVE America Act, a bill debated in the U.S. Senate that would require proof of citizenship to register, tighten voter ID rules, and mandate that states share voter data with the Department of Homeland Security for screening. Critics at the rally said such provisions risk politicizing voter rolls and reducing access for eligible citizens; Skala framed these proposals as a shift toward centralized control of electoral information.

Military action, local entrepreneurs and electoral urgency

Concerns about foreign policy also surfaced. Karl Skala, a former Marine who served from 1966 to 1972, criticized recent U.S. military engagement with Iran and suggested the administration’s approach has been opportunistic and poorly planned. Other speakers included Silas Marrero and his father Louis, who operates a Latin-inspired food pop-up called La Bruja; they urged impeachment as a first step to reverse policy decisions they see as harmful. Several speakers urged attendees to focus on the upcoming 2026 elections as the mechanism for change.

Although the Columbia demonstration remained peaceful, the turnout included at least one vocal supporter of the administration holding a sign in favor of the president’s actions abroad. Organizers and participants nevertheless emphasized local organizing and voter engagement as the path forward. The report of this event originally appeared in the Columbia Missourian and was made available for republication.