Down with Crowns

Protest meets Halloween in No Kings 2.0 (Oct 18^th).

American Independence was first and foremost a rejection of monarchy. Almost 250 years later, we’re still fighting to keep power in the hands of the people — not in the grip of would-be kings, billionaires, and corporate interests.

“We the People” run the government of the United States, that’s the deal we’ve had on paper since 1787. It means fair, consistent laws. Representation in government. Freedom of expression in all its forms, including our right to protest. 💡 To this end, we’ve got some ideas, and the perfect stage to make your statement…

🙌 No Kings is back to remind the world (and ourselves): America has no kings, duh. Period. Exclamation point.🚫👑‼️

🎃 And since it’s practically Halloween, what better excuse to dress up? To be bold and cheeky and rebellious and, ideally, jazzed up with candy. 🦇🪧🍬

Because this is bigger than Trump, bigger than Bernie, bigger than Red or Blue ideologies in general. No Kings is an enormous umbrella where people from all across the political spectrum find agreement in one simple thing: democracy.

Americans proudly disagree on values, beliefs, and policies but we can only do that if we stand together to defend our most basic rights. Since the first No Kings Day last June, the peril has only become more pressing.

We’ve gone from armed pageantry to actual troops in the streets, while top governors warn of military threats to our elections. If we wait until next year’s ballot box to fight back, it may already be too late. Now’s the time to push back on authoritarian overlords like we did when we founded this country.

🔥 Of Courage and Costumes👻

No Kings is not America-bashing. It’s a nonviolent, all-inclusive way to honor the promises made in our Constitution. And it’s a celebration for free speech and civic activism.

Make your signs, wear your merch, represent your cause and your mission! The last No Kings Day was a glorious, head-spinning mish-mosh of messaging, where it was almost impossible not to discover new perspectives. Bring it on!

🧙👻🧛‍♂️ In the spirit of the season, we’ve put together our top No Kings costume ideas for ⭐SATURDAY October 18, 2025⭐.  See you at Love Park, the fun starts at noon! Sign up at Mobilize.Us for details and updates. Read more about the movement at nokings.org.

🎭✊ Protest Costume Guide 

Think of these ideas as inspiration, not instructions. YouTube has the how-to’s, Amazon (or Etsy/Temu/etc) has the basics — just add imagination!

Undead Revolutionaries

Pull on your bonnets, breeches, and buckled shoes — then zombify! Sign ideas: “Is Democracy Dead Yet?” “Eat the Oligarchs!” or “Rising for Rights – AGAIN!” Get creative to express your particular brand of outrage.

Abe Lincoln’s Ghost

Of course the Great Emancipator would come back to protest against the current regime of Confederate apologists. Complete the look by writing “RINO” in big letters on Lincoln’s signature black top hat.

No Kings (One Exception)

Dress like Elvis, with rockabilly attitude and a fun sign: “No Kings But Me,” “All Shook Up About Democracy” or “Thankyouverymuch for Protesting Today.”

Jane Goodall, Forever

Khaki shirt or blazer, hiking boots, and a stuffed chimp companion are all you need to honor the woman who spent a lifetime listening instead of shouting. But you could add some safari accessories to really drive the look home. Sign ideas: “Only When We Understand, Will We Care,” “No Kings — Just Creatures,” “Peace, Empathy, Earth.”

Storm Warning

Wear a poncho or clear trash bag “rain slicker,” a name tag that says “National Weatherless Service,” and tape on cardboard clouds, snowflakes, lightning bolts, etc.  Sign: “Forecast: Corruption With a 90% Chance of Disaster,” “Category 5 Authoritarianism,” “No Kings, No NOAA, No Clue.”

Defiant Lady Liberty

This famous landmark sends a powerful message with a simple gag and a sign that says “RESIST”. For a couple’s costume, pair with Uncle Sam wearing a sandwich board that says “I’m With Her!”.

Dark Money Specter

Wear a raggedy black suit or cloak, stuff your pockets with Monopoly money and bitcoin icons. Make up your face so it’s shady and mysterious. Signage suggestions: “Boo! I Bought Your Vote!” or “Citizens United Divided” (in spooky scrawl).

Woke Witch Coven

Pointy hats, dark dresses, Ruth Bader Ginsburg collars. A prop broom makes a great sign-holder for slogans like: “Hex the Patriarchy”, “Covens Not Crowns,” and “Witch, Please —  Release the Epstein Files!”

ICE Clown

Dress in military streetwear with circus flair. Make up your face but then hide it behind a bandana and affix a big red nose on the outside. Top the look off with a rainbow wig and a black ICE hat. Possible signs: “ICE Clowns for CECOT”, “Bozo Bootlicker” and “Oops I Deported Myself.”

Nightmare on DOGE Street

You’re Freddie Krueger with a Tesla logo on your chest, and the words “Jobs Slasher”, “Putin’s Tool” , “Gutting America”, etc across your famous clawed glove. Carry a sign: “Wake Up or Die”.

Billionaire Bloodsucker

A tech bro twist on the classic vampire uniform: fangs, widow’s peak, and a cape over khakis and a quarter-zip logo fleece (ideally Meta, Google, or Amazon). Lanyard and badge from “Drain Taxpayers Dry 2025” conference. Bonus points for chanting “I vant to suck your budget!”

Patient Zero Coverage

Hospital gown over flesh-toned leggings or bodysuit, with sickly makeup and/or some bloody stitches and bandages — as gory as you like (it’s Halloween, after all). Add a paper wrist tag reading “Out-of-Network” — you’re a walking diagnosis for America’s sick system. Pin a sign to you, somewhere: “Survived the ER, Not the Bill.”

Angry Villagers

Add a fake torch or pitchfork to what you wore to the last Renaissance Faire and bingo, you’re a peasant storming the castle! With a friend or two, you’re a mob. Bonus points if one of you dresses up as Frankenstein in a blond wig and long red tie.

Partisan Crasher

You’re the Kool-Aid man, with “Oh Yeah! It’s a Cult!!!” splashed across your belly, and of course, a bright red hat on top. Interactive tip: Hand out Kool-Aid candy for Halloween cheer!

Ben Franklin, Jolted Again

Pull together your best “colonial gentleman” look, with your face and spectacles charred, and your powdered wig frizzed and askew like you’ve been zapped. Sign: “This Is NOT What We Invented.” Most impactful as a group theme, with a whole squad of pained Founding Fathers who are similarly “shocked” and appalled by the current state of our nation.

Vengeful Rainbow

Few things are as terrifying to right-wing interests than LGBTQA+ people out and about, living their best lives and feeling a sense of <gasp> belonging. Bring this fear alive in living color! Sign ideas “Your Woke Nightmare,” “The Secret in Your Closet,” or “I Make Bigots Cry.”

Eggs-cuse Me?

Wear a fried egg costume (or just yellow and white clothing), “seasoned” with cardboard dollar signs. Sign ideas: “Over Easy? Overpriced!” or “Sunny Side Up, Wallet Way Down.”

American Apocalypse

Wear a comfy skeleton onesie with an American flag cape and patriotic accessories to literally embody the nationalistic death grip currently seizing our country. Use a prop scythe as a sign-holder, to share messages like: “RIP MAGA”, “Here Lies Ignorance,” and “Dead to Democracy.”

Butterfly of Justice

Wings out, rage on! “Monarch” here isn’t just a royal pun, these famous natural border-crossers are iconic symbols for immigration solidarity. Pair with your favorite anti-ICE slogan or sail under English-speaking radars with “Chinga La Migra” 🤭.

The Press Corps(e)

Business clothes, notebook, camera, badge, “PRESS” fedora — but with spectral or zombified makeup to embody the death of local journalism. Sign: “Democracy Dies When Newspapers Do.”

Werewolves of Mar-a-Largo

Wolf mask and claws with a Hawaiian shirt on top – open of course – and a towel wrapped around your bottom half. Sign ideas: “Predator in Paradise” or “Dirty Old Dog” or “Teen Wolf”.  Great group costume! Bonus points if someone wears a t-shirt with the infamous “birthday doodle” on it.

Medical Advisor from Hell

Conjure a demonic RFK Jr in jeans and a lab coat over fake abs, in a knitted brain beanie pinned with toy worms. Drive home the danger with signs: “Let’s Go Polio!” “Measles 2025” and “The Worms Are Right About Everything.” Suggested complementary costumes: “Miss Information” and “Ma Practice.”

Literal Dumpster Fire

Did you know Amazon sells an “iconic” flaming trash bin costume with flashing LED lights (!!) for “chaos-worthy” energy? Hard to think of a better walking metaphor for the times. (PS there’s also an inflatable one!)

❓🤔 Can’t decide?

Go purple: the anti-costume costume. Not blue, not red, but both together. Once the color of kings, now the hue of their undoing. United under one vibrant banner, the people will prevail! 💜💪👑💥💜

Agree? Disagree? Please leave your comments and questions below. To learn more, click the links to costumes and context.

Images via Indivisible Philly’s Facebook & Instagram (and also The Local)