Are there fewer students at No Kings Rallies?

Demonstrators are expected to gather in communities across the country on June 14 for a new round of No Kings events for a special No Kings livestreamed show.

The actions come three months after No Kings demonstrations drew millions of people nationwide.

But while turnout has been strong overall, some organizers say young people, and college students, have been less visible in recent protests.

For Rocky Mountain Community Radio, CU Boulder journalism student Lila Nuttle reports on student participation at the last No Kings rally– and what’s keeping some young people from joining the movement.

“Accessibility plays a huge role in whether people attend protests,” she states. “An anti-ICE walkout on campus earlier this year drew large crowds of students from classes. Compared with an off-campus protest on a weekend, there are more incentives for students to participate in it.”

Another factor in students’ attendance of these protests is social pressure. Protests on campus put a level of pressure on students to attend due to the fact that their friends may also be attending.

 Regardless of student attendance, the crowd in Boulder showed up in force on No Kings Day, with around 10,000 people filling the streets, and while many encouraged students to attend, their absence didn’t dampen the energy of the protest.