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PHOTOS: Alexandria ‘No Kings’ rally targets midterms and ballot amendments

By James Cullum
Crowd of diverse protesters holding signs like "VOTE YES" and an American flag at a rally for voting rights and kindness.
A line of protesters on a sidewalk holding signs; central figure with orange vest and another man holding a 'NO KINGS' sign with a cartoon of a political figure.
A diverse group of protesters on a city street, holding signs urging people to vote and defend democracy, including a sign that says “Get Out The Vote.”
Crowd of protesters holding handmade signs with messages like 'VOTE EARLY' and 'NO KINGS' at a street-side demonstration.
Protesters hold a bright banner reading 'Do You Have a Plan to Vote?' with a pink unicorn mascot behind them on a grassy sidewalk edge of a street.
Group of protesters holding signs that read 'Vote Early! No Kings!' at a rally.
Person standing on a suburban sidewalk holding a large handwritten protest sign that says 'ABOLISH ICE' with smaller text about immigrants being welcome here, in front of brick houses and greenery.
Crowd of protesters along a street, holding signs; central sign reads 'We are a nation of immigrants' with an American flag graphic
Person holding a poster with the word NO and a colorful crown drawing in a glittery gold frame outdoors.
Group of protesters lined along a sidewalk holding signs and small American flags during a demonstration.
Crowd of protesters holding No Kings sign and American flags at a street rally; Virginia state seal visible on one sign.
Two people stand on a sunny curb holding a large yellow banner that reads 'VOTE EARLY' across the frame behind a sidewalk.
People line up outside a brick campus building on a sunny day; a 'No campaigning' sign is in the foreground near a lamp post.
Woman wearing pink shirt holds a 'MY VOTE COUNTS' sign, smiling for a photo outdoors while another person takes her picture in a park setting.
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With a focus on turning words into early votes, a fourth “No Kings” protest in Alexandria took place over the weekend.

On Saturday, protestors lined Duke Street outside Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library (5005 Duke Street) holding signs criticizing the Trump administration and encouraging voters to cast early ballots in the run-up to the Nov. 3 midterm elections. The two-day event, organized by Indivisible Do Something Alexandria, was part of a nationwide “No Kings” day of action.

The midterms will decide which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. In Alexandria, elections include the seats of Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Rep. Don Beyer (D-8). Three constitutional amendments on reproductive rights, same-sex marriage and voting rights for felons are also on the ballot.

Del. R. Kirk McPike (D-5) is co-chair of a statewide campaign to repeal Virginia’s unenforceable ban on same-sex marriage. He stood with demonstrators outside Beatley Library holding a sign asking people to vote yes on the three constitutional amendments.

“We have the opportunity not just to vote to change Congress — we can vote to proactively protect our own rights here, in our constitution,” McPike told ALXnow. “Now is the time to actually get people into those polls to vote. This is when we take the country back.”

On Sunday, Oct. 18, the first day of early voting, Vanessa Scercy-Mitchell said she felt relieved after casting her vote and walking out of the Beatley Library.

“All the work that has gone before me and my family and ancestors to have the right to vote, I don’t want that tampered with,” Scercy-Mitchell told ALXnow. “Nor do I want a woman’s rights tampered with, and I want a person who has paid their debt to society to be able to vote. Those things are important to me.”

Voters can cast in-person early ballots at Beatley Library and at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections (132 N Royal Street).

More of ALXnow’s “No Kings” protest coverage is below.

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.