Mark Ruffalo Leads No Kings Protest in New York City, Inspires Crowd with “Together, We’re the Avengers Now” Call for Bravery and Unity Against Oppression
Thousands gathered in New York City on June 14, 2025, for the nationwide “No Kings” protests against President Donald Trump’s policies. Actor Mark Ruffalo, known for playing the Hulk in Marvel films, gave a powerful speech comparing the crowd to the Avengers.
The protests happened on the same day as Trump’s military parade in Washington, D.C., celebrating his 79th birthday. Ruffalo called the event a waste of taxpayer money and urged people to stand up for democracy.
“We’re going to have to be brave if we want to be free,” Ruffalo told the crowd. “Being brave for what we hold dear — our freedoms, our democracy, and each other — it’s on us, guys. Literally, together, we’re the Avengers now. No one’s gonna come and save us, man. Americans unite.”
The “No Kings” movement opposes Trump’s executive orders, immigration policies, and what protesters see as authoritarian rule. Ruffalo criticized the administration for ignoring court orders and increasing deportations.
“We see a president who has made himself a king and dictator,” he said in an MSNBC interview. “We don’t see an opposition powerful enough to stand up against the trampling of our rights and the Constitution.”
Ruffalo also mentioned the arrest of California Senator Alex Padilla by Homeland Security agents. He called it a sign of growing dictatorship. Over 2,000 protests took place across the U.S., with celebrities like Susan Sarandon, Kerry Washington, and Jimmy Kimmel joining.
In Los Angeles, protests against ICE raids led to a curfew and National Guard deployment. Ruffalo linked the demonstrations to America’s founding principles.
“We didn’t want to be ruled by a king, or a monarch, or a dictator, or a supreme leader, or some crappy-ass CEO,” he said, referencing Trump’s business background.
Other stars like Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Glenn Close also attended rallies. Louis-Dreyfus held a sign saying, “The only monarch I like is a butterfly.” Singer Gracie Abrams shared a Desmond Tutu quote: “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”
Ruffalo’s speech went viral, with fans online joking, “Trump: I have an army. Us: we have a Hulk.” The protests highlight ongoing tensions over immigration, executive power, and democracy under Trump’s second term.
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