华盛顿 - 退休教师萨宾·卡尔森手持一把写有“投票、权力、人民”字样的雨伞，她说10月17日“无国王”游行的行动纲领非常明确。
WASHINGTON - Carrying an umbrella painted with the words “vote, power, people,” retired teacher Sabine Carlson said the lesson plan for the Oct 17 “No King” marches was clear.
“表达愤怒很好，我们也有很长的抱怨清单，但最重要的是去投票，”来自华盛顿郊区的66岁民主党人卡尔森对法新社说。
“It’s great to voice your anger, and we have long lists of complaints, but the most important thing of all is to go and vote,” the 66-year-old Democrat from Washington’s suburbs told AFP.
在靠近美国国会大厦的示威活动中，卡尔森参加了美国反特朗普运动在10月17日组织的约3000场活动之一。
At the demonstration near the country’s Capitol, Carlson joined one of the estimated 3,000 events organised by the prominent anti-Trump movement across the United States on Oct 17.
与其举办大规模游行，最新的“无国王”活动在全国各地形式各异——有鸣笛车队、音乐会和社区聚会。这是自美国总统唐纳德·特朗普于2025年1月重返白宫以来，此类示威的第四次。
Rather than holding massive marches, the latest “No Kings” events varied across the country – with honking convoys, concerts and neighbourhood gatherings. It was the fourth iteration of the demonstrations since US President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025.
该活动的公开目标是激发选民热情，因为美国人正开始在中期选举中投票，届时在国会中占多数的共和党人将面临激烈的反对。
The stated goal of the event was to fire up voters just as Americans begin casting ballots in the midterm elections, where Republicans, who hold the majority in Congress, face fierce opposition.
民主党人希望通过围绕生活成本问题和中东一场不受欢迎的战争开展竞选来夺回国会控制权。
Democrats are seeking to take control of Congress by campaigning on cost of living issues and an unpopular war in the Middle East.
这些活动聚焦于11月3日选举日之前的提前投票，范围从纽约到洛杉矶等蓝色据点城市，再到全国各地的小城镇。
Focused on early voting ahead of election day on Nov 3, the events ranged from New York to Los Angeles and other blue stronghold cities, to small towns across the nation.
“我认为这是即将到来的最重要的投票之一，让人们意识到这一点非常重要，同时也要确保他们知道去哪里查询投票流程，并确保他们正确登记，”卡尔森说。“别去错的投票站。”“一种快乐的行为”美国大多数地区允许选民在选举日之前提前投票，有时甚至可以提前几周。
“I think it’s one of the most important votes that is coming up, and it’s really important to make people aware, and also make sure they know where to look up the procedures and make sure they’re registered correctly,” Carlson said. “Don’t go to the wrong polling station.”‘An act of joy’Most areas of the United States allow voters to cast their ballots ahead of time, sometimes weeks in advance.
民主守望组织“共同事业”负责基层组织工作的阿尔玛·库弗蒂说，“无国王”集会的目的就是“把投票夺回其真正含义：一种权力的行为，一种服务的行为，以及一种快乐的行为”。
Alma Couverthie, who oversees grassroots-organising efforts for democracy watchdog Common Cause, said the point of the “No Kings” rallies was “reclaiming voting for what it truly is: an act of power, an act of service, and an act of joy”.
特朗普公开批评邮寄投票的做法，反对者表示担心政府将试图破坏选举结果——尤其是如果共和党最终输掉选举，正如民意调查所示的那样。
Trump has openly criticised the practice of mail-in voting, and opponents have expressed concern that the administration will attempt to undermine the results – especially if Republicans end up losing, as opinion polls show is likely.
通过倡导提前投票，“无国王”组织者希望切断任何不法行为的可能性。
By advocating for voting early, “No Kings” organisers hope to cut off the potential for any malfeasance.
“防止此次选举日后政府出现任何花招的最佳方式，就是确保我们的投票人数巨大、清晰且压倒性，以至于我们为民主赢得的胜利无法被质疑，”库弗蒂说。“我们要把国家夺回来”一名52岁的退伍军人于10月17日参加抗议活动，他这样做是为了从当前美国政治状态中获得宣泄。
“The best way to prevent any funny business from this administration after election day is to make sure that our turnout is massive, so clear and so overwhelming that our victory for democracy is impossible to question,” Couverthie said. ‘We want our country back’One 52-year-old military veteran who joined the Oct 17 protest did so seeking catharsis from the current state of American politics.
“我对自己曾以为在为之服务的东西与这个国家如今所成为的样子感到极度失望，”这位弗吉尼亚州居民告诉法新社，拒绝透露自己的姓名。
“I am so disillusioned by what I thought I was serving versus what this country has become,” the Virginia resident told AFP, declining to give his name.
“在过去的18个月里——我最终在六个月前得出了这个结论——我一直在为我的国家哀悼。”他手举写有“为人类投票。立刻结束这场闹剧。我们要把国家夺回来”的雨伞，并表示他希望看到“美国人民在11月3日作出强有力的回应”。除了华盛顿之外，志同道合的美国人也表达了类似的希望和担忧。
“Over the last 18 months – I finally came to this conclusion about six months ago – I’ve been mourning my country.”Carrying an umbrella with the message “Vote for humanity. End this circus now. We want our country back,” he said he hoped to see “a robust response come Nov 3 from the American people”. Beyond Washington, likeminded Americans echoed his hopes and fears.
在北卡罗来纳州加斯顿尼亚的一座教堂外，妇女们举着写有“为民主按喇叭”和“制定投票计划！”的标语。在缅因州波特兰，示威者裹紧衣物以抵御秋日的寒意，挥舞着美国国旗，举着写有“你的投票就是你的声音”和“无国王，无懦夫柯林斯”的标语——这是指共和党现任参议员苏珊·柯林斯，她正面临艰难的连任竞选。
Outside a church in Gastonia, North Carolina, women carried signs that read “Honk for Democracy” and “Make a plan to vote!”In Portland, Maine, demonstrators bundled up against the autumn chill waved the American flag and carried signs reading “Your Vote is Your Voice” and “No Kings, No Cowards Collins,” in reference to Republican incumbent Senator Susan Collins, who faces a tough re-election race.
在佛罗里达州威尔顿马诺尔斯，示威者们在晴朗的一天里穿着短裤和太阳镜，举着写有“够了，就是够了”的标语。
In Wilton Manors, Florida, demonstrators spent the sunny day sporting shorts and sunglasses, carrying signs reading “Enough is enough”.