Project Protest: First Amendment
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” — U.S. Const. amend. I
Demonstrators gather at Believe Plaza in downtown Reno, Nev., on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. No Kings, a nationwide demonstration to protest what many view as the administration’s turn toward authoritarianism. Photo by Amanda Avilla/Our Town Reno
Demonstrators dressed in inflatable squirrel, axolotl and pterodactyl costumes join a No Kings protest at Believe Plaza in downtown Reno, Nev., on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. Photo by Amanda Avilla/Our Town Reno
Shannon, 22, joins other Gen Z demonstrators at a No Kings protest at Believe Plaza in downtown Reno, Nev., on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. “I’m here because I truly do love America and I don’t think it’s ever been what our Declaration of Independence has described, and I feel like especially right now we’re slipping back further than we have in recent times,” she said. Photo by Amanda Avilla/Our Town Reno.
A protester holds a sign reading “If your voice held no power they wouldn’t try to silence you,” attributed to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, at a No Kings protest at Believe Plaza in downtown Reno, Nev., on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. Photo by Amanda Avilla/Our Town Reno
A woman carries a “No Kings” poster as she walks among other demonstrators at Believe Plaza in downtown Reno, Nev., on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. Photo by Amanda Avilla/Our Town Reno
A demonstrator in an inflatable frog costume stands at Believe Plaza in downtown Reno, Nev., during a No Kings protest on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Photo by Amanda Avilla/Our Town Reno
Reno High School students call on their classmates during a walkout against ICE presence in local communities at Believe Plaza in downtown Reno, Nev., on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. Photo by Amanda Avilla
A young child sits on a man’s shoulders among high school and middle school students and families who gathered at Believe Plaza in downtown Reno, Nev., for an ICE Out walkout on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. Photo by Amanda Avilla
Students hold signs during an ICE Out walkout at Believe Plaza in downtown Reno, Nev., on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. Photo by Amanda Avilla
A student writes with chalk beside a sign reading “Fascism is not freedom” during an ICE Out walkout at Believe Plaza in downtown Reno, Nev., on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. Photo by Amanda Avilla
Students march toward police vehicles on South Virginia Street as they cross the bridge near Believe Plaza in downtown Reno, Nev., during an ICE Out walkout on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. Photo by Amanda Avilla
A teenage boy runs through the crowd with a Mexican flag and a U.S. flag at the Believe Plaza in downtown Reno, Nev., on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. Photo by Amanda Avilla
Protest: First Amendment
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” U.S. Const. amend. I
Since 2025, thousands of people have filled downtown Reno to march, walk out of class and speak up, from the No Kings protests to the student walkouts against ICE presence in local communities. This project documents who shows up: students, families, longtime activists, and the local organizations and businesses that stand behind each other’s right to assemble.
The people in these photos take note to show their disappointment and distrust over what federal and state government are allowing to happen.
I photograph and write down what they say and do, and Nevadans keep showing up.