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Vienna–Oct. 18, 2025

I took a train to Vienna today to participate in the “No Kings” protest (named “No Tyrants“ here in Europe presumably because there are countries that do have monarchs, though they are primarily figureheads).

A few pictures from the train ride:

Church seen from distance
Small houses in foreground, rolling hills in background
Meadow in foreground, lush green trees in background with a cleared strip in middle

The Protest

Maybe about 100 people, most of them Americans living in Vienna. Most of the signs were hand-lettered, with a few that were professionally printed.

The whole thing lasted about an hour, with three speakers (one an Austrian journalist who covers political trends), some “street theater“ which I found very cringe-y, and a guy who sang a few protest songs quite well.

Woman in a banana costume holding a picture of a screaming banana with a crown. Text on sign reads “Power gone bananas”
Person in inflatable frog costume holding a sign for “Oregon Frog Brigade”
Sign with text “Solidarität mit Portland” and hands forming a heart. At right, a logo showing a frog wearing a helmet giving a V sign; text on logo is Portland Frog Brigade

Solidarity with Portland

Sign: Trump & Republicans are trampling on the rights of Americans and democracy itself. ”I hate my opponent(s) and I don’t want the best for them.” -- Trump. A plush frog is attached to the bottom of the sign.
Sign: Democracy doesn’t fear protest / Dictators do
No racist ICE raids

This looks way too much like Comic Sans font for my tastes.

No Kings in the USA. Has drawing of a crown with the slash of a “no” circle through the interior of the crown.
Raise your voice / All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent
Crown with a red X through it. Below it, the phrase “NO DICTATORS” repeated vertically six times.

The protest was in front of Karlskirche, and the architecture deserved some photos:

Ornately carved column with gold filligree at top in front of a church dome.
Closeup of carving showing reliefwork of religious scenes.

Signage / Graffiti

Large sculpture of a human ear, painted with splotches of varying colors. At left, a banner reading FUNKHAUS

This is in front of a radio station.

Large face with red eyes and heavy shadowing of features
Water fountain with pump handle

Really cool old-style water fountain.

Advert for pistachio pudding: Willst du mit mir löffeln?

Do you want to spoon with me?

Advert for strawberry chocolate yogurt. Text: Liebe auf den ersten Löffel

Love at first spoonful

Kuh-R-Code scannen! with an arrow pointing to a QR code

Scan the Cow-R-Code. The letter „Q“ in German is pronounced “koo”, the same as the word „Kuh“, which means “cow”.

Photo of man with clothespins holding his mouth into a smile. Text: Depression kann ich mir nicht leisten.

I can’t afford to look depressed.

Partially torn-off Andre the Giant grafitti

Finally, this series of zebra-striping art on Argentinierstraße:

Abstract curved zebra-striping on wall
Abstract zebra striping, mostly horizontal
Zebra striping that forms a semicircular pattern
Zebra striping that looks like a sound wave moving through air
abstract shape zebra striping
Abstract zebra striping. Above it, someone has written VITA BREVIS, ARS LONGA
Zebra striping that somewhat resembles a head on wide shoulders