United States and Canada Overview: December 2025

Radical group trends

This section provides key figures on far-right and white nationalist groups.¹

Demonstration trends

This section provides key figures on demonstration events, which includes incidents categorized as "Protests," and "Violent demonstrations" as recorded by ACLED. For more information on event and sub-event types, see the ACLED Codebook

United States: Migration crackdown operations trigger pro-migrant demonstrations 

In response to the Trump administration’s migration crackdown, demonstrations showing support for migrants have surged. Though last month’s No Kings II demonstrations saw pro-migration demonstrators mobilize across the country, in November these demonstrations were most concentrated in states like Illinois and North Carolina, where law enforcement agencies conducted major migration-related operations. 

In North Carolina, daily demonstrations across the state in support of migrants were held from 15  to 25 November amid the Department of Homeland Security’s Operation Charlotte’s Web — centered on the city of Charlotte — that the agency claimed resulted in over 270 arrests.³ During at least two of these demonstrations, demonstrators attempted to physically prevent federal agents from carrying out arrests by blocking roadways with their vehicles and bodies. Over three-quarters of all demonstrations in North Carolina last month showed support for migrants, the highest proportion of any state with at least five demonstrations. 

Illinois saw the highest number of pro-migration demonstrations of any state last month amid ICE’s ongoing Operation Midway Blitz, though the operation appeared to be winding down toward the end of November.⁴ Following a trend established in the previous months of the operation, regular demonstrations took place outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broadview, Illinois, resulting in at least 40 arrests at the facility. In at least two instances, demonstrators attempted to physically block access to the facility, leading to some scuffles with federal agents. In Chicago, an 8 November demonstration that formed around Border Patrol agents as they conducted an arrest turned violent, with some demonstrators throwing cans of paint and bricks, and at least four others ramming their cars into agents’ vehicles. A man who was not affiliated with the demonstration also fired gunshots at the agents, though he caused no injuries and was later arrested.⁵

United States: Red Cup Rebellion strike leads to spike in demonstrations

On 13 November, 92% of workers unionized with Starbucks Workers United, which represents more than 14,000 baristas across the country, voted to begin a strike to demand higher pay, better staffing, and the resolution of unfair labor practice charges.⁶ The strike is dubbed the “Red Cup Rebellion” – a reference to the company’s Red Cup Day promotion. It began with 65 stores and gradually expanded, accompanied by demonstrations led by workers and supporters.⁷ As a result, demonstrations involving the union reached their highest monthly levels in 2025. 

The largest concentration of these demonstrations in November was in New York, home to the first unionized Starbucks. The second-largest number of Starbucks worker demonstrations was in Pennsylvania, where protesters blocked the country's largest Starbucks distribution center.

The first Starbucks-owned store voted to unionize less than four years ago, in December 2021.⁸ Since then, the growing union has led hundreds of demonstrations, many of which have centered around what it describes as Starbucks’ “union busting” tactics.⁹ A major goal of the Red Cup Rebellion is to achieve the unionized Starbucks workers’ first contract, which they have yet to receive.¹⁰ Starbucks claimed that 99% of its stores remained open, and said that it had achieved record sales for its Red Cup Day promotion.