Millions Take to the Street for Anti-Trump “No Kings” Rallies

By Lyra Dvorin ‘28

On March 28, millions across the US gathered in “No Kings” protests opposing the second Trump Administration. According to PBS, an estimated eight million people showed their support in over 3,300 protests across all 50 states, potentially the largest single-day protest in the nation’s history. The protests were spurred by widespread frustration, particularly among progressives, with recent events, including the war in Iran, immigration enforcement, and general Trump Administration policy.

Major protests occurred in the Twin Cities, following a recent aggressive immigration crackdown in Minneapolis with the killing of two American citizens, Renée Good and Alex Pretti, by federal agents. Despite unfavorable weather on the day, thousands of protesters marched towards the Capitol in St. Paul, carrying banners and flags. According to The New York Times, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety estimated attendance numbers were around 100,000 people, while No Kings organizers estimated around 200,000 protesters participated, making it the largest rally in state history. The protests drew many well known speakers, including Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Speakers criticized Operation Metro Surge, a controversial Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) crackdown that resulted in approximately 3,700 arrests, according to CBS News. They also condemned the Trump Administration’s choices surrounding conflict with Iran. Singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen took to the stage, performing his song “Streets of Minneapolis,” written in response to the deaths of Good and Pretti. Additionally, folk singer Joan Baez sang “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round,” a song that she had originally performed 60 years prior with Martin Luther King Jr.

Closer to Milton, 180,000 people gathered on Boston Common in protest. The rally featured speakers including Senator Ed Markey and Governor Maura Healey. “Bottom line here is that for 250 years we haven’t had kings in Massachusetts,” Healey said, “and we’re not going backward.” Markey echoed her sentiment, stating that “Donald Trump is a walking, talking constitutional crisis every minute that he is inside the Oval Office.” Attendants carried a wide variety of signs, speaking out on many different topics—but still primarily focused on ICE and the war with Iran. Ren Hirose ’28, who attended the protest in New York City, explained that he participated because “[he] believe[s] that it is really important to exercise the First amendment right.”

In response to the protests, which were primarily led by Democrats, the Minnesota GOP shared a statement: “The irony of this protest is hard to miss. The people behind it aren’t fighting for democracy; they’re defending a political dynasty of one-party rule, reckless spending, and government overreach.” Similarly, the White House itself released a statement calling the protests “Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions.”

The March 28 rallies are far from the first protests that have occurred during the second Trump Administration. No Kings has organized three protests in the course of this term thus far, this one being preceded by one in October 2025 and another in June 2025. “No Kings was conceived to unite a cross-movement push against authoritarianism. And there is not one way to fight it,” explained Indivisible Project—founder of the No Kings movement—co-executive director Leah Greenberg. “We see No Kings as part of a tapestry of defiance that is going on.” Americans have demonstrated their discontent with the current administration across many events, including “ICE Out” protests in Los Angeles and Chicago and boycotts of corporations tied to Trump, such as Target, Tesla, and Amazon. “I think the purpose for the events is to keep the Democratic base engaged and build up momentum going into a consequential midterm,” said Hirose. “I hope that these protests will bring attention to voters who do vote Democratic but don’t turn out often and tell them how consequential their vote is this year.”

According to organizers, the ultimate success of these No Kings and other related rallies now depend on whether protestors are able to organize in local communities and to increase other services, such as know-your-rights training and mutual aid, reported The Guardian. “What we think is actually important are the ways in which these large-scale gatherings fuel ongoing organizing that might look like economic non-cooperation, local mutual aid organizing or legislative advocacy at the state or local level,” elaborated Greenberg. Across United States history, movements—similar in many ways to No Kings—have influenced the country in ways ranging from returning land to Native American groups to passing civil rights legislation. According to Greenberg, No Kings, echoing the strategies of these older movements, aims to create change across the nation.