Organisers announce a fourth ‘No Kings’ protest for March 28, 2026, aiming for 9 million participants to oppose the Trump administration’s immigration policies and executive power expansion nationwide.
Organisers of the anti-Trump No Kings movement have announced plans for a fourth nationwide day of protest on March 28. Organisers and activists are now setting their sights on an unprecedented goal: a 9-million-person turnout following a year of escalating tensions between the second Trump administration and a burgeoning resistance.
This projected figure would not only dwarf previous rallies but would establish the event as the largest single-day demonstration in the history of the United States.
A movement born of defiance and tragedy
The No Kings protests first captured national attention on June 14, 2025, when organisers reported turnout in the millions, with rallies and marches in more than 2,000 cities and towns nationwide.
The “No Kings” moniker, coined by the 50501 Movement and championed by groups like Indivisible and MoveOn has become a rallying cry against what critics describe as an accelerating slide into authoritarianism. While previous demonstrations in June and October 2025 drew between 5 and 7 million people, the upcoming March 28 mobilisation is fuelled by a new, visceral wave of public outrage.
The focal point of the next round of protests has shifted significantly toward Minneapolis. Recent weeks have seen the city transformed into a national symbol of resistance following a federal immigration crackdown that resulted in the deaths of two US citizens during clashes with federal agents. Ezra Levin, co-executive director of Indivisible, said that the March date was chosen to allow for “unprecedented preparation” regarding safety and security.
“We cannot respond to lawlessness and violence by being unwilling to go out into the streets,” Levin stated, framing the event as a necessary exercise of constitutional rights in the face of what he termed a “secret police force.”
The science of resistance: Chasing the 3.5% rule
Beyond the immediate outrage over immigration raids and executive overreach, the “No Kings” movement is increasingly leaning into a strategic framework known as the “3.5% rule.” Political scientists including Harvard’s Erica Chenoweth, have historically noted that no nonviolent movement has failed to achieve significant political change once it consistently mobilises 3.5% of a population.
With an aimed turnout of 9 million, the movement is effectively attempting to reach that critical mass. Analysts suggest that the “No Kings” rallies are no longer just sporadic outbursts of frustration but are evolving into a structured, sustained campaign. This evolution is seen in the “Day of Defiance” branding and the expanding list of 2,700 protest locations, ranging from major metropolitan hubs like New York and Los Angeles to small suburban enclaves. T
he movement is also gaining international traction with solidarity events planned across European capitals including London, Paris, and Berlin, indicating that the “No Kings” sentiment has transcended domestic borders.
March 28: A new inflection point
Organisers now say that March 28 will be the most ambitious day of action yet, building on the momentum of previous No Kings protests and responding to recent developments that have intensified public scrutiny of federal policies. In particular, a controversial crackdown in Minneapolis including federal enforcement actions that left two people dead has added urgency to their mobilisation efforts, according to statements from movement leaders.
“We expect this to be the largest protest in American history,” said Ezra Levin, co-executive director of the non-profit Indivisible, one of the principal coalition partners. Levin suggested turnout could reach 9 million people across the United States, an unprecedented scale if realised.
This figure represents a significant escalation from earlier estimates and mirrors the broader ambitions of the No Kings organisers, who have spent months building local organising networks, security trainings and community mobilisation infrastructure in anticipation of the spring demonstration.
A key theme of the movement continues to be opposition to what participants describe as undemocratic or overreaching governance, including federal immigration enforcement actions, expanded use of military and law enforcement powers domestically, and other controversial executive measures.
Political and social backdrop
The No Kings protests have attracted mixed responses. Many supporters portray the movement as a defence of constitutional rights and grassroots democracy. Critics including some Republican officials have dismissed the rallies as partisan or exaggerated, contending that they do not represent a broad cross-section of American opinion.
President Trump has previously attempted to undercut the narrative of No Kings demonstrations, insisting he is “not a king” and questioning the representativeness of protest turnout.
While analysts caution that exact turnout figures are difficult to verify independently, there is broad agreement that the protests have drawn substantial participation and reflected deep national divisions over governance, civil liberties and public policy.
Looking ahead, March 28’s planned action will serve both as a test of the movement’s organisational reach and a flashpoint in the broader political contest over the direction of American democracy with results likely to shape public discourse in the run-up to the 2026 midterm elections.
End of Article
