Widespread protests against President Donald Trump erupted across the United States, exactly one month after the start of the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict. On Saturday, March 28, demonstrators took to the streets in what marked the third wave of the ‘No Kings’ movement since Trump began his second term.
According to the No Kings website, over 3,300 events were planned across 50 states, with major gatherings in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C. Parallel demonstrations were held in Rome, Paris, and Berlin. Organizers focused on mobilizing participants outside major cities, in conservative regions, highlighting the movement’s geographic reach. Leah Greenberg, co-founder of the progressive nonprofit Indivisible, said:
“The story of this movement is not just how many people are protesting, but where they are protesting.”
The largest protest took place in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota, a site that experienced intense federal actions last December under Trump’s Operation Metro Surge, where over 3,000 federal immigration officers conducted forced removals. Two U.S. citizens, Alex Pretti and Renny Nicole Good, were killed during that operation, sparking nationwide outrage. Saturday’s Minneapolis gathering paid tribute to them.
Progressive Senator Bernie Sanders addressed the Minneapolis crowd, while rock legend Bruce Springsteen and folk singer Joan Baez performed live. Actor Robert De Niro shared a pre-recorded video message, stating:
“Your courage and commitment inspire us all. You have shown bravery in the face of armed attacks by government enforcers.”
In Washington D.C., demonstrators gathered near the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, holding signs and chanting slogans. At the Sanders rally, he emphasized:
“We will not let this country sink into authoritarianism or the rule of the wealthy. In America, the people will govern.”
Previous ‘No Kings’ marches occurred in June and October last year, drawing millions of participants. This wave of protests comes ahead of the midterm elections this November, adding to the nation’s mounting political tensions.
