No Kings Movement Explodes Across All 50 States
The No Kings movement has shaken the United States following simultaneous mass actions held at more than 3,300 locations across all 50 states on Saturday (28/3). This demonstration serves as a symbol of rejection against President Donald Trump’s leadership, which is perceived as increasingly authoritarian.
The No Kings action represents the third major mobilisation from a grassroots movement that has developed in response to growing public disappointment with the government.
Thousands to millions of citizens took to the streets carrying the same message: rejecting the concentration of power and defending democracy.
Demonstrators highlighted various policies deemed to erode democratic values, from tightened immigration, restrictions on abortion rights, to the United States’ involvement in new armed conflicts.
Although not focused on a single issue, the No Kings movement broadly criticises the expansion of executive power.
“This is about everything,” said Caitlin Pease, a participant in the action who was attending a demonstration for the first time in Upstate New York.
The No Kings action took place amid declining public approval ratings for Trump, including from some of his own supporters. Several policies came under sharp scrutiny, such as the conflict with Iran that killed 13 US military personnel, surges in fuel prices, and rises in essential goods prices due to tariff policies.
On the other hand, Republican politicians view the No Kings movement as ineffective, while Trump called the action a “joke”.
However, the coalition of progressive groups that initiated the action claims that the number of participants this time exceeded previous records. In the October demonstration, around 7 million people were reported to have participated.
The No Kings movement reached almost the entire US territory, from major cities to conservative areas, including Alaska and regions around Mar-a-Lago. This shows that the wave of rejection is not limited to one political base.
The largest demonstration was reported in front of the Minnesota State Capitol. Ezra Levin, one of the founders of Indivisible, called it the largest action in the state’s history.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz even expressed open support.
“When democracy is threatened, Minnesota says no,” he stated firmly.
The No Kings movement has also developed globally. Solidarity actions were held in various cities around the world such as Rome, Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam, Sydney, and Tokyo, indicating international resonance with the democracy issues in the US.
In Washington DC, the demonstration took place at the National Mall up to around the White House. The crowd carried banners reading “Fight for Democracy” and “History Has Its Eyes on Us”.
Some participants admitted to being worried about showing their identities because they work in government agencies. However, many chose to speak out.
“I used to be afraid of losing my job, but not anymore,” said Kim, a federal employee.
Through the No Kings movement, demonstrators hope not only to build public awareness but also to push for real political change, including in upcoming elections.