The largest protest so far! 50 states across the U.S. + over 3,000 cities + approximately 9 million participants

Number of participants hits a new high; opponents of a U.S. attack on Iraq across the nation; residents in 3,000 cities nationwide chant “No Kings”

As of March 28 local time, more than 3,000 cities across the United States, in over 50 states, held a large-scale protest event called “No Kings,” opposing multiple policies of the Trump administration, including immigration enforcement and the war with Iraq. Organizers said the protest is the largest of its kind to date, with 9 million participants. The Washington Post said the “No Kings” protests have spread worldwide; in addition to the United States, large cities in at least 15 other countries also held rallies. The international community generally worries that the war on Iraq launched by Trump may turn into an even larger-scale bloodshed conflict. The White House and the Republican Party dismissed the protests, criticizing them as “hate-America rallies” and a product of “a left-wing funding network.” What impact would such a large-scale protest have on U.S. politics and the midterm elections scheduled for the second half of the year, sparking heated discussion in the U.S. media.

On March 28, in Lexington, Massachusetts, the public took part in a “No Kings” demonstration. (Visual China)

About 9 million people participated

According to Reuters, protests under the theme of “No Kings” began on June 14, 2025. The first event drew about 5 million participants and was held across roughly 2,100 cities in the United States. Based on an analysis by the well-known data reporter Morris, the second event in October last year is estimated to have involved 7 million participants across more than 2,700 cities in the United States. The event on March 28 is the third mobilization, and it is the largest to date, with an estimated 9 million participants. Organizers said they hope to convey their message by opposing the ongoing chaotic policies of the Trump administration.

The New York Times said the sweeping show of force has played out across television screens, social media, and towns in all 50 U.S. states. Organizers estimated that more than 3,300 protests were held nationwide that day, covering major cities such as Washington, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Boston. In New York, protests covered all five boroughs, and the New York City deployed thousands of police officers that day to maintain public order. In the capital, Washington, a rally parade formed by more than a thousand demonstrators marched across the Arlington Memorial Bridge, gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial, and chanted slogans such as “Fight for Democracy.” In Los Angeles, about 100,000 people held protests in the downtown area. They waved American flags and held placards criticizing the U.S. government’s immigration policies, economic policies, foreign policy, and actions that unlawfully expand executive power.

Many media outlets mentioned that a key characteristic of the “No Kings” protests is their loosely organized nature. They do not present a single specific demand, nor do they interfere with protesters’ demands. In the March 28 event, the placards held by protesters covered a wide range of issues, including calls to “shut down Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),” calls for democracy and diversity, and protests against the U.S. war on Iraq and the ensuing surge in oil prices.

St. Paul, the state capital of Minnesota, was the main host city for the nationwide protests. Although the weather was cold, organizers estimated that still 100,000 people attended that day’s event. On January 7, ICE officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, shot and killed U.S. citizen Good while apprehending an illegal immigrant. On January 24, another immigration-enforcement shooting occurred locally, killing U.S. citizen Preeti. These incidents sparked large-scale protests.

On March 28, prominent political figures such as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, and U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar took the stage at the protest site in front of the Capitol. Large banners on the steps behind the stage periodically changed, with content including “Shut down U.S. military bases, bring the soldiers back home, and revolution starts in Minnesota.”

The Associated Press said organizers stated that on March 28, demonstrations were also held in a dozen countries, including Europe, Latin America, and Australia. In Rome, thousands marched while chanting slogans attacking Prime Minister Meloni. Protesters also waved banners condemning Israel and the U.S. attacks on Iran. In London, demonstrators held banners with slogans such as “Stop the far-right forces” and “Against racism.”

White House hits out

“Saturday’s event isn’t just about how many people show up—it’s also about where they protest.” Reuters quoted statements by organizers of the “No Kings” protests, saying that in Republican strongholds such as Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and Utah, there was a surge in both the number of people organizing protests and the number of registrations to participate. In those competitive suburban areas that have previously had decisive influence on national election outcomes, public enthusiasm to participate also showed “a massive increase.” Organizers also said that among those who signed up for this protest, 2/3 live outside major U.S. cities, and the number of people from suburbs, small towns, and rural areas increased by 40% compared with the last time.

The Associated Press said the Republican Party brushed it off. In a statement, White House spokesperson Jackson condemned the rallies as “the gatherings of the mentally unbalanced,” saying that only “paid reporters” would cover these events. The Republican National Committee criticized that these protests are “hate-America rallies,” “places where the most violent and crazed fantasies of the far left get a channel to be heard.”

Will it affect the midterm elections in November

USA Today said in a story published on the 29th that the “No Kings” events have become one of the largest protests in U.S. history. Although the overall atmosphere of the events was generally relaxed and cheerful, and the march was basically peaceful, the third protest rally is undoubtedly a display of political force that could have an impact in the 2026 midterm elections and beyond. But the article also pointed out that these protesters oppose Trump administration policies, which does not necessarily mean support for the Democratic Party.

The New York Times believes it is still an unknown whether another large-scale gathering by “No Kings” is enough to influence the country’s political direction. The event did not feature any influential leader or public figure. Analysts said the “No Kings” movement lacks an information focus and may not be inspiring enough for some people, but this ambiguity is deliberate and has worked: messages supporting the Democrats can attract more people on multiple levels.

A commentary piece published on the 29th on the U.S. Microsoft NBC website said: “The ‘No Kings’ movement is impressive, but it’s not enough.” The article suggested that organizers need to put forward specific demands and show “greater ambition and creativity.”

Source: Global Times—Global Net special correspondent in the United States, Xiaoda; Global Times—Global Net special correspondent, Shen Zhen

Editor: Shi Yu

Proofreading: Fan Yuwei

Review: Zhu Wentan

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