200,000 Minneapolis protesters send emphatic "NO!" to wannabe King

Angular Views on ... Protest (No Kings)

Anti-Trump demonstrators pack massive grounds behind Minnesota’s State Capitol on No Kings Day III

Marchers converged on Capitol from three directions, eager to hear from some two dozen speakers and performers seen on huge screens

MINNEAPOLIS (March 28, 2026) — Planning for the third edition of No Kings Day had been taking place for weeks. Indeed, months, as a cooperative effort by a selection of national protest groups, including Indivisible, No Kings, Mobilize, 50501, Our Revolution, and MoveOn.

By the time March 28 drew near, demonstrations were scheduled at some 3,200 locations, not only in the U.S. but worldwide. The first No Kings Day event, in June 2025, drew 5 million participants. Four months later, No Kings Day II had an estimated 7 million. This time, organizers expecting to set a record by attracting at least 8 million, but hoping for 10 million.

Angular Views elected to attend the “flagship” event in Minneapolis, the city that had responded so vigorously to assaults upon suspected illegal immigrants by ICE agents, earlier this year. The actual rally would take place at the State Capitol in St. Paul, the city immediately adjacent to Minneapolis, separated by the Mississippi River.

Organizers had announced that three separate marches would take place on that Saturday, starting at noontime, ultimately converging on the Capitol grounds where a long list of speeches and performances would take place. Each march route was relatively short in distance, but we selected the shortest choice, covering just half a mile, starting at Western Sculpture Park.

An impressive number of marchers were already gathered, waiting for the signal to step off, when we arrived at the Park. Many more were approaching the starting point. If this crowd was any indication, the total number of demonstrators arrived at the Capitol was sure to be massive.

As we neared the Capitol grounds, it was evident that massive would be an understatement. Overwhelming sounded more accurate. From our chosen vantage point for viewing the proceedings, the main stage and huge video screens were far off in the distance. Already, the crowd ahead was packed tight. Evidently, a number of participants had chosen to skip the brief marches and go directly to the Capitol area, selecting a viewing position closer to the stage.

Looking back toward the arriving marchers, initially from the balance of our group, closely followed by the second and third contingents, there seemed to be a virtually endless procession. As expected, many carried signs and banners, whether freshly imaginative in their wording or familiar from prior demonstrations:

OUR DEMOCRACY IS UNDER ATTACK

IMPEACH – INDICT – IMPRISON

GOT FREEDOM?

OUR EXPECTATIONS WERE LOW BUT HOLY S***

MINNESOTA KNOWS HOW TO HANDLE ICE (printed)

“We’ve got the power,” one group chanted, adopting phrasing from the past. “What kind of power? People power…. We, the people, will never be defeated.”

One minute, we were standing near the back of the standing group that faced the far-off, barely visible stage. What seemed like seconds later, we were practically in the center of the rapidly-growing crowd. That’s how fast the procession was entering. Already, it was evident that the Minneapolis edition of No Kings Day practically dwarfed some massive events we’d covered in Chicago and Washington D.C.

END THUGOCRACY

TRUMP IS A TRAITOR (big sign)

DISSENT IS PATRIOTIC

TAKE BACK DEMOCRACY

ROGUE PRESIDENT

ORANGE LIES MATTER

As the presentation began, we could see that someone was speaking on the huge video screen; but because of the distance, it was difficult to determine, visually, who it was. Making out words via the multiple-speaker audio system wasn’t any easier. A little later, we discovered there were actually three video screens, the other two having blocked from our view by the massive crowd of standing-room-only demonstrators. But seeing and hearing the speakers and performers remained difficult.

At least we had a list of speakers, provided by the media people at NoKings.org. Clearly, organizers for this “flagship” event had made an effort to schedule several prominent figures in the activist community, who were sure to attract sizable numbers of participants who might be unsure about whether to attend. No doubt, plenty of those arriving marchers had come, at least in part, to see and hear some of those luminaries whose presence was announced. Renowned actor/activist Jane Fonda would be there, along with legendary folk singer Joan Baez. Maggie Roberts would be singing, too. Senator Bernie Sanders would doubtless deliver a rousing, well-received call for action.

Noted organizers expected in St. Paul included Indivisible co-founders Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin, Robert Weisman of Public Citizen, AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler, and Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. Rallygoers could also hear from State Attorney General Keith Ellison. Sarah Parker, a national director for the 50501 organization, spoke at length, concluding with a say-and-repeat: “No King, No ICE, No War.”

“People will rise,” sang Emcee Ash Woodard-Henderson, adding loudly, “Organize!” Another singer ended his lyrics with “Be strong, everybody. Be brave.” One woman spoke of being “targeted by ICE.” A representative of the ACLU praised the Minnesotans, noting that they “held their ground and showed the world.” In a lovely song, one woman explained that “Our ancestors are always with us.”

Rounding out the main-attraction list was Bruce Springsteen, ready to perform his latest song, Streets of Minneapolis, written in honor of the Minnesota martyrs Renee Good and Alex Pretty. Actor Robert de Niro did not attend the St. Paul event, but sent a recorded message for the occasion.

We just felt lucky to be there, and to have a spot with a bit of elbow room. And a post or a tree to lean against while observing the activities taking place up ahead. We could barely imagine trying to maneuver through the crowd toward the front, without conjuring up a vision of sardines compressed within their surroundings. We’d covered a number of big demonstrations, but nothing remotely like this in magnitude (though Hands Off in D.C. and at least one Chicago march had been huge). Thankfully, too, the weather cooperated and by afternoon, the bright sun felt almost warm, with less wind than had been predicted.

So, how many opponents of the current administration made their presence evident at the “flagship” location for No Kings Day II? News sources estimated the crowd at 200,000. Because of the massive size of the Capitol grounds, we felt it was impossible to make even an educated guess, but we don’t doubt that estimate’s accuracy for a moment.

Nationwide attendance failed to meet the hoped-for 10 million, but did set a record: at least 8 million, making it the largest single-day demonstration in U.S. history.

“Minnesota Nice”

Even before we arrived at the Capitol area, the massiveness of the crowd was clearly evident. Boarding Minneapolis’s excellent light-rail train near our hotel in downtown Minneapolis, headed east toward St. Paul, we noted immediately that every car on that train was packed tight with people. Standing room only – shoulder to shoulder – for a journey that would take an hour or so.

At each station, yet another huge group was waiting to board, though not enough space for even the slimmest additional passenger could be found. I hadn’t been inside a transit conveyance this crowded since my long-ago days riding in buses around certain parts of Mexico.

Having grown up in a big city (Chicago), not necessarily known for passive, orderly crowds, we were bewildered as the train reached each station along the route. All the potential passengers on the platforms were lined up in a neat, orderly queue – more like transit passengers in London than in major American metropolises.

So, What’s Next?

More and more each day, TV news has brought evidence that democracy and decency are slipping away with escalating haste, applauded by a nakedly narcissistic authoritarian, backed by a dastardly contingent of toadies eager to please their master in every way. The U.S., rapidly losing its allies, many due to the childish insults and threats hurled by the president at world leaders.

The many millions of Americans who fear and dread this future need to get busy on the next demonstrations, starting with May Day events that will take place on May 1. Because May Day maintains a strong connection with the labor movement, historically as well as in modern times, that element of the Trump administration’s travesties is sure to be a central element of all the demonstrations, rallies, and marches.

In an upcoming essay, Angular Views will consider some possibilities for the near (and not-so-near) future, examining the recent successes of the activist community along with tossing out a few suggestions.

© All contents copyright 2026 by James M. Flammang (Tirekicking Today)

Image Source: James M. Flammang