On March 28, millions of protesters took to the streets chanting the words: “No thrones. No crowns. No kings.” No Kings – a nationwide protest movement – aims to oppose the Trump administration’s alleged authoritarian regime. They focus on Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s policies, the war in Iran and the everyday expenses the public faces living in America.
The No Kings movement was created by Indivisible and 50501: 50 protests, 50 states, one movement; both of which are centered around preserving democracy through peaceful protests and highlighting the power of ordinary American citizens. On their websites and social media accounts, they made it very clear that the United States belongs to the public, not the people in charge.
Since their creation in the spring of 2025, No Kings has organized three main rallies on June 14, October 18 and March 28. An estimated eight million people participated in their last protest with over 200,000 seen in Minneapolis. The Twin Cities continue to be at the forefront of No Kings after the murders of Alex Pretti and Renee Good sent shockwaves through the nation. This breaks the record of the largest non-violent protest in a single day in modern American history.
What may pose a threat to the movement’s effectiveness is continued advocacy. With the momentum the protestors now have, they are continuing to seize the opportunity of creating change. This is why in addition to their in-person protests, No Kings formed a ‘Mass Call’ on March 31 where leaders and local activists celebrated the protests’ success. Here, they talked about their next steps in ensuring the longevity of their campaigns.
Along with protesting in the city of Chicago, suburbanites took to the streets of their local towns in order to join the rest of the country. Some areas included Highland Park, Wilmette, Glenview, Schaumburg and Gurnee. Terry Lewis, a Northbrook resident, attended the protest with her good friends. Lewis claimed that “at 81 years old [I] have never felt that our democracy was in jeopardy until now”. Rallying alongside people of all ages, she said that she “wanted to stand up for this democracy and our constitution not only for myself but for the future generations of America.”
The next local protest will be held on Friday, May 1 in Chicago, entitled ‘Workers over Billionaires’. This coordinated march will once again happen across the country, this time in conjunction with May Day: a network of organizations that come together every year in order to stop the disparity between the rich and the working class. Last year, they helped organize more than one thousand events across the country focused on healthcare, free market politics and public schooling. They quote: “Together we will ensure access to opportunity and a better life for all”.
As they protest through growing national attention, the No King’s movement stands at a critical turning point. Their message has resonated with millions, uniting people across cities all in the name of protecting democratic values. Their test does not lie in a single day of protest but in the ability to sustain their energy over a long period of time. The change they are aiming to make is dependent on the collective determination of ordinary citizens that are willing to stand up for what they believe in.