Demonstrators across the United States poured into city streets on Saturday for the third wave of “No Kings” rallies, denouncing President Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation measures, the war in Iran and a range of other policies. More than 3,200 events were planned across all 50 states, following two earlier nationwide mobilizations that drew millions.
Large crowds gathered in New York, Dallas, Philadelphia and Washington, but organizers noted a striking shift: nearly two‑thirds of Saturday’s events took place in smaller towns and rural communities a 40 percent increase from the movement’s first mass protest last June.
In Minnesota, a state deeply affected by Trump’s immigration crackdown, thousands rallied outside the Capitol in Saint Paul. Many held posters of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two US citizens fatally shot by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis this year. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz told the crowd their resistance represented “the heart and soul” of the country, saying Americans had been “radicalized by compassion, decency and democracy.”
US Senator Bernie Sanders also addressed the Minnesota rally, vowing that the country would not “descend into authoritarianism or oligarchy.” Musician Bruce Springsteen performed his protest ballad “Streets of Minneapolis,” written in response to the immigration‑related deaths.
The National Republican Congressional Committee condemned the demonstrations, calling them “Hate America Rallies” and accusing Democrats of embracing extremist rhetoric.
In New York, police estimated that tens of thousands marched through midtown Manhattan. Actor Robert De Niro, one of the event’s organizers, said no previous president had posed “such an existential threat to our freedoms and security.” Many participants said they felt they were continuing the legacy of the American Revolution by opposing authoritarianism.
In Washington, protesters filled the National Mall with pro‑democracy chants, while in Maryland, elderly residents in wheelchairs held signs urging drivers to “Resist tyranny” and “Honk if you want democracy.”
Dallas saw one of the largest turnouts and some of the most tense moments as No Kings demonstrators clashed with counterprotest groups, including one led by Enrique Tarrio, former leader of the Proud Boys. Police intervened after minor scuffles and made several arrests.
For many participants, Trump’s policies have galvanized a renewed wave of activism. “People are awake now,” said Dallas protester Chris Brendel. “This is what happens when a country refuses to be silent.”
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