The March 28 NO KINGS Protest: Attending is Being a True Patriot

2026 is the 250th birthday of the United States of America, a country built on independence from a monarchy. The Declaration of Independence was described by Abraham Lincoln as, “a rebuke and a stumbling-block to tyranny and oppression.” Yet on our great country's birthday, we're experiencing tyranny and oppression from our own government, with a president who is ignoring our Constitution and acting like what our forefathers died to escape: a king.

Now it is more important than ever for us to come together and show our love for what the United States of America truly is, not how it is being treated right now by the current administration. We are the land of the free and the home of the brave, and one of our constitutional rights as Americans is the First Amendment: the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Let us peaceably assemble on March 28th, 2026 and show what true patriotism is, and that we do not support those who are tearing down our country.

There are a lot of stereotypes and assumptions about the left, the right, the liberal, the conservative. And promoting those stereotypes is taking away from the real issue: our current government is not adhering to the Constitution. We can get lost in what he said, she said, he did, she did or did not do but there are some very clearly delineated lines that have been crossed in the past year; lines that should not be acceptable to any red-blooded American. No matter who you voted for (or even if you abstained), if you care about the future of this country and respecting what the Founding Fathers built for us, join us March 28th, 2026.

This is the third NO KINGS gathering, and is looking to be the biggest yet:

• The first NO KINGS protest was June 14, 2025 and between 4 million and 6 million attended, which equates to 1.2-1.8% of the US population. Between 3.3 million and 5.6 million people showed up at the 2017 Women’s March which means at the time, this was one of the largest protests in U.S. history. (source: The Guardian)
• The second NO KINGS protest was October 18, 2025 and was even larger than the first with nearly 7 million attendees across 2,700 events across the country. (source: CNN) That made it the largest protest in U.S. history and proof that more and more Americans are becoming disillusioned with the current administration and president.
• By the end of February, 2,000 NO KINGS events had already been scheduled and more are being added every day on Mobilize. The March 28th NO KINGS event is looking to be even bigger than the last.

Our does not belong to kings, dictators, or tyrants. It belongs to We the People. And when we come together, we are incredibly powerful. We are each a drop of water, but together we are an ocean. No president, no politician, no elected official, no member of the military, no law enforcement, no one in the U.S. is above the law. This is a peaceful gathering to show we will not stand for what is happening to our country by the current administration.

While NO KINGS had its 2025 flagship event in Philadelphia, in honor of the birth of our country, the March 28th NO KINGS flagship event will be in Minnesota's Twin Cities – Minneapolis and Saint Paul, where ICE is still reigning terror on those communities. That being said, it is not being expected or even desired that you travel great lengths to participate in this peaceful event. Organizers wish for you to gather with your community to show strength. You can find your closest March 28th NO KINGS event at this link. No event near you? Consider organizing one; details are at this link.

What to Wear and Take to a No Kings Protest

I have written before about what to wear to a protest march, and offered tips for attending the No Kings Protest back in June. This No Kings protest will be no different; it is a short and peaceful gathering where you shouldn't need to do a lot of preparation or bring a lot of supplies. Top priority is comfort; you will be on your feet for possibly up to three hours outdoors.

• If you have mobility issues, or cannot stand for long periods of time, this is the kind of event where aids are appropriate and welcomed. Bring a chair or stool, if there is a march in your town proudly rock your trekking poles, cane, or mobility device or cheer from the side. You are welcome, in every capacity.
• If you are comfortable standing, ensure you maximize comfort with sturdy shoes. I know here in the D.C. area, the end of March can be muddy, so I recommend waterproof shoes or even rainboots (through in some insoles for support; these are my personal favorites).
• Wear layers. It may rain, heck it may even snow. And I know in my area, we're below freezing on Tuesday and downright toasty on Wednesday. Dress in layers, with one repellant to wind and water.
• Stay hydrated. I love Vapur anti-bottles, which are easy to drink from, can be clipped to your belt or bag, and fold to nothing when empty. Chewy has a great set of one for your pet and one for you!
• A face mask is a great addition to protect immunocompromised neighbors, but also to protect your identity if that is a concern for you. At least tuck a cheerfully colored bandana into your bag that can multitask and not take up a lot of space.

I highly recommend you bring a sign. A lot of communities have sign-making parties in the days before the NO KINGS events. If there isn't one, gather your friends together for music, drinks, and crafting.

• Keep in mind the weather and your comfort level when deciding what kind of sign to make. For the last NO KINGS event, I took a piece of foam core board, punched two holes in it, and tied a ribbon through it so I could wear the sign when I no longer felt like waving my hands up in the air.
• The piece of foam core board I had was from a brand event poster. No need to buy supplies: break down a cardboard box, use your kid's STEM fair board, reach out to your local community or Buy Nothing group.
• I have seen many folks use an umbrella as their sign. Either writing on the panels with Sharpie or paint, or attaching items. This is great in case it rains and also for sun protection.
• Pack some duct tape to temporarily adhere signs to overpasses, fences, and walls. No duct tape? I took a roll of medical tape I bought and didn't like for mouth taping and it worked great. Again, don't spend for this event, use what you have and that is perfect.

I am a patriot in the true sense of the word, not the way these folks are using it to justify illegal, immoral, and un-American acts. I will not let others take away my love of this country, take away what our flag represents, and destroy the freedom our forefathers and service members fought for and died for. I celebrate my constitutional right to peacefully protest, and encourage you to join me March 28th.