The No Kings Protest last weekend on March 28, 2026, drew a record-breaking eight million protestors voicing their frustration with the current Trump administration. The protest was the largest single-day political demonstration in US history, beating the previous record holder of the No Kings protest in October 2025 with nearly seven million.
Demonstrations were held across the country and even in the UK. Protestors carried messages bearing the No Kings symbol, and many included the phrases “We the People” and “No to War.” Prominent participants in the Minneapolis demonstration included musician Bruce Springsteen, actress and activist Jane Fonda and Senator Bernie Sanders.
The Bloomington and Normal demonstrations were an amalgamation of many local groups including the Central Illinois ACLU, Bloomington-Normal 50-50-1, the Prairie Pride Coalition and the League of Women Voters. Songs including “This Land is Your Land” and “Somebody’s Hurting My Brother” were sung among the crowds. Many speakers aired their thoughts to the crowd, including Kathleen Shirk from Normal Women Rising, a recently organized group of 150 women devoted to raising their voices of frustration. Shirk spoke about her feelings of “watching democracy crack.” She voiced opposition to the war in Iran, saying “We are supposed to nod along while the peace president wages a war he promised he wouldn’t start!” Shirk said that only by using their voice and voting can people bring hope back to their nation.
“You realize that there is a community in Bloomington that cares and pays attention to what’s happening,” IWU student Anusha Raineya said, “A sense of camaraderie that helps you feel like you’re not so isolated. It leaves one feeling a bit more hopeful.” Raineya and other IWU students shared their joy for being “part of something bigger than me, all united by one cause.” The students appreciated that their fellow Americans showed up and were inspired to create change.
People across the political spectrum feel frustrated by the actions of the current administration, especially with the development of the “war” in Iran. President Trump’s current approval rating is at 36% by some estimates, but midterm elections in November will be the real reflection of the nation’s standing with current leadership. The message of the protests is one of unity to the basic principles of American democracy, free speech, and civil liberty; which to the eight million who showed up on Saturday are under threat.
