By John Imsdahl

Writer/Reporter

Massive crowds gathered peacefully on Saturday for the No Kings march, a protest of what organizers call “chaos, corruption, and cruelty” from the Trump administration.  

The protests – held in response to a wide range of issues including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities, changes to healthcare, environmental and education policy, the war in Iran, and the increase in costs of living took place across the country, with the flagship rally occurring in St. Paul, Minnesota.  Minnesota was chosen as the flagship location after being chosen by the Trump administration as the epicenter of ICE enforcement beginning in December 2025. 

The rally, which featured a series of marches that all convened at the capital mall, featured a wide array of speeches and musical performances.  Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s speech was followed by an introduction of singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, whose protest anthem “Streets of Minneapolis” – honoring slain Minnesotans Renee Good and Alex Pretti – recently topped the charts and garnered millions of plays across streaming platforms.  

Walz and Springsteen were joined by a long list of speakers and performers including Jane Fonda, Joan Baez, Minnesota Lt. Governor and current Senate candidate Peggy Flanagan, Tom Morello, Maggie Rogers, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and many others. The headline speaker, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, gave the longest speech of the afternoon. The general theme of the day was resistance to the Trump administration and his policies as well as a call to action to prepare for the upcoming midterm elections this fall.  

The Minnesota State Highway Patrol estimated the event’s turnout at 100,000, while other estimates – including CBS News and event organizer Indivisible – put the number at “more than 200,000.”