Protesters and Easter Egg Hunters Share Downtown Belleville

A peaceful protest and a family-friendly Easter event coexisted in the city's downtown on the same day.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 10:52pm

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On Saturday, downtown Belleville, Illinois, was the site of both a protest by the No Kings movement against perceived authoritarianism and threats to democracy, as well as the annual Downtown Belleville Family Egg Hunt. While the two events created an unusual juxtaposition, organizers and participants said the day was largely peaceful and festive, with the protest even boosting business for some local shops.

Why it matters

The simultaneous events highlight the challenges communities can face in balancing free speech and civic engagement with family-friendly activities. The protest also reflects broader concerns about the state of American democracy that have been brewing across the country.

The details

The No Kings protest, organized by the local Indivisible Metro East group, drew around 1,500 participants over the course of the four-hour event. Protesters carried signs with slogans criticizing President Trump and expressing fears about authoritarianism and threats to democratic norms. Meanwhile, around 150 children participated in the Downtown Belleville Family Egg Hunt, searching for prizes at local businesses. While there was some initial disruption, with a protester using a bullhorn, the day was largely peaceful, with police working to protect free speech rights.

  • The No Kings protest took place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
  • The Downtown Belleville Family Egg Hunt also occurred on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

The players

No Kings

A network of progressive organizations, led by Indivisible, that held national protests in June and October 2025 against perceived authoritarianism and threats to democracy.

Indivisible Metro East

The local Indivisible group that organized the protest in Belleville, led by attorney Alex Enyart.

Chris Kane

A Belleville resident who was dressed as a giant Easter bunny outside Sugar High Bakery & Cafe during the egg hunt.

Amber Kane

The owner of Sugar High Bakery & Cafe who organized the Downtown Belleville Family Egg Hunt and recruited local businesses to participate.

Rosemary Hamann

An employee at The Candy Bar and The Tea Spot who said the egg hunt was a hit and the protest boosted business.

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What they’re saying

“There was a guy cursing on his bullhorn, and I'm glad he stopped. Other than that, it's been great.”

— Chris Kane, Belleville resident

“This is a peaceful protest. We've had tons of families go through. It's been packed.”

— Amber Kane, Owner, Sugar High Bakery & Cafe

“I don't want Americans to live under an Evangelical Christian fascist regime. And we are seeing an unconstitutional expansion of federal powers in terms of President Trump using ICE as his personal Gestapo.”

— Alex Enyart, Attorney, Indivisible Metro East

What’s next

Organizers of the No Kings protest plan to continue holding demonstrations across the region to raise awareness about their concerns over the state of American democracy.

The takeaway

The coexistence of the No Kings protest and the Downtown Belleville Family Egg Hunt highlights the challenges communities face in balancing free speech and civic engagement with family-friendly activities, while also reflecting the broader political tensions playing out across the country.