Thousands Rally in Minnesota for 'No Kings' Anti-ICE Protest

Protesters carried symbols of resistance, including whistles and monarch butterflies, at the flagship event of the national movement.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 12:34am

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Tens of thousands of Minnesotans gathered in St. Paul on Saturday for the 'No Kings' rally, a major demonstration against the Trump administration's immigration enforcement agenda. Protesters carried iconic symbols of the anti-ICE resistance movement, like whistles used to call for help and monarch butterflies representing the right to migrate. The event featured speeches from prominent politicians and musicians, and served as a communal catharsis following the deadly Operation Metro Surge crackdown earlier this year.

Why it matters

The 'No Kings' rally in Minnesota was the flagship event of a nationwide protest movement against the federal government's immigration policies. The large turnout and visible display of resistance symbols underscored the state's role as a center of the anti-ICE movement, following the high-profile killings of two local activists by federal agents.

The details

Estimates put the crowd size between 100,000 and 200,000 people. Protesters carried images that have become icons of the anti-ICE resistance, like whistles used to call for help and monarch butterflies that symbolize the right to migrate across borders. The rally featured speeches from prominent politicians like Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as well as a performance by Bruce Springsteen. Many attendees, including families with children, wore costumes and held creative signs to express their opposition to the Trump administration's immigration policies.

  • The 'No Kings' rally took place on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
  • The event came after the deadly Operation Metro Surge crackdown in January 2026.

The players

Amy Speare

A protester who attended the rally with her husband Emmanuel and their three children.

Emmanuel Speare

A protester who attended the rally with his wife Amy and their three children.

Renee Good

A local activist who was fatally shot by federal agents while observing immigration enforcement actions in January 2026.

Alex Pretti

A local activist who was fatally shot by federal agents while observing immigration enforcement actions in January 2026.

Bruce Springsteen

A musician who performed at the 'No Kings' rally in Minnesota.

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What they’re saying

“This is me putting my foot down.”

— Emmanuel Speare, Protester

“We talked about how that was a horrible thing, and how people marched and changed the rules, and changed the laws, and made it so that doesn't happen. And then she asked, 'Will they change the laws back?'”

— Amy Speare, Protester

“I'm just so proud of Minnesota. Typically, the state would 'never want to be on the national stage for something like this.”

— Mark Sackett, Protester

What’s next

Organizers have vowed to continue the 'No Kings' protest movement with additional rallies and actions across the country in the coming months.

The takeaway

The massive turnout and creative displays of resistance at the 'No Kings' rally in Minnesota underscored the state's central role in the national movement against the Trump administration's immigration policies. The event served as a powerful show of solidarity and a call to action for those fighting to protect the rights of immigrants and migrants.