Thousands Gather for 'No Kings' Protests Across Charlottesville

Demonstrations near Stonefield shopping center and Forest Lakes draw large crowds against Trump administration policies.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 9:35pm

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Thousands of residents in the Charlottesville, Virginia area gathered on Saturday for the third 'No Kings' protest, with an estimated 10,000 demonstrators near the Stonefield shopping center and several hundred more at an event near Forest Lakes. The rallies promoted a message of unity against the actions of the Trump administration, with attendees also voicing support for local Democratic congressional candidates and a redistricting referendum.

Why it matters

The 'No Kings' protests have become a regular occurrence in Charlottesville, reflecting the area's strong opposition to the current presidential administration. The large turnout highlights the continued energy and engagement of local activists, who are using the events to advocate for political change on both the national and local levels.

The details

The main rally near Stonefield, organized by Charlottesville Indivisible, drew an estimated 10,000 people, filling the sidewalks on both sides of Route 29 as well as the new land bridge connecting the shopping center. The event featured music, dancing, and costumes, and included tables set up by supporters of a redistricting referendum and local Democratic congressional candidates. A separate protest near Forest Lakes attracted several hundred more demonstrators, with organizers saying the turnout was similar to the previous 'No Kings' event in October.

  • The first 'No Kings' rally in Charlottesville took place in June 2026, drawing an estimated 7,000 people.
  • The second 'No Kings' rally occurred in October 2026, with an estimated 10,000 attendees.
  • The third 'No Kings' rally was held on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

The players

Charlottesville Indivisible

The local activist group that organized the main 'No Kings' rally near the Stonefield shopping center.

Cindi Scott

An attendee who has participated in all three 'No Kings' rallies in Charlottesville.

Sophia Strycharz

A volunteer with the campaign of Democratic congressional candidate Suzanne Kryzanowski, who was gathering signatures at the Stonefield rally.

Warren Muse

The organizer who ran the logistics for the 'No Kings' event near Forest Lakes.

Kelly Hart

An Indivisible volunteer who spoke about the power of unity to stop the Trump administration's 'illegal, cruel, and destructive actions.'

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What they’re saying

“I think it's getting bigger and bigger every rally.”

— Cindi Scott, Attendee

“We figured this would be a crowd who is obviously pro-democracy. Probably a pretty liberal crowd, but I think the democracy thing is the biggest part, because anybody can sign a ballot petition. It's not a partisan thing.”

— Sophia Strycharz, Volunteer with Kryzanowski campaign

“If we've got this much energy, we can do something.”

— Warren Muse, Event organizer

“I know that united we, the people, have the power to stop the illegal, cruel, and destructive actions of this administration, and the power to create a better inclusive democracy in America.”

— Kelly Hart, Indivisible volunteer

“Yes, this is working. getting people to honk at us. But are they out here? They're not. What we need to be doing is going and talking to all our congressmen. Get them to stop capitulating.”

— Kevin Gates, Attendee

What’s next

Organizers say they plan to continue holding 'No Kings' rallies in Charlottesville, with the next event likely scheduled for June 2026 to mark the one-year anniversary of the initial protest.

The takeaway

The sustained energy and turnout at the 'No Kings' protests in Charlottesville demonstrate the community's ongoing commitment to resisting the Trump administration's policies. While the rallies have provided an outlet for activism, some attendees are now calling for more direct engagement with local elected officials to drive concrete political change.