In a powerful display of deepening nonviolent mobilization, an estimated 8 million Americans gathered at “No Kings” rallies across the United States to protest the authoritarian policies and actions of the Trump administration. In approximately 3,300 cities and towns in all 50 states, people across the political spectrum peacefully exercised their First Amendment right to dissent, setting yet another record for a single-day U.S. protest.
Given the current trajectory, the nation may soon see 12 million Americans, or approximately 3.5 percent of the population, engaged in multiple forms of nonviolent mobilization. As the Center for American Progress has discussed and as political science research shows, when 3.5 percent of a nation’s population peacefully mobilizes and sustains itself at key moments, the government can be forced to meet their demands. Already, people-powered mobilizations in Minnesota during the first few months of 2026 successfully forced the Trump administration to reduce the number of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agents in the state.
The nonviolent ‘No Kings’ and Minnesota mobilizations were powerful and effective
The nationwide “No Kings” protests held on Saturday, March 28, are the most vivid real-time example of the increasing depth and breadth of opposition to the Trump administration’s policies. Everyday Americans participated in all 50 states, swelling their ranks to an estimated 8 million participants across approximately 3,300 locations. This is a steady increase from the estimated 7 million people who attended “No Kings” protests in October 2025 across approximately 2,700 locations and the estimated 5 million people who attended protests in June 2025 across approximately 2,000 locations.
Protesters demanded that the administration stop its executive overreach, including action items such as an end to the war in Iran, constraints on the deployment of the military and ICE agents in U.S. cities, and accountability for the Trump administration’s abuses of power and corruption. The “No Kings” rallies took place in a growing number of conservative and rural locations, with increased participation from younger people. At turns intense and joyful, just as with prior “No Kings” protests, organizers trained events leaders in de-escalation, and there were no reports of widespread violence—a critically important element for mass mobilizations to succeed. The March “No Kings’’ protests dominated the public narrative and focused the nation’s attention on the need for transformative, pro-democracy changes from the government.
The March “No Kings’’ protests dominated the public narrative and focused the nation’s attention on the need for transformative, pro-democracy changes from the government.
Recent events in Minnesota provide a concrete example of how people-powered demands can spur government change. In December 2025, the Trump administration began to deploy thousands of ICE and other federal agents into the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, resulting in the horrifying shooting deaths of two people on the streets and countless unjust or potentially illegal acts. In response, Minnesotans waged a brave, diverse, and multipronged effort to push back and demand that ICE agents leave the area, as highlighted in the video below.
First, organizers offered a plethora of ways for Minnesotans to make their voices heard, including a strike day where people did not go to work, school, or shopping. Second, through building community-based power, neighbors connected with each other to provide help, such as delivering food or legal aid to vulnerable neighbors or peacefully monitoring ICE movements. Third, the mobilization successfully weakened several traditional pillars of support for the Trump administration, including corporations, police associations, religious leaders, and even Republican politicians, who ultimately called for de-escalation or an end to the administration’s unjust actions.
After many weeks of mobilizers building momentum, seizing the public narrative, and articulating demands, the Trump administration took a big step toward relenting. Not only did the administration reduce the number of ICE and other federal agents in the state, but the president fired U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
The 3.5 percent ‘rule’ helps measure public demand for change
In prior articles and videos, CAP has discussed how a relatively small number of Americans—12 million—can use their power to slow the nation’s descent into full-scale authoritarianism. Political science research based on historical data from Harvard University professor Erica Chenoweth and her research partners shows that when a mere 3.5 percent of a nation’s population mobilizes in peaceful protest at a key moment, it is a strong predictor of a broad movement, making it nearly impossible for the government to ignore the people’s demands.
When broad movements become sustained across diverse groups, the government loses power to scare or divide them. The 3.5 percent threshold also indicates a deeper reservoir of support from nonprotesters, which can help accelerate defections from key pro-government pillars, including leaders from the business, religious, cultural, political, and even security sectors. As discussed above, pillars of support for the Trump administration started to weaken in response to Minnesota’s anti-ICE mobilizations.
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The next chapter will likely involve even broader mobilization to force change
The growing power of the “No Kings” protests, the Minnesota mobilizations, and deeper engagement in ideologically diverse communities across the nation show that the United States is at a crucial juncture to counter the authoritarian-minded administration. Americans are already starting to engage beyond protest in various forms of nonviolent noncooperation—as we have seen, for example, with the general strikes in Minnesota and other parts of the nation. People have created rapid-response networks that coordinate peaceful pushback, mutual aid, and cogent messaging to engage communities in compelling ways.
In a prior article, CAP discussed a range of activities for Americans to make their voices heard in ways that feel powerful and safe—including contacting federal, state, and local elected officials and attending town hall meetings; elevating local stories on social media and with newspapers; and boycotting businesses that fail to support the community. And one of the key “No Kings” organizers called for a nationwide economic protest on May 1.
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Conclusion
This year, the United States is celebrating its 250th birthday, commemorating a founding that grew out of a declaration of its independence from the British monarchy. In this milestone year, the United States is at a crucial inflection point, with millions of Americans refusing to live in fear and flexing their political power to demand that no president can be above the law or unaccountable to the people. The expansive ideological movement that is deepening across communities with protests such as “No Kings,” the Minnesota mobilizations, or strike days will help determine the path that our republic takes for the next 250 years.