Thousands Gather in Kalamazoo for Third 'No Kings' Protest Against Trump Administration

*KALAMAZOO, Mich.* — A third 'No Kings' protest will take place in Kalamazoo and nationwide on Saturday, March 28, as organizers push for the largest turnout yet against the Trump administration and the United States' involvement in the war with Iran.

According to Indivisible of Greater Kalamazoo, the protest will take place on North Drake Road in between KL Avenue and West Main Street from 12-2 p.m. This marks the third major 'No Kings' mobilization since June of 2025, with organizers hoping this weekend will see record participation.

"What's happening with Iran is not strategy," Sherri Masson of Indivisible Michigan said during Tuesday morning's press conference. "It's recklessness, it's chaos, it's leaders playing with human lives like they're disposable."

The rally in Kalamazoo is part of a massive statewide movement with more than 100 registered rallies planned across Michigan, from Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti to Detroit, Lansing, Jackson, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Bay City, Saginaw, Flint and beyond.

Expecting Largest Rally Yet

Organizers are predicting significantly larger crowds than the previous protests in June and October 2025.

"I think instead of making people afraid and cower, it's done just the opposite," Masson said. "We've seen most of our groups in the state of Michigan grow since these events. We have higher attendance at our monthly meetings, and so I believe that that will translate in larger crowds than ever."

Audrey Bourriaud, founder of We the People Dissent, echoed those sentiments.

"The engagement from the communities we've seen is incredible. It was strong for the first one, and the second one, it grew. But this time around, it's huge."

The movement has gained momentum following large-scale ICE deployments and the deaths of multiple Americans at the hands of federal immigration agents, as well as in light of the ongoing war in Iran.

Broader Demands and Calls for Action

At the statewide press conference, Christy McGillivray, executive director of Voters Not Politicians, called for restoration of democracy.

"We are going to restore our democracy, starting with the biggest No Kings protest ever this Saturday," McGillivray said. "And we're not stopping there. We're putting in months of unrelenting work, and it's going to turn into years to build back the government we were promised in our founding documents, one that is of by and for the people, not a government that exploits the people to enrich the few."

Sean Schaefer, Co-Founder of DC-based advocacy group OF/BY/FOR, called on Michigan's Democratic federal elected officials to take stronger action.

"That means introducing articles of impeachment and forcing votes on those articles, rather than allowing them to stall indefinitely in committee or leadership," Schaefer said. "The American people deserve clarity about where their elected officials stand. Congress cannot defend the Constitution by issuing performative statements while refusing to use the powers it provides to them. History is watching, and we will remember who stood up."

Law Enforcement Warning

Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting has reminded protesters that while peaceful demonstrations are protected, any escalation to violence can lead to serious consequences.

According to Getting, protesters can face charges of resisting and obstructing if protests escalate to violence, resulting in punishments ranging from civil infractions to prison sentences.

National Context

The 'No Kings' movement represents a coordinated response to what organizers describe as increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption from President Donald Trump and his allies. The Detroit-based No Kings Coalition has released its list of demands at the protest, which are wide-ranging — from urging state and local leaders to stop ICE's expansion in Michigan and prevent local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration agents, to demanding that the U.S. Congress exert congressional authority over declarations of war.

"In America, we don't put up with would-be kings," the movement declares in its official messaging. "NO KINGS is a national day of action and mass mobilization in response to increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption from Trump and his allies."

The Kalamazoo rally will serve as one of dozens of demonstrations planned for the weekend, with organizers across the state pushing for what they hope could be the largest national protest in U.S. history.

Sources

  • WWMT News Channel 3: https://wwmt.com/news/local/third-no-kings-protest-frustration-iran-war-trump-administration-ice-occupation-nationwide-politics-kalamazoo-county-west-michigan
  • Michigan Advance via Heartland Signal: https://heartlandsignal.com/2026/03/25/ahead-of-third-major-no-kings-protests-local-and-national-organizations-push-for-largest-rally-yet/