THE NO KINGS PROTEST ON MARCH 28, 2026

On March 28, 2026, the League of Women Voters of Berkeley, Albany, and Emeryville (LWVBAE) joined thousands of nationwide No Kings protests against rising authoritarianism under the Trump administration, which continues to undermine democratic norms and unconstitutionally expand executive power. This protest was the third No Kings mobilization since the beginning of Trump’s second term. Since the first major No Kings protest on Donald Trump’s birthday in June of 2025, the number of protesters has risen from 5 million to 8.3 million nationwide. There were over 3,000 protests across the 50 states and even some protests held internationally, resulting in the largest single-day protest in U.S. history.

The League organized Albany’s protest at the corner of Buchanan and San Pablo Avenues, heading towards Solano that started at 4:00 p.m. League members rallied with signs and donuts, enjoying the community vibe in the warm sunny weather. It was a successful day, with 1,000 people out on the streets of Albany protesting in unison, with spirited drumming and trucks that were honking in full support. Many powerful and inspiring signs decorated the streets, with messages such as “F*ck the fascist!” and “So many crimes, so little cardboard.” Residents of all ages were standing up for the growing pro-democracy movement, demonstrating their commitment..

As the No Kings momentum builds, it underscores a larger national and international conversation about this administration’s blatant disregard for the constitution and the responsibility we all share to lead and fight for our democracy. Whether or not the protests will lead to a swell of voters turning out in the midterms to demand political reform in our government remains uncertain, but citizens are hopeful as these protests have already made a significant impact on public discourse across the US.

One thing is clear: The 8.3 million participants counted was a significant threshold reached on the way to the estimated 3.5% of the population required, according to scholars, to join the anti-authoritarianism movement for the probability of its success to reach a promising tipping point.

Always dedicated to our mission, LWVBAE remains firmly committed to upholding democratic principles inherent to our system and responsible leadership, and rallying against continued attacks on our constitutional rights—from freedom of speech to the right to vote.

–JoJo Sutton and Brayden Livingston