8 Million People, 3,300 Events, One Historic Day
What the turnout numbers from No Kings 3 reveal about the scale, spread, and momentum of this movement.
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SUMMARY
Organizers estimate that more than 8 million people participated in over 3,300 No Kings events across all 50 states and in at least 15 other countries. That’s roughly one million more people and 600 more events than the October mobilization. Multiple major outlets are now describing March 28 as the largest single day of protest in American history. Britannica notes the previous record was held by the 2017 Women’s March, which drew an estimated 3.2 million to 5.3 million people in the United States.
March 28 surpassed that. 🎉
This Is What Democracy Looks Like
In June 2025, roughly 2,100 events drew an estimated 5 million people. In October, roughly 2,700 events drew about 7 million. On March 28, more than 3,300 events drew at least 8 million. This is a movement that has added roughly 3 million people and more than 1,200 additional events in nine months.
CNN reported that almost half of the March 28 protests took place in GOP strongholds. Texas, Florida, and Ohio each had over 100 events. States like Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah had events in the double digits. Organizers told CBS News that two-thirds of RSVPs came from outside major urban centers, including conservative-leaning states and competitive suburban areas in Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Arizona.
The Center for American Progress pointed to what political scientists have long called the 3.5% threshold, the proportion of a population engaged in sustained nonviolent action that historically corresponds with major political change. That benchmark is roughly 12 million Americans. At 8 million participants, the movement would be at roughly 2.4% of the U.S. population. The number doesn’t guarantee political change, but three consecutive mobilizations trending upward is worth paying attention to.
St. Paul, Minnesota
Organizers estimated more than 200,000 people at the flagship event, while later law-enforcement estimates put the crowd around 100,000. Even the lower figure makes this the largest demonstration in Minnesota history. Bruce Springsteen performed “Streets of Minneapolis,” written in response to the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti. Sen. Bernie Sanders, Jane Fonda, Joan Baez, Maggie Rogers, Tom Morello, and Gov. Tim Walz also appeared.
Where federal agents brought violence earlier this year, the people of Minnesota showed up with the largest peaceful gathering their state has ever seen.
New York City
Organizers estimated citywide attendance above 350,000 across multiple boroughs, while the NYPD said it made zero protest-related arrests. Robert De Niro, Padma Lakshmi, Attorney General Letitia James, and Rev. Al Sharpton joined the Manhattan march.
Boston
Boston.com reported that the the crowd exceeded 180,000 after the rally concluded. GBH reported that the Boston rally was one of 162 events planned across Massachusetts alone, the second-highest total of any state. Organizers set up action tables across the Common where attendees could sign up with advocacy groups on the spot.
Seattle
KIRO 7 reported turnout of 75,000 to 100,000, while organizers estimated more than 100,000. FOX 13 reported that Seattle Police said there were no major issues aside from traffic disruptions. The protest stretched across more than 50 demonstrations in the Puget Sound region. For context, roughly 70,000 marched in Seattle in June and 90,000 in October. March 28 was the city’s largest No Kings turnout yet.
San Diego
San Diego: Approximately 40,000 protesters attended the downtown march, with more than 20 events scheduled countywide. Stunning photo of this historic march.
Albuquerque
KUNM reported a preliminary organizer estimate of 50,000 people, most of whom gathered before marching peacefully for roughly three miles. The mood was described as upbeat and positive.
Pittsburgh
City officials estimated that more than 15,000 people flooded downtown Pittsburgh, with additional demonstrations across the city.
Providence
The Brown Daily Herald reported more than 35,000 people in Providence, according to an organizer with Indivisible Rhode Island. Not the biggest number on this list in raw terms, but significant because it demonstrates the kind of turnout even smaller capital cities generated on March 28.
And everywhere else
In Birmingham, Alabama, 7,000 turned out. Ventura County drew an estimated 10,000 at the Ventura County Government Center, its largest protest gathering ever. In Amherst, Massachusetts, 2,500 filled the town common. In Driggs, Idaho, a town of fewer than 2,000 people in a state Trump carried with 66% of the vote people showed up too.
Yesterday we asked how the protests went for you, today share your favorite picture from No Kings 3 in the comments, we all want to see!
Sources
CBS News | 8 million+ participants, 3,300+ events, San Diego police said 40,000, NYC organizer estimate 350,000+, NYPD zero protest-related arrests, Trump approval at 36%, Driggs ID
The Washington Post | 3,300+ rallies across all 50 states, at least 15 countries, record number of events
Associated Press / ABC | 8 million+ across thousands of events, two-thirds of RSVPs outside major urban centers
CNN live blog | Nearly half of protests in GOP strongholds, TX/FL/OH over 100 events each, first-time protester veteran Chris Holy and his son Nicholas in Chicago
KIRO 7 / MyNorthwest | Seattle turnout 75,000–100,000, growth from 70K (June) to 90K (Oct) to 100K (March)
FOX 13 Seattle | Organizers estimate 100,000+, Seattle Police confirmed no major issues
Boston.com | Boston Police Department determined crowd exceeded 180,000
GBH | 162 events across Massachusetts, second-highest of any state
KUNM | Albuquerque organizer estimate 50,000, peaceful three-mile march
KVAL / Organizers | One million more attendees and 600 more events than October, nearly half of events in red or battleground states
Britannica | Previous record held by 2017 Women’s March at estimated 3.2M–5.3M in the U.S.
Center for American Progress | 3.5% threshold analysis, Harvard researchers tracking spread into conservative areas
Alabama Reflector | 22 Alabama protests, 7,000 in Birmingham
Amherst Indy | 2,500 in Amherst
Great work, everyone! Don’t let the naysayers get you down. You Showed Up. That Wasn't 'Performative.'
No Kings III was the tip of a massive iceberg. The movement underneath it is the part the cynics don't see.
https://paultshattuck.substack.com/p/you-showed-up-that-wasnt-performative
Please ignore Indivisible’s timid proposal, and instead, engage in a General Spending Strike.
The following is from an email by Indivisible:
“Gearing up for a national day of economic disruption on May Day. We always say mass mobilizations are just one tactic. Economic disruption is another tactic. And it’s most successful when you’ve done the work to build a large, broad-based coalition of folks ready for higher-level actions. So now, the ground is laid for May Day Strong’s national day of “No school, no work, no shopping” to put the oligarchs enabling Trump’s power grabs on notice.”
From Peaceful Solution:
This proposal is 14 months late and far too timid. They should have been proposing economic disruption simultaneously with the street protests. Remember, Indivisible is an offshoot of the Democratic Party, so the timidity should not be surprising. Their proposed one day economic disruption will have absolutely no effect, except to disappoint those participating and give a good laugh to the fascists and billionaires.
We are in the middle of a five alarm fire, and while most of the country remains oblivious, too many in the resistance are wasting time discussing how to organize and implement a fire department. What’s needed from the general public is total non cooperation and a General Spending Strike( Spending Strike, economic disengagement, economic disruption, general boycott, whichever you prefer). NOW!
We, the People, can’t easily or safely withhold our tax dollars that are allowing this corrupt government to function. Our tax dollars fund the fascist takeover.
But as consumers we can indirectly withhold our tax dollars. Consumer spending is about 70% of the economy. That spending ends up as tax dollars.
How much do you want to stop His Royal Heinous and the fascist takeover of the country?
Enough that you’re willing to make a small sacrifice? Like altering your spending habits for a month or two or three? That could be all it would take to get the attention of the oligarchs (formerly known as The Robber Barons in the first Gilded Age, also The Fat Cats, The Greedy Bastards).
A brief demonstration of We, the People’s, power of the purse could persuade them to quit supporting HRH and the politicians who enable him.
This small, painless sacrifice will not be permanent. It only needs to last long enough so that the billionaires realize that We, the People, still wield the power.