This past Saturday was the third edition of the No Kings Rallies, and it was the biggest one yet. Minnesota served as the Flagship March this time, for good reason. We have been through SO much, and it doesn’t feel like we’ve ever stopped marching this year, but this one was the largest one in the history of Minnesota. Ever.
The largest March in American history
It was also the largest in American history, with over 8 million people participating in the action nationally and globally. Imagine that many people marching against you? You might start thinking you’re not any good at your job … and make changes. But we don’t see that happening ever – so we’re out in these streets as long as it takes to get rid of them.
I had taken a badly needed break in my beloved California, and cut my trip a couple days short so that I could return to Minnesota in time to march with my people – and my brother, for the first time ever! He was back here filling in for me as caregiver for our family, and he stayed another day so he could hit the streets with me. This made me so happy, I can’t begin to tell you. He’s been in California for all of this occupation, so for him to be here marching by my side was extra emotional for me.
The air was electric
The flagship march was starting in three different locations in downtown St. Paul, and all headed for the State Capitol. We decided to head to the Harriet Island start location, and as we parked, we could see the massive crowd across the river, and hear the sounds of Brass Solidarity getting the People riled up. The air was truly electric.
On the way to St. Paul, we passed several smaller, more localized protests on street corners all across town. Cedar Avenue was lined with monarch butterfly signs on every tree, proclaiming all of the things that we’re fighting for. The entire state seemed to be showing up to have their voices heard.
The march was just getting ready to leave when we arrived, and the massive crowd wrapped up and around the bridge to cross over back into downtown St. Paul from the island. Everywhere you looked was a better sign than the last. Minnesotans are VERY clever, and creative.
People were handing out water and snacks
As always happens at our civic actions, there were people handing out bottles of water and snacks, all on their own, unaffiliated with the March, just being good people looking out for others. Other people were handing out free stickers, shirts, all in the spirit of giving and sharing and standing together in solidarity. It’s SUCH a beautiful thing.
There was a lead truck at the head of the parade, with various speakers leading chants from the truck bed. Volunteers lined the course in bright vests, keeping everyone in line. It felt SO good to be among SO many people on the very same page. Literally everyone hates the criminal president, and cannot wait for this corrupt administration to be gone. I don’t think there’s ever been a more loathed American.
We sang, we chanted, we marched. We didn’t love it when the parade stopped for a kind of long time of speechifying on the bridge … that’s a lot of people. We felt much more enthusiastic when we reached the other side safely. The day got more and more beautiful as we marched, the skies so blue it was obvious that Spring is really here.
Seven eagles flew over, we felt blessed
People filled the skyways as we passed under them, waving and holding their own signs. At one point, the entire crowd started yelling, and when we looked up there were seven eagles flying together over the proceedings! Remember, this is Native Land, and there could not be a better omen for the day than being blessed by seven eagles. Everyone was freaking out.
The huge crowd gathered on the lawn of the Capitol, and you could not see the end of the human beings. The audience stretched all the way to the St. Paul Cathedral, and it was the most wonderful gathering of good Minnesotans I’ve ever seen. Everyone was in a great mood. Everyone was there with purpose. Everyone was helpful to their neighbors, as we’ve been demonstrating ever since this evil occupation of our cities began.
Impressive speeches and performances
It was very crowded, and we got as close as we could to the stage, but we had to rely on the big screens to really see anything. The event was so huge that everything echoed back as the sound traveled to the back of the audience. The thing with these rallies and events is that there are always too many speakers. I get that everyone wants to be heard from. and we want to be as inclusive as possible, but there has to be a way of editing it so that hundreds of thousands of citizens are not standing around so long.
For such an enormous crowd, it was entirely silent when a Native woman sang a song that had never been performed outside of Native audiences. You could hear a pin drop in the middle of the biggest crowd ever gathered at our Capitol.
They then played a video compilation of all of the things that have happened here since the start of the year, and the ways that we have reacted. It was intensely moving. I was overwhelmed with emotion, wiping tears from under my sunglasses, when someone tapped my shoulder. I looked over, and a lovely woman handed me an unopened package of tissues, gesturing me to take one. That’s what I mean. Minnesotans will always be there for you. I hugged this stranger, and again felt so grateful that this place is where I was born and raised.
Bruce Springstein joined the rally and sang for us
Governor Walz came out to great applause. He gave a short speech about how great we all are, and how proud he is of all of us (me too). He then said that in America we don’t have Kings … but we do have a Boss. Walz then introduced Bruce Springsteen, who came out and gave us all great praise, saying Trump picked the wrong state to mess with. He then played his “Streets of Minneapolis” for us again (after coming to our first General Strike day and performing it at First Avenue at Tom Morello’s show on January 30th), and he got the biggest roars of the day. He’s even launching his new tour here on Tuesday … I think we might have a new honorary Minnesotan.
As mentioned, there were a LOT more speakers, all of whom praised Minnesotans and our fully peaceful Resistance to the Fascists in charge. Jane Fonda. American Hero Bernie Sanders. There was a rumor that Barack Obama was there to speak (which we would have greatly welcomed), but that turned out not to be true. Joan Baez and Maggie Rogers sang “The Times They Are A’Changin’’, and were joined by my old pal Tom Morello. All of the best Freedom Fighters seemed to be there with us in solidarity.
There were so many people there that I think it messed with the internet signal, as we had zero juice at this point. My phone was almost dead and I still had to get my brother to the airport (whirlwind day!), so we started to make our way out of the dense crowd while there were still speakers, but we felt that we had heard the highlights, and fought the power sufficiently. And we had found Waldo.
People of all walks of life joined to show their feelings
Of course lame republicans tried to be negative about this truly beautiful and powerful day, saying it was paid organizers and all that, but the People know better. There has never been a more hated president in the history of our nation. There has never been such deep corruption in our government, not ever. I saw a sign that said,
It’s so bad that even the introverts are out here!
and that was true. The elderly with walkers were there. Infants in baby carriers were there. Disabled people were there. White suburbanites who have never protested anything before were there, because we must save our democracy. Were you there? If not, why not? Don’t sit by and let others fight your battles for you if you care at all about saving our Nation from Fascism. We need you too.
Next: a General Strike on 1 May
The next big action to get rid of the evil poisoning our nation will be a General Strike on May 1st – International Workers Day. We will not work. We will buy nothing. We will shut it all down to absolutely show the government how very little power they have without the cooperation of its Citizens. Pretty much none. So let’s use it.
I’m still buzzing about what a fantastic day of utterly Peaceful Protesting we all did together at No Kings 3. It could not have gone any better, and we all showed this unqualified and dangerous administration that their days of corruption are numbered. That I got to walk alongside my brother for this one was the very cherry on top. We are inspired. We are engaged. We are radicalized for GOOD. And we will see you out there.
GO!
May 1, 2026
SHUT IT DOWN!!!
All pictures by CJ Gronner. Read the original publication with more photos and videos on Substack.
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