No Kings rally in draws massive crowd

More than 100,000 people gathered Saturday for the No Kings rally at the Minnesota State Capitol, marking the largest event of its kind to date. Headlined by artists such as Joan Baez and Bruce Springsteen, the rally became a platform for attendees to demand change from the current administration, express their anger, and honor Minnesotans who stepped up for their neighbors during the Department of Homeland Security’s Operation Metro Surge.

“I stand here because, as a child, I learned what it means when your life can be decided by a piece of paper, when your future feels uncertain,” said Carolina Ortiz of COPAL. “I carried fear, but I also carried something stronger, the belief that one day we would rise. And that day is today. So let me say this very clearly: We are not the problem to solve. Immigrants are a blessing to this country.”

For its third No Kings rally, organizers chose Minnesota as the flagship event, once again placing the state in the national spotlight following the events surrounding Operation Metro Surge.

“I think all the students were really going through it together, there was definitely a feeling on campus,” said Paige, a University of Minnesota student. “When everything started to play out, classes got shut down. We had to switch to online classes, and it was affecting our education in a negative way.”

From a bird’s-eye view, the rally appeared to be the largest yet, with crowds stretching from the Capitol grounds back toward the Cathedral of St. Paul and forcing road closures around the area for hours.

“I’m here because I’m angry, and I don’t have any other way to express it,” said attendee Loreen Doyle. “I’m very frustrated, and I’m very scared. My family has been directly affected by this administration and what it’s doing. My daughter was part of the Doge layoffs, and she’s been unemployed for a year now.”

Speakers at the rally included St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Gov. Tim Walz, and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.

“We are here because Donald Trump has not just chipped away at our democracy, he has taken a wrecking ball to the very foundation of what makes America great,” Omar said. “He has tried to intimidate Minnesotans. He has tried to make us afraid. He tried to divide us. But we stood strong. We had each other’s backs, and we have never bent the knee.”

Local activists also took the stage, including deportation flight tracker Nick Benson, Haven Watch’s Natalie Ehret, and Dr. Nekima Levy Armstrong, co-founder of the national Target boycott.

“I just want to say to the people of Minnesota, I’m so proud of you,” Levy Armstrong said. “You stood up, you fought, you put your bodies on the line. You spoke the truth, and you made it clear that we’re not stepping back. We’re not afraid. We will continue to rise up for the people of this country, for our immigrant neighbors, and for the future of our democracy.”

Multiple musical artists performed, including Bruce Springsteen, who sang “Streets of Minneapolis,” a song he wrote after the shooting of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in honor of the people of the Twin Cities. Singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers, Rage Against the Machine member Tom Morello, and folk icon Joan Baez also performed, alongside the Twin Cities Singing Resistance and the Brass Solidarity Band.

“To those of us who believed in the power of nonviolent resistance, and to those who didn’t, you have shown the way with your courage, determination, and decency. Thank you, Minneapolis,” Baez told the crowd before joining Rogers and Morello in singing “The Times They Are A-Changin’.”

While the number of attendees reached well into the hundreds of thousands, many emphasized that the activism does not end with Saturday’s protest, pointing to the need for continued community engagement to create lasting change.

“I think people need to focus on community first and foremost,” said attendee Marshall. “Talk with your neighbors about politics, talk with everyone. We need to get coworkers on board, friends involved, and participate in as many petitions and community groups as time allows.”

Despite national media attention beginning to shift away from Minnesota, residents say they are still feeling the effects of Operation Metro Surge. Many families continue to struggle to pay rent or afford basic necessities due to lost income. At the same time, community members have continued to support one another by organizing rent assistance and delivering groceries to impacted families, showing that the movement extends far beyond Saturday’s event.

“We have to keep it moving, keep showing up and supporting your community. Help your neighbors any way that you can,” Paige said. “One thing we talked about today is how the media’s attention is shifting away from Minneapolis. But it’s really important to recognize that this is still happening here.”

Izzy Canizares is a freelance journalist and contributing writer for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.com.