On March 28th, 2026, over nine million people across the country and the world gathered to protest the Trump Administration and its actions. There were 3,100 registered marches in all fifty states, from New York City to rural towns in Indiana. There were events in Costa Rica, Australia, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Kenya, and Polynesia. Around the globe, people came together for the third No Kings Protest since Trump reentered office. J Rohland, staff reporter for Culture and Wellness, and I went down to Elmwood Park in downtown Roanoke to join the action. We even made our own signs, my own being the phrase displayed at Bad Bunny’s Superbowl performance: “the only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
Groups like Roanoke Indivisible and the Roanoke Social Group work hard to create a safe environment to express opinions, fears, ideas, and peaceful debates about current issues. J and I happily bought painted shirts that read “abolish ICE”. Amongst all the signs and the music, there were multiple speakers that offered a variety of perspectives on why they were participating in the protest, from nurses to educators, to politicians and veterans. Elmwood Park was packed, with people lining the streets crowding in the park. People from all walks of life showed up to stand together in lieu of the current administration’s attacks on our democracy.
Protester: We have leaders who do not like diversity; white nationalists. It is good to see that America is all types of people, and Roanoke represents that.
Among the numerous reasons for protesting, a lot of the signs and calls to action revolved around the current war against Iran, the Epstein files, and Ice, with a few folks there commenting on Israel and the KKK. J and I set out to conduct interviews with the protest goers to understand the importance of No King’s and its impact in the United States. All interviewees remain anonymous aside from two attending Roanoke College students, Madeleine Whitacre and Dixie Lumsden.
Overwhelmingly, the people I interviewed are disgusted and discontented with how the current administration is behaving. There was an emphasis on solidarity and the importance of having large numbers of people coming together.
The age range of the attendees also spanned several generations, with some having been protesting the government’s actions for decades. One man had a painting of Trump in between two KKK members that he had made all the way back in 2016, when Trump was first elected.
Is this your first protest?
Protester: Oh God no. All the way back to the Vietnam War. And I am still in it, nothing much has changed. Which is why we have to think new.
Protester: We did this in the 60’s and 70’s, and now we’re having to do it again. It’s like “damn, didn’t anyone learn anything?”
The wording of some people’s thoughts often revolved around fascism and monarchies. The first person I interviewed carried a sign that said, “The only King is Elvis.” Several times, Donald Trump “reigning” or “ruling” was brought up in responses. It brought a lot of comfort to me to hear people reiterating my own fears. In this current political climate, it is so easy to become overwhelmed and numb to the atrocities going on.
Protester: I want to show up to make my voice heard. I try not to cry; we are not alone. We’re not crazy, not stupid. There’s a lot of people that feel the same way.
Despite the reason for the gathering being so grim, there was a lot of joy and excitement present. The bands attending played protest songs and people danced. There was a level of happiness in being surrounded by people and not being afraid to be yourself in public.
Protester: It’s so heartening to be with a large number of people who are feeling the same anxiety that I am. I love being down here. I love the energy, the humor. This is what America is, not that craziness that’s going on in Washington. We don’t feel alone. This is the reason we protest; it’s our first amendment right. Togetherness and peaceful protest can change so much. 3% can change the world or the United States. We can make that happen. I think people are in agreement now more than ever.
Furthermore, with the protests happening at Roanoke College within the past month, it was refreshing to be in an environment that was not composed of hate.
Protester: I don’t think the administration has the common good in mind. I’m very glad to see the people are willing to speak out and speak out on behalf of everyone who’s been impacted. Especially immigrants, asylum speakers who don’t have that much power or voice in our country. I think compassion should be a guiding value, whether it’s the democrats or the republicans in the white house.
There were also several college age and high school aged protesters present, which inspired hope in several of the adults I talked to. Their consensus was that if there are young people willing to speak out, there is always hope.
Protester: This is especially important to me as a young queer person living in America. Everyone’s rights are on the line, especially since I’m also Latina. We need to look out for each other.
Among the young protesters, two other Roanoke College students also attended No Kings. We asked Madeleine Whitacre and Dixie Lumsden for their opinions on No Kings and the state of our country. Whitacre is a current freshman, double majoring in Political Science and Sociology, with a concentration in Legal Studies. Lumsden is a current junior majoring in Environmental Science and hopes to pursue a career in soil and water conservation.
Why are you here today?
Whitacre: To protect our constitutional values.
What does this mean to you? Why is it important?
Whitacre: Because the future of America relies on people protesting now.
What does your sign say?
Whitacre: “Trump has small dic(tator) energy.”
Why did you attend No Kings?
Lumsden: This was my first opportunity to attend a NK protest. I’ve never been fond of the Trump administration even in the beginning, and now when the White House is putting out rhetoric that directly contradicts our Constitution and democratic ideals, it feels very threatening. Since the last NK protest [the government] has gone to war with Iran, thousands of Epstein files have been released, and families are separated by the administration’s cruel immigration policies.
Why is it important to you that everyone showed up?
Lumsden: It hit me really hard just to see the turnout in the Star City Alone. I’ve lived in SWVA my whole life and it’s decently conservative. Seeing so many folks take time from their days to come together against tyranny was pretty amazing.
What does your sign say?
Lumsden: “Democracy Dies in Silence.” It’s always important to exercise your rights as an American. I think it’s important for people to be there for their neighbors and community who can’t be. The people in power keep breaking our groups into differing minorities to drive a wedge, but the acts of the current administration hurt us all. I think it’s important that we remember that when we walk the streets, it’s not for yourself, it’s for the future of America.
No Kings Day ended as a success across the nation, with local organizations gaining more support (including the Southwest Virginia Data Center Transparency Alliance) and creating a stronger community in the process. The GOP later said that the No King Protests were “Hate America Rallies” and riots caused by the radical left. I wholeheartedly disagree. If anything, I had never seen such patriotism and the desire for our country to prosper for everyone that inhabits it. Even so, the protests were not organized by a Democrat led organization—it was all done by the people who care about what is happening. No Kings Day inspired hope, not just in myself, but in millions of others around the country and the world.
We will not go quietly.
Iliana Martinez & J Rohland
Staff Reporters
