Thousands of protesters showed up to downtown Ypsilanti for the third national No Kings event, bearing instruments, costumes and handmade signs.
More than 3,000 separate No Kings rallies were held nationwide March 28, 2026, uniting protesters as they pushed back against the Trump administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity, and the United States' involvement in international conflict.
More than 2,500 protesters flooded into Ypsilanti’s downtown district from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., said Gordon McAllister, the founder of Ypsilanti Indivisible. Previously, the volunteer group also organized the first Ypsilanti “No Kings” protest on Oct. 18, 2025, which saw an estimated 4,000 attendees.
Thousands rally at the third "No Kings" protest March 28, 2026.
“I think it’s really important for people to show up. I think a lot of people ask, what does a protest really do, and for me, it allows me to see how many other people are likeminded, and don’t support what’s going on in our country right now,” said Emily, an Ypsilanti resident. Emily was not comfortable sharing her last name with The Eastern Echo.
Sharon, an Ypsilanti resident who was also uncomfortable sharing her last name with The Echo, held a sign that quoted President Donald Trump, stating "I’m not going to start wars, I’m going to stop…" as well as the words "liar," "scam" and "lies."
“I want this democracy for my children, and their children, and their children,” Sharon said. “I want them to have the freedom I had growing up. … Everything is different. There’s a lot of fear, anxiety, uncertainty and lies.”
Other signs carried by protesters held similar sentiments, including "The power of the people is stronger than the people in power," as well as "The Constitution is not optional."
A protester holds a sign that reads, "The Constitution is not optional" at the third "No Kings" rally March 28, 2026
While attendees chanted about some of the same concerns present throughout the first two No Kings events, including overreach of presidential powers and a worry for civil rights, protestors present at the third installment spoke about increased ICE presence, including in the greater Washtenaw County area.
“I was really inspired by the people of Minneapolis,” said Sage Wolkow, a protester present in downtown Ypsilanti. “This is people just saying that they’re sick of the nonsense. They want transparency and justice.”
The Epstein files were another concern voiced by protestors. One sign read, "Imagine hating immigrants more than pedophiles," a statement made in reference to the continued battle for transparency regarding Jeffery Epstein, the now-deceased financier and convicted child sex offender, his criminal activity, and those who were involved.
Jesse Arquette, who recently moved to Ypsilanti, spoke about both his love for the city and concern for the current state of affairs.
“This is part of the reason why I love this town. It’s the people who live here,” Arquette said in reference to the thousands of neighbors who showed up in protest.
Attendees first gathered at 16 S. Washington St., located across from the Legal Services of South Central Michigan building. However, the crowd soon expanded. By 12 p.m., the sidewalks of downtown Ypsilanti were filled.
“The way that things are going, [they] can’t stay this way. I have children that I’m worried about, I have my neighbors and other people in the community. We as a country deserve a lot better than what we have right now,” said Kelly, another protestor who wasn’t comfortable sharing her last name with The Echo. "In a democracy, we should be the ones calling the shots. All of these people here, and all the people over the world who are protesting today — our voices aren’t being heard. Things that we want to occur aren’t occurring.”
According to Kelly, her goal for the protests is more than just removing the current administration; it’s also making amendments to the Constitution, including big reform on corporate political action committee money, health care for all, and the first steps towards establishing a universal base income.
Beyond political advocacy, McAllister explained that the current political climate also calls for people to hold their loved ones close and lend an ear.
“As I spoke at the event about the events that have happened here in Ypsilanti … I told people that I wanted them to reach out to everybody they know,” McAllister said. “Ask them how they’re doing. Don’t just take an ‘OK’ — find out how they’re really doing.”
For updates on future No Kings events and related activities, information can be found on the organization’s website.
For those interested in getting involved with Ypsi Indivisible or the nationwide Indivisible organization, updates on future opportunities and events can be found through the group’s Facebook page at Indivisible Guide.
Editor's note: The Eastern Echo spoke with several protesters at the No Kings event, many of whom were not willing to go on the record. For this article, The Echo chose to protect the privacy requests of several sources to minimize harm for those individuals in the current political climate.
