No Kings is taking back Americana

The Verge • March 31, 2026 • nation

Key Points:

The No Kings protest in Portland on a sunny March day saw a slower start than the previous October event but eventually drew an estimated 30,000 participants downtown, contributing to a nationwide turnout of around 8 million protesters.
The protest movement remains broad and multifaceted, with participants citing concerns ranging from immigration policies, trans rights, war opposition, and general dissatisfaction with the Trump administration and the Democratic Party's lack of a clear plan.
Despite the large crowds, clashes with federal law enforcement at the ICE building were less intense than in past protests, though protesters remained well-prepared with protective gear and organized strategies against tear gas and crowd control tactics.
The presence of Portland city police and Oregon State Police guarding the ICE building, a federal property, has caused controversy given Oregon's sanctuary state status and legal restrictions on local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
The protest culture has evolved to incorporate traditional American symbols alongside radical and anti-fascist imagery, reflecting a shift in the political landscape where leftist movements increasingly claim patriotic iconography previously associated with the right.

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