No Kings Reno march draws 10,000 as speakers urge action on rights and war
On a bright Saturday afternoon, more than 10,000 people filled the streets of downtown Reno, joining a growing chorus of voices across the country and around the world.
The March 28 “No Kings Reno March & Rally” brought together northern Nevadans from all walks of life, part of a coordinated day of action that included 3,267 protests worldwide and eleven across Nevada. From Liberty Street to Virginia Street and ending at City Hall Plaza near the Believe sign, the march carried a mix of urgency, frustration, and, for many, a sense of shared purpose.
Families pushed strollers through the crowd. Students marched alongside seniors. Friends compared handmade signs, while veterans and members of the disability community shared deeply personal reasons for showing up. A local church even arranged a bus so congregants could attend together.
“Everyone shows up for their own reasons,” said Kimberly Carden of Indivisible Northern Nevada. “The war, the economy, healthcare, terrorizing our neighbors and communities. The damage this administration is inflicting on our country is unfathomable.”
The Reno rally featured a lineup of speakers who touched on a wide range of issues, including environmental protections, immigration, civil liberties, free speech, and voting rights. Among them were Athar Haseebullah of the ACLU of Nevada, Olivia Tanager of the Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter, immigrant rights advocate Veronica Frenkel, and Washoe County student Myae Nua White. Nevada State Senator Angie Taylor served as emcee.
The crowd itself reflected a broad political spectrum. Organizers noted that attendees included not only Democrats and progressives, but also Independents and self-identified conservatives concerned about how current policies are affecting their daily lives.
“Their efforts to divide us are actually uniting us,” Carden said. “People aren’t just showing up in Reno and Las Vegas. It’s happening in Hawthorne, Fallon, Elko. Deep red rural communities are angry, too. We are starting to feel a shift.”
While Reno has hosted large demonstrations before, including a record-breaking protest of 18,000 people in October 2025, organizers expected a smaller turnout this time due to the expansion of events into more communities. Instead of seeing that as a drawback, they framed it as a sign of momentum.
“We’re all in this together,” Carden said.
That sense of expansion was echoed by organizers across the state. Nearly a dozen Nevada cities hosted their own “No Kings” events, from Carson City to Pahrump, as well as neighboring California communities like Truckee and South Lake Tahoe.
For some, the motivation to show up has only intensified.
“Every time the Trump administration escalates its attacks on everyday people and tries to take our freedoms, the No Kings movement grows stronger,” said Cathy Fulkerson of Third Act. “Today’s march proves that we the people will not back down.”
Foreign policy also surfaced as a key concern. Many participants carried signs condemning the war in Iran, with several calling it illegal and unprovoked.
“We should be helping our citizens, not fighting endless wars in the Middle East,” said Aerial Torres of 50501 Northern Nevada. “We the people say, ‘No Kings. No Wars.’”
Local organizations that helped sponsor the rally emphasized the importance of showing up publicly and standing together. Stacey Spain of Our Center said the event was about ensuring every voice is valued and protected under the law.
For Elvira Diaz of La Casa de Elvira, the day was also about building lasting connections.
“When communities come together in unity, we have the collective power to defend democracy,” Diaz said. “There are no kings here, only people shaping the future together.”
Organizers described their approach as building a “big tent” coalition that reaches beyond traditional political lines. The goal, they said, is not just to protest for a day but to sustain engagement through future challenges, including upcoming elections.
Not everyone agrees with the movement’s tactics. Some critics have dismissed the rallies as performative. But supporters argue that visibility matters, especially during moments of uncertainty.
“Now more than ever it’s vital to come forward and meet your community,” said organizers with the Biggest Little Action Group. “To stand in solidarity and show everyone: We the People have no kings.”
For many who attended, the experience offered more than a chance to make a political statement. It provided something harder to quantify but just as important.
“So many people feel completely alone and overwhelmed right now,” Carden said. “But protesting is the antidote to that. This is therapy. It creates connection, energy, even joy. And that turns into real engagement.”
