Thousands gather for D.C.’s flagship ‘No Kings’ event, march to demand accountability and an end to the federal occupation of their communities
D.C. community members marched to defend their jobs, their freedoms and our democracyfrom an administration that seeks to seize control of the capital city, interfere in our elections, silence working people and make life unaffordable.
WASHINGTON – On Saturday, March 28, thousands of people gathered in the nation’s capital to rally and march as part of the national “No Kings” day of action, which saw simultaneous nonviolent mass protests happening across the country. Participants at the D.C. rally heard from leaders of national labor unions, civil rights groups and local organizations defending our communities from a White House that is suppressing workers’ freedoms and stripping vital public services — all to fund billionaire tax breaks and the federal occupation of our neighborhoods.
“Right now, we are in the storm of our lives,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “Billionaires are calling the shots, and we’re paying the price. But we’ve seen this before. These same bullies have the same old playbook. Let me tell you, we’ve fought the good fight, and we have won before — for civil rights, for social justice, for workers’ rights. When we the people stand together and fight together we win.”
“Every time this regime attacks people, our movement grows stronger,” said Keya Chatterjee, Executive Director of Free DC. “Millions of people across the country rose in solidarity today and that’s what it’s going to take to end this regime and their attacks for good. The next step is to flex our economic muscle. On Friday, May 1, organizers across the country are calling for a day of mass action. Make your plans now for how you’ll get ready for action on May 1.”
“As president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC, I was proud to represent not only Planned Parenthood today at the historic No Kings rally, but also the thousands of patients both here in DC and across the nation who depend on and deserve high-quality, compassionate health care,” President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Metropolitan Washington Dr. Laura Meyers. “Threats against this care and violations of our health centers, which are safe spaces for those in need, will not be tolerated. As long as these threats persist, we will be here standing up for care.”
“Since the last time we marched, this administration has dragged us deeper into war: sending brave American service members into harm’s way and leaving their families to carry the weight of that loss,” said Naveed Shah, Political Director of Common Defense. “At home, we’ve watched citizens killed in the streets by militarized forces. We’ve seen families torn apart and immigrant communities targeted. All of it done in the name of one man trying to rule like a king. But we know who we are. We fought for a democracy. And in this country we say it loud: no kings!”
“Right now, we are in the storm of our lives,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “Billionaires are calling the shots, and we’re paying the price. But we’ve seen this before. These same bullies have the same old playbook. Let me tell you, we’ve fought the good fight, and we have won before — for civil rights, for social justice, for workers’ rights. When we the people stand together and fight together we win.”
“Every time this regime attacks people, our movement grows stronger,” said Keya Chatterjee, Executive Director of Free DC. “Millions of people across the country rose in solidarity today and that’s what it’s going to take to end this regime and their attacks for good. The next step is to flex our economic muscle. On Friday, May 1, organizers across the country are calling for a day of mass action. Make your plans now for how you’ll get ready for action on May 1.”
“As president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC, I was proud to represent not only Planned Parenthood today at the historic No Kings rally, but also the thousands of patients both here in DC and across the nation who depend on and deserve high-quality, compassionate health care,” President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Metropolitan Washington Dr. Laura Meyers. “Threats against this care and violations of our health centers, which are safe spaces for those in need, will not be tolerated. As long as these threats persist, we will be here standing up for care.”
“Since the last time we marched, this administration has dragged us deeper into war: sending brave American service members into harm’s way and leaving their families to carry the weight of that loss,” said Naveed Shah, Political Director of Common Defense. “At home, we’ve watched citizens killed in the streets by militarized forces. We’ve seen families torn apart and immigrant communities targeted. All of it done in the name of one man trying to rule like a king. But we know who we are. We fought for a democracy. And in this country we say it loud: no kings!”
Following the rally, the massive crowd marched across the Frederick Douglass bridge and past Fort McNair, where architects of the Trump administration’s attacks on working people reside. Along the march route, protestors chalked sidewalks, chanted and held signs that expressed their frustrations with a White House that seeks to silence working people.
From nurses and teachers to bus drivers and federal workers, participants at No Kings D.C. made one thing clear: they won’t tolerate an administration that strips their health care, weakens Social Security, and takes away their jobs to fund attacks on their own communities. And as costs rise, they refuse to choose between going to work and protecting their families while ICE continues to terrorize their neighborhoods.
To learn more about the national movement or see the full list of events, visit NoKings.org.
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