Minnesota to Host ‘No Kings’ Flagship Protest With Springsteen/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Minnesota will host the flagship “No Kings” protest featuring Bruce Springsteen. Organizers expect more than 100,000 attendees at the St. Paul rally. The demonstrations come amid tensions over immigration enforcement and the Iran war.
Minnesota No Kings Protest + Quick Looks
- Minnesota selected as flagship protest location
- Bruce Springsteen to headline St. Paul rally
- 3,100 protests planned across all 50 states
- Organizers expect over 9 million participants
- Joan Baez, Jane Fonda, Bernie Sanders to appear
- Protest follows ICE crackdown and Minnesota shootings
- Opposition to Iran war fueling turnout
- Movement spreading to more than dozen countries
Deep Look: Minnesota to Host ‘No Kings’ Flagship Rally
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota is set to become the focal point of a nationwide protest movement Saturday, as organizers of the “No Kings” demonstrations prepare for their flagship rally at the Minnesota State Capitol, headlined by Bruce Springsteen. The event comes amid heightened tensions surrounding President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and ongoing U.S. military actions abroad.
Organizers estimate that up to 100,000 people could gather at the Capitol complex in St. Paul, making it one of the largest demonstrations in the movement’s history. The planned turnout would surpass last June’s Minnesota protest, which drew an estimated 80,000 participants.
Across the United States, more than 3,100 demonstrations are scheduled in communities of all sizes, with organizers projecting participation from more than 9 million people. The protests are increasingly expanding into suburban areas, which activists say are becoming central to opposition efforts.
The “No Kings” movement has also expanded internationally. Organizers say demonstrations are planned in more than a dozen countries, including Canada, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Ireland, Sweden, Mexico, and Australia. In countries with constitutional monarchies, organizers have adapted the slogan to “No Tyrants.”
The Minnesota rally will feature a lineup of prominent activists and public figures, including singer Joan Baez, actor and activist Jane Fonda, and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Labor leaders, elected officials, and grassroots activists are also expected to address the crowd.
Ezra Levin, cofounder of Indivisible, the activist organization spearheading the demonstrations, said Minnesota was chosen due to recent events that have intensified emotions in the state.
Levin cited what he described as harsh federal immigration enforcement actions, as well as community organizing efforts that followed. He said the Twin Cities have become a symbol of resistance and grassroots mobilization.
“This will be the flagship event,” Levin said, describing Minnesota as both a site of hardship and community resilience.
Saturday’s rally marks the third major round of “No Kings” protests. Previous demonstrations drew millions nationwide, with more than 5 million participants attending over 2,100 events last June. Another round in October saw more than 7 million people participate in over 2,700 demonstrations.
The latest protests were initially planned in January, shortly after the deaths of two Minneapolis residents, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were shot during confrontations involving federal officers. Organizers say the incident intensified calls for demonstrations.
Opposition to the war in Iran is also expected to draw additional participants. The United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Feb. 28, escalating tensions in the Middle East and fueling protest activity across the country.
President Trump has previously responded to “No Kings” demonstrations by rejecting accusations of authoritarianism and saying protesters do not represent the broader population.
Springsteen’s involvement has added national attention to the Minnesota rally. The musician wrote “Streets of Minneapolis” to honor the victims and community activism following the federal crackdown. He first performed the song at a fundraiser at the historic First Avenue nightclub in Minneapolis.
Springsteen is expected to perform the song again during Saturday’s rally and later during a concert Tuesday night at Minneapolis’ Target Center, where he and the E Street Band will launch the “Land of Hope & Dreams” American Tour.
The New Jersey rock icon has long been a vocal critic of Trump, who has publicly dismissed Springsteen as “overrated.” The tour’s branding includes the “No Kings” slogan, further tying the concerts to the broader protest movement.
Springsteen has framed his involvement as defending democratic values and constitutional principles. Ahead of the rally, he described the movement as a significant moment in American civic life.
“When you have the opportunity to sing something where the timing is essential and if you have something powerful to sing, it elevates the moment,” Springsteen said in an interview.
With large crowds expected and protests planned nationwide and internationally, Saturday’s “No Kings” demonstrations are shaping up to be one of the largest coordinated protest efforts of the year, highlighting growing political tensions and civic activism across the United States.
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