By Sydney Byerly
The Indiana Citizen
March 27, 2026
More than 60 “No Kings” rallies are planned across Indiana on Saturday, part of a nationwide wave of protests organized in response to the actions of President Donald Trump’s administration.
The demonstrations — at least 63 across Indiana, including some in rural communities, and more than 3,000 nationwide — are the latest in a series of mass protests opposing what organizers describe as authoritarian actions, immigration crackdowns and a breakdown of democratic norms under Trump.
The movement in the Hoosier state is being organized by a coalition of grassroots groups including chapters of the progressive organization, Indivisible, and civil liberties advocates. Hoosiers who plan to attend the rallies say they are showing up to send a clear message: Trump and Republicans who control the House and the Senate, as well as the legislature and all statewide elected offices in Indiana, are accountable to the public.
”I’m protesting because thanks to the cowardly Republican majority, Donald Trump has no limits on anything he wants to do, from deporting innocent hardworking Americans to getting us in a war for no clear reason to desecrating the White House with his gaudy renovations,” said Steve Hall, who plans to attend the rally at the Statehouse in downtown Indianapolis.
“We the people have to be the guardrails,” Hall said. “We have to show up, stand up, and shout out: You are not a king.”
Indianapolis resident Tricia O’Connor said she sees the protests as a last line of defense.
“Donald Trump and his administration are not abiding by the Constitution and rule of law,” she said. “We are the last line of defense. We refuse to sit by idly.”
The “No Kings” movement began in 2025 as a response to Trump’s presidency and has since grown into one of the largest protest efforts in recent U.S. history. Organizers said nearly 7 million people attended thousands of events last fall.
The name itself, organizers say, reflects their central argument: that no elected leader should wield unchecked power.
Recent national developments — including the Trump administration’s controversial immigration enforcement actions in cities like Chicago and Minneapolis, Minnesota, Trump’s war with Iran and broader concerns about the president’s wielding of executive power — have fueled continued momentum heading into this weekend’s protests.
“Democracy is not a spectator sport,” said Karen Byrd, a co-lead of the volunteer team for Indivisible Central Indiana. “It depends on an engaged citizenry who is watching, paying attention and making sure the rules of democracy are upheld.”
Unlike large-scale protests concentrated in major cities, organizers say the “No Kings” model emphasizes widespread, local participation.
“One of the hallmarks … is that we really want them to be distributed,” Byrd said. “We want people wherever they are to be able to participate — whether that’s a small town, a medium city or a large city.”
That approach is reflected in Indiana, where events are planned in cities including Indianapolis, Noblesville, Anderson, Muncie and Jeffersonville.
In Southern Indiana, Indivisible Southern Indiana will host a “No Kings III” rally at Warder Park in Jeffersonville. Organizer Patty Reiman said turnout could exceed 1,000 people, with attendees coming from both Indiana and nearby Louisville.
“Really why we’re gathering is that we all believe that no one is above the people, and no one rules without accountability, and no one is king,” Reiman said.
Organizers in smaller communities say local events help remove barriers to participation.
Suzanne Fortenberry, who is hosting a rally in Franklin, said many Hoosiers cannot easily attend large downtown events.
“There are so many Hoosiers who find it difficult to go to downtown Indy,” she said. “Our No Kings rally gives people an option … to let people know that they are not alone in this fight.”
In Noblesville, the Hamilton County Democracy Coalition will host a community-focused event at Federal Hill Commons from noon to 2 p.m.
The gathering will include voter registration assistance, information about Indiana’s May 5 primary election and opportunities to connect with local progressive and civic organizations, including MADVoters, ReCenter Indiana, Fishers Resists and several Indivisible chapters.
Organizers say the event is designed to be family-friendly, with music, speakers and resources aimed at helping residents engage more fully in civic life.
“Our mission is simple: to provide our communities with the tools and support they need to participate in democracy,” said Julie Roberts, a coalition leader and founder of Fishers Resists.
Participants cite a wide range of motivations, from national politics to personal values.
Dr. Kathy Phipps, who plans to attend a rally in Bloomington, said her perspective has shifted after decades of voting Republican.
“I’m a 67-year-old who voted Republican for 40 years, and I’ll be attending the No Kings march because I’m very concerned that our constitutional rights are diminishing greatly,” Phipps said. “I’m marching in favor of ‘We the People.’ What’s happening in our country is not normal.”
For others, the protests mark a shift toward more active engagement.
Susie Arrington, who plans to attend the Statehouse rally, said she had not participated in demonstrations before this year.
“I’ve not been a marcher,” Arrington said. “But I was told the marches do matter — it gets attention.”
Kim Saylor, a programming director for an Indianapolis-area event, said the protests are about encouraging civic action in multiple forms, pointing to what she described as the “four boxes of liberty.”
“The ballot box, the soap box, the jury box, and the ammo box,” Saylor said. “We better exercise the first three to their fullest extent so we don’t need to use the fourth.”
Byrd said the events are meant to reach even those who have never attended a protest before.
“You can’t build the country you want to see from home,” she said. “It’s time to get involved.”
Whether in large cities or smaller towns, participants and organizers say the goal is to make visible the number of people who share concerns about democracy, rights and representation.
“We want to show people what democracy looks like,” Reimann said. “Neighbors, families, organizers — all of us standing shoulder to shoulder.”
She added that for some communities, particularly those feeling vulnerable or isolated, that visibility is critical.
“We want people to know that they’re not alone,” Reimann said. “Our voices matter.”
Sydney Byerly is a political reporter who grew up in New Albany, Indiana. Before joining The Citizen, Sydney reported news for TheStatehouseFile.com and most recently managed and edited The Corydon Democrat & Clarion News in southern Indiana. She earned her bachelor’s in journalism at Franklin College’s Pulliam School of Journalism (‘Sco Griz!).
The Indiana Citizen is a nonpartisan, nonprofit platform dedicated to increasing the number of informed and engaged Hoosier citizens. We are operated by the Indiana Citizen Education Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) public charity. For questions about the story, contact Marilyn Odendahl at marilyn.odendahl@indianacitizen.org.
