Latest No Kings rallies draw 70,000 in San Diego County, 8 million nationwide

70,000 San Diego County residents join 8 million nationwide in No Kings demonstrations, the largest ever U.S. protest

By Miriam Raftery

March 31, 2026 (San Diego) -- No Kings rallies nationwide on Saturday, March 26 drew more than 8 million people, including over 70,000 across San Diego County. Organizers say this was the largest protest in United States history.

The protestors voiced opposition to antidemocratic actions by the Trump administration. Many also voiced concerns over an escalating war in Iran and other military conflicts, as well as other issues including aggressive actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement against immigrants protestors and bystanders, including two U.S. citizens killed in Minnesota.

Around 3,300 events were held across the U.S. and in cities around the world.

Locally, the downtown rally at Waterfront Park drew between 40,000 and 50,000 marchers.

In East County, protests were held in La Mesa, El Cajon, Ramona and Borrego Springs.

Speakers at the La Mesa rally, which drew around 2,000 participants, included La Mesa Vice Mayor Lauren Cazares, Helix Water District Director Andrea Beth Damsky, and Jay Steiger, a teacher and past candidate for the Grossmont Union High School District Board, some pictured in the photo to the left.

Steiger told the crowd, “Enough is enough... No more. It is time for you to stand up, step up, speak up and do not put up with this wannabe king and his enablers,” drawing cheers.

The El Cajon rally attracted a large crowd as well as singers and other musicians.

Participant Connie Beck remarked wryly, “Funny, I didn’t see any 'paid' protestors. We all seemed to be together united against a wannabe dictator who has started the most unjustified war in decades.”

In Ramona, 426 people participated in a rally organized by Indivisible.

Jim Heldberg, president Ramona Democrats, said, “Two years ago, many people told me there weren’t any Democrats in Ramona.”

He praised Ramona residents who turned out to “powerfully oppose Trump’s efforts to destroy American democracy and crown himself king.”

Even the tiny desert town of Borrego Springs had more than 300 protesters — more than 10 percent of the town’s population.

Protesters braved frigid weather even in Utqiaġvik, Alaska above the arctic circle. No Kings organizers sent a photo (above) showing smiling Alaskan demonstrators with signs making their views clear.

President Donald Trump’s White House staff mocked the protests, claiming, “The only people who care about these (protests) are the reporters who are paid to cover them.” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson dismissed the protests and categorized the interest as "Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions," alleging that the protesters are driven by left-wing financial backers.

What’s next? Rally organizers are planning a May Day event, urging workers, students, shoppers and small businesses to take a day off in order to demonstrate the economic power of the people.

San Diego’s Waterfront Park No Kings organizer Wendy Gelernter said that San Diegans from every generation came together around one simple truth: "There are no kings in America," she said, then concluded, “We showed that his movement is growing, that what unites us is stronger than what divides us, and that’s we’re taking action every day — through boycotts, advocacy, support for our neighbors and at the ballot box.”