On March 28th, 2026, over 8 million people took to the streets in nearly 3,300 cities across the United States to protest the current presidential administration, one of the largest protests in United States history. Common protest reasons were the ongoing war in Iran, rising gas and grocery prices, and recent laws restricting the rights of immigrants, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and women, and the government’s handling of ICE arrests and shootings. Messages such as “Democracy dies when good people stay silent”, “No thrones, no crowns, no kings”, and “Democracy is not a spectator sport”, along with images of inflatable frog costumes and Lady Liberty in handcuffs have gone viral online since the march.

Since Trump took office in January 2025, there have been 3 nationally organized No Kings marches, and over 10,000 protests during 2025 alone concerning Trump’s support of Israel’s war in Gaza, mass deportation of immigrants, LGBTQ+ laws, and much more. The most recent to make national news took place on March 28th, 2026. When asked about her reasons for attending, Charlotte, NC No Kings march attendee Genie Ombach said “I don’t agree with what the current administration is doing to America and Americans… It’s not about changing Trump’s or his devout followers’ minds, but I think it helps other people not feel alone in these crazy times.” Ombach started protesting the Trump administration at the Hands Off march in April 2026, and since then has sought out ways to help others in her community gain access to important information and encourage those who might be on the fence to get involved.

One of the best ways for Americans to get politically involved is through organizations in their area. An example of one such group is political activist organization Indivisible Charlotte, who have been working throughout Charlotte, NC to spread  canvassing, hosting town halls, attending protests, and much more. “ICLT is one of the main organizers of Charlotte’s No Kings events,” Ombach said. “The Ambassador’s goal was to be visible within the crowd, answer questions, and recruit members.” Ombach also had a suggestion to anyone unsure whether a protest is safe to attend. “I’d recommend only going to events hosted by known organizations that focus on safety and deescalation. If you’re not sure who’s organizing an event, that’s not a great sign.”

As a growing concern about the current government administration continues to spread across the country, it is likely that we will continue to see these marches on a regular basis. While it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by everything happening and want to help out, but not know where to start, groups like Indivisible Charlotte continue to work to spread awareness and support in their communities. When asked what advice she would give to someone who is not sure where to begin, Ombach recommended “Join a local Indivisible, or similar, group near you… You’ll realize you’re not alone, you’re not crazy to think that what’s happening is wrong, and you’ll feel like you’re doing something!”