Will ICE be operating near KC No Kings rallies? How organizers are preparing
As Kansas City prepares for another round of No Kings protests this weekend, organizers are advocating for people to know their rights and remain peaceful after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have made their presence known locally.
Leaders stressed that Kansas City is known for peaceful gatherings, and they do not anticipate problems, even with the possibility of counter-protests or ICE agents conducting operations in nearby cities.
According to its website, “No Kings” is a nationwide movement against President Donald Trump’s administration and its policies, which organizers say they perceive as authoritarian, king-like overreach from the executive branch.
To prepare for possible interactions with ICE agents at No Kings protests, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other organizations have recently led “know your rights” teachings. A spokesperson for the ACLU said at a news conference Thursday that the Trump administration’s deployment of ICE has been perceived as an intimidation tactic, and anyone participating in a protest should know their rights.
“(The teachings) really prepare people to feel confident about their… constitutional right to peacefully protest and their rights when they’re interacting with ICE,” said Deirdre Schifeling, Chief Political & Advocacy Officer for the ACLU.
“We are going to be safe. We are going to be peaceful. We are going to be free,” Schifeling said. “So yes, know your rights, and also, we are not going to be scared off. …”
KC leaders prepare for No Kings
Participants of the past two No Kings rallies across the Kansas City metro said they attended to advocate for democracy and stand against what they see as threats to civil rights and freedoms protected by the U.S. Constitution.
One major focus at past rallies has been disapproval of the Trump administration’s federal immigration crackdown.
Picket signs constructed by demonstrators protested ICE and called for reform.
A leader with Indivisible KC, Beverly Harvey, said she anticipates No Kings 3.0 to be the largest installment of “No Kings” in Kansas City.
However, Harvey said she doesn’t anticipate interactions with ICE over the weekend, saying she believes it would be unusual for agents to conduct operations near a rally.
“If they show up, they show up. We’re just going to pretty much ignore them,” Harvey said. “We’re just going to do what we’ve always done here in the Midwest, and that’s peacefully protest.”
“Their job is not to bother protesters, their job is to go out and get criminals, right?” Harvey said. “And we’re not going to have any criminals.”
Kansas City’s protest will once again take place at Mill Creek Park, W 43rd St. and Broadway Boulevard, near the Country Club Plaza. The rally begins at noon Saturday with speakers starting at 1 p.m. and a march at 2 p.m.
People wearing yellow vests at the event Saturday will be part of a safety team, helping direct attendees around traffic. People in red vests will be first-aid personnel and people wearing blue vests are there to greet and provide information about No Kings.
Volunteers will also block off streets with cones and vehicles.
Indivisible KC has a liaison that works with Kansas City police and organizers have a good relationship with Plaza management, Harvey said.
Harvey said thousands of people are anticipated to turn out at Mill Creek Plaza, based on pre-registration numbers for the event.
In addition, there are at least nine other No Kings events planned across the Missouri and Kansas side of the metro, according to a map from Mobilize.us. Events will take place in Overland Park, Olathe; Gardner; Kansas City, Kansas; Lee’s Summit; Independence; Liberty; and Platte City, the map shows.
This story was originally published March 26, 2026 at 2:24 PM.
