Crowds turn out across Kansas City metro for No Kings: ‘This gives me some hope’

As protestors took to the streets across the nation Saturday for the third in a series of protests known as No Kings, people across the Kansas City metro also turned out to express their disapproval of President Donald Trump and his administration, proclaiming such messages as “This is what democracy looks like” and “No cons, no clowns, no kings.”

National organizers predicted No Kings 3.0 would be among the largest single-day nonviolent nationwide protests in U.S. history, including more than 3,100 events planned for Saturday.

The No Kings movement, organizers say, is intended to provide a forum for citizens to voice opposition to the Trump administration and its policies, which they view as authoritarian, king-like overreach.

As with the previous two No Kings rallies, participants in the Kansas City metro said they attended to advocate for democracy, stand up for civil rights and freedoms protected by the U.S. Constitution and to protest perceived abuses of power.

Protests took place in multiple cities across the Kansas City metro Saturday. Events were set for Excelsior Springs, Lee’s Summit, Liberty, Platte City, Kansas City, Kansas, Overland Park, Olathe, Gardner, and dozens of other sites across Kansas and Missouri.

No Kings protest at Kansas City’s Mill Creek Park

At Kansas City’s Mill Creek Park, the site of one of the larger gatherings, organizers estimated they had their biggest turnout yet. Using drones to estimate numbers, organizers said they were able to determine Saturday’s rally in Kansas City drew thousands.

Many protesters, as they crowded into the park’s green space and lined the bordering streets, showed up carrying boldly printed signs and waving American flags. One sign read “The only crown I accept is the KC Royals,” while others said “Impeach Trump before he steals our freedoms,” “No cons, no clowns, no kings,” and “Democracy needs your courage.”

Early in the afternoon, Karl Hague stood along the edge of the park holding a sign that said “How you treat people matters.”

His reason for joining Saturday’s Mill Creek Park protest was simple. He said he wants a better future for his children.

“I have kids. They need a better country. I can’t leave it like this for them,” he said. “Everything the country’s doing now, this isn’t right. We can’t treat people the way we’re treating them. We can’t keep starting useless wars. I’m ashamed of our government right now.”

While disappointment with the government brought him to the protest, seeing the large crowd in the park restored some of his hope, he said.

“This is encouraging. I am encouraged to see this many people here,” he said. “This gives me some hope.”

Among the crowd of thousands, children could be seen blowing bubbles, playing on the park’s outdoor exercise equipment and being pushed around in strollers and wagons. One child walked around holding a “Trump is stinky” sign.

Natalie Earehart’s 2-year-old daughter, Hattie, sat perched on her husband’s shoulders in the middle of the park, holding a “No kings” sign.

Seeing her daughter looking across the crowd of people made Earehart emotional.

“I was born with more rights than she was born with, with overturning Roe v. Wade. So it’s a big deal. It’s a big deal for her to be here, to know that this is, that we have these rights and we’re not gonna let them take it away,” she said.

“I like that she’s here. We feel safe. We feel like these people will rally behind her and keep her safe, and that’s why we’re fighting,” Earehart said, choking back tears.

Addressing the crowd from a small stage, Missouri State Rep. Wick Thomas called for people to take a stand now to “to ensure the safety and security of future generations and our planet.”

Thomas, who represents District 19, said people must “boldly” advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and the welfare of all people.

“Over the next 250 years, let us learn from the past 250 years. Let us set a new foundation to turn America into a country that is great for the first time for all of us,” they said.

Around 2 p.m., the Country Club Plaza march began, with people in the front carrying a large red banner with the word “Democracy” in all caps.

Marchers at the front chanted, “Show me what democracy looks like,” “This is what democracy looks like.”

A group in the middle shouted, “Hey hey, ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go.”

Kansas City police officers turned away a bus that tried to turn into the march route, and had areas along the route blocked off by cones and cars.

For nearly an hour, protesters spanned both sides of the roads on the route, hitting drums and chanting, energy high, as the march continued to weave its way through the Plaza back to Mill Creek Park.

No Kings protest in Johnson County

For some, this was their second protest of the day, after first attending a morning protest in other metro cities. Organizers said rallies in the surrounding parts of the metro were scheduled earlier in the day so people could also show up to the afternoon protest in Kansas City.

In Johnson County, protesters lined sidewalks at several intersections along Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park Saturday morning, holding signs and waving at cars and people with megaphones led chants.

Overland Park residents Carol Barlau, 66, and Blane Halvorson, 74, said they attended to show their opposition to the Iran war and its effect on the economy, among other issues.

“It’s kind of a helpless feeling,” Barlau said. “I feel helpless. I want to do something, and this is something that, you know, you can do to show how you feel.”

Many protesters in Johnson County said they’re concerned about the effect the war in Iran is having on their wallets, namely, rising gas prices. Others expressed dismay over human rights issues.

Standing with her family at College Boulevard, Abby Mathewson, 28, held a sign made by her cousin, and small LGBTQ+ flags.

Mathewson said she went to the rally to show displeasure with federal immigration policies and to support the Johnson County community.

“I really just care about supporting our community and loving each other as equals and really using our voice to… talk about what matters,” Mathewson said.

Among the protesters in Overland Park on Saturday stood Jim Twigg, 68, who held a sign with small flags attached to it and waved at cars driving on Metcalf.

“I’m really concerned about our country,” he said. “We need to support our democracy — it’s not working.”

Standing among a line of protesters stretching from 110th Street to College Boulevard in Overland Park were Susan Aulgur, 65 and Steve Aulgur, 75. The two grandparents said they’re concerned about Medicaid and the effects that federal and state policies are having on their granddaughter.

But their primary concern was one expressed by many protestors.

“First and foremost, we’re here to save our democracy,” Susan Aulgur said. “We feel like it’s slipping away little by little.”

No Kings protest in Liberty

Meanwhile, by mid-morning in Liberty, dozens gathered in small groups scattered across a busy Liberty intersection holding signs bearing “Due process for all,” “Stop the war in Iran,” and “No war, no ICE, no kings.”

Protesters proudly held up their signs along the intersection of West Kansas Street and Bluejay Boulevard as passing cars honked in support.

MarryAnn Pfeifer, 78, sat on her walker along the roadside Saturday to protest against President Donald Trump and “let people know we’re unhappy,” she said.

“So much of what he’s doing is immoral and illegal, and I lived through the Vietnam War and other things that I don’t want repeated,” she said.

Nancy Gremli, who was also among the Liberty protesters, said she joined the crowd in support of the many members of the U.S. military.

“I have family members in the military right now that because of his unplanned war, unconstitutional war, they will be put in harm’s way,” she said while waving a small American flag.

By late morning, a couple hundred more people had gathered at the intersection of Kansas Street and Forest Avenue at Liberty’s No Kings protest, holding signs expressing their views, including those that read “Send Trump to prison,” “Resist,” “Impeach and imprison” and “This is not the way.”

As passing cars honked, members of the crowd chanted “Show me what democracy looks like. This is what democracy looks like,” and “No kings.”

Analisa Lee said she attended the protest in Liberty as part of a “demonstration of solidarity.”

Lee said standing outside holding a sign, which read “Elect a reality TV host — now we’re all on Survivor,” was important to show the City of Liberty that there is dissent within the community.

“I am incredibly concerned about the slide away from democracy and towards an autocratic government,” she said. “It’s just accelerating, and it’s terrifying.”

As the protests wrapped up across the metro, organizers at several locations said they were grateful so many people turned out, and that the protests all remained peaceful and respectful.

“There are no words to express my gratitude for all of the people who showed up today,” said Beverly Harvey, a spokesperson for Indivisible KC. “It was just overwhelming.”

The first No Kings rally was held in June 2025, when around 2,100 events were planned nationwide, according to a spokesperson for No Kings. The second No Kings event took place Oct. 18 last year, with around 2,700 events.

This story was originally published March 28, 2026 at 6:28 PM.