Live Blog No Kings March 28 — San Diego County and National Protests

4:26 pm PDT Even though the main march downtown San Diego has been over for hours, photos are still coming in to the Rag. Here’s a batch of the Waterfront march taken by OBcean Charles Landon:

4:19 pm PDT The front of the march hours earlier.

3:57 PDT Today’s local No Kings organizers have this report out: More than 77,000 San Diegans across the county

San Diego County is on track for its largest No Kings turnout yet with more than 77,000 participants counted so far across 22 locations — and counts from several major locations including Escondido, Oceanside, San Marcos and El Cajon are still coming in.

At Waterfront Park in Downtown San Diego, SDPD estimates 40,000 participants at peak attendance. Organizers estimate 50,000. The march stepped off at approximately 10:40 a.m. through Downtown San Diego. In Carlsbad alone, organizers estimate 14,000 participants — the largest North County turnout yet.

“What a day! San Diegans from every neighborhood, every background, and every generation came together around one simple truth: there are no kings in America. We showed that this movement is growing, that what unites us is stronger than what divides us, and that we’re taking action every day — through boycotts, advocacy, support for our neighbors, and at the ballot box,” said Wendy Gelernter, head organizer for Downtown San Diego, Take Action San Diego, takeactionsandiego.org.

Additional location counts so far:

Temecula: 4,000+
La Mesa: 2,000
Mira Mesa: 2,000
Carmel Valley: 2,000
Vista: 1,500
La Jolla: 1,000
Ruocco Park: 300
Ocean Beach: 300
Borrego Springs: 300

2:39 pm PT  Another scene from La Mesa. Susan Brinchman told us that most protesters “showed up at Vons, the original location, possibly from precoverage of media and since it is the site of the weekly protests. We got about 1,000 protesters. The other location didn’t draw them (at Allison and Date). Worked out very well. Protesters lined the streets and marched through the center of La Mesa, returning to line the streets again!”

2:24 pm More pics from the Ocean Beach protest

Rag writer LKB sent us these:

2:08 pm PT   Pardoned Jan. 6 figures show up as counter-protesters clash with ‘No Kings’ marchers in Dallas
Counter-protesters disrupted the “No Kings” march in downtown Dallas on Saturday, leading to clashes that required police intervention, FOX 4 Dallas reported. One person was detained. Among the counter-protesters were Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, who were both convicted for their roles in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and later pardoned by President Trump.

2:07 pm PT   About 40,000 march in Philadelphia, organizers say
About 40,000 people marched through downtown Philadelphia on Saturday, according to organizers, making it one of the largest “No Kings” rallies outside of Minneapolis, WHYY reported. Demonstrators gathered at City Hall before heading down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The city served as the flagship location for the first “No Kings” protest in June.

Carlsbad

2:03 Carlsbad’s here

So is Ocean Beach

1:44 pm PT In Ocean Beach, a Code Pink organizer reported to the Rag “It was a great event with 300+ people, so many creative signs and outfits. As you may know there is a rally for justice and peace and many related issues at the same time, place, and day every Saturday for over 120 consecutive weeks. Hope you can share some version of things to encourage OBceans and San Diegans to keep up today’s action in their daily lives 24/7 via daily actions, and weekly events whether our OB vigil or whether the many almost-daily others, all over town.”

1:33 pm PT Paul Krueger reported there was a very impressive crowd in El Cajon. Protesters lined Fletcher Parkway for more than a half a mile. A very good turnout for what has traditionally been a pretty conservative area. Lots of honking and waving from passengers by supporting the protest.

Downtown San Diego
1:17 pm PT  San Diego Police say an estimated 40,000 people attended the rally and march at Waterfront Park in downtown San Diego on Saturday morning. No major incidents were immediately reported.

1:09 pm – Our friend Byron just showed up at the Chula Vista protest — which just got started at 1pm. He told the Rag that there are “lots of cars constantly honking horns,” and “there’s crowds on the street.” Byron estimates there’s 250 people at the Chula Vista event.

1:02 pm PT Then there’s Mira Mesa. Rag reporter Abby showed up there as well and sent us these.

12:48 pm PT
Meanwhile, in San Diego at the waterfront …

12:27 pm  Robert De Niro tells No Kings rally: ‘Trump has to be stopped’
Actor Robert De Niro addressed a No Kings rally in New York on Saturday, calling Trump “an existential threat to our freedoms and security.” “There have been other presidents who have tested the constitutional limits of their power, but none have been such an existential threat,” De Niro said. “He must be stopped. And he must be stopped now.”

12:25 pm   San Francisco protesters form ‘human banner’ on Ocean Beach
Demonstrators in San Francisco formed a “human banner” on Ocean Beach on Saturday as part of the city’s No Kings protests. The city hosted multiple events, including a march from the Embarcadero down Market Street to Civic Center Plaza and a “Westside Resistance Festival” on the Upper Great Highway. More than 60 events were planned across the Bay Area, from San Francisco to Palo Alto.

12:03 pm PT Here’s photos from La Mesa. Our Rag reporter, Abby Petre, noted the heavy police presence at the event and police vehicles kept circulating the protest.

And at the Minnesota State Capitol

11:55 am PT  Crowds pack Minnesota State Capitol for flagship No Kings rally
A large crowd gathered outside the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul on Saturday for the flagship No Kings rally. Demonstrators carried signs referencing Alex Pretti and Renee Good, the two American citizens killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis in January. Bruce Springsteen, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Jane Fonda and Joan Baez are all scheduled to appear at the event.

11:48 am PT Katheryn Rhodes was in La Jolla and she sent these:

11:37 am Largest crowds ever in Rancho Bernardo

11:26 am PT   Of note, several events don’t begin until the afternoon; Escondido 3 to 5:30; San Marcos the same; Oceanside 4 to 6; Ramona 4 to 6; Chula Vista 1 to 2:30pm.

11:23 am Back in La Jolla

11:14 am PT Hundreds gather in Rancho Bernardo

10:42 am PT Huge crowds at Waterfront Park

10:28 am PT Washington DC

10:25 a.m. PT Organizers claim half a million marching in London
“No Kings” solidarity protests are drawing large crowds overseas. In London, organizers claimed half a million people turned out on Saturday, the Guardian reported. London’s Metropolitan Police offered a far lower estimate, putting the number at roughly 50,000, according to the Guardian. Crowd counts are notoriously difficult to verify, particularly when demonstrators are spread across a wide area.

10:17 La Jolla

10:13 More from downtown San Diego by Colleen O’Connor.

10:09 Crowds have gathered at Waterfront Park.

10:04 a.m. Z Kripke in La Jolla reports that all 4 corners of the march site were full before the crowd took off, and many cars were honking in support.

9:33 a.m. PT Downtown at the Waterfront Park — some great signs in photos by Colleen O’Connor

9:28 a.m. If protests aren’t your thing, consider this event this morning:

The Future of Balboa Park: A Community Conversation — Sat., March 28th

9:24 a.m. Nearly 2 dozen protests are scheduled across San Diego County, including Downtown San Diego, Ocean Beach, La Jolla, Carmel Valley, Mira Mesa, Carlsbad, Oceanside,Vista, San Marcos, Escondido, Fallbrook, Valley Center, Rancho Bernardo, Ramona, La Mesa, El Cajon, Chula Vista, Otay Mesa and Borrego Springs … and even Temecula.

9:17 a.m. San Diego time — Yes, the Rag is hosting a “live blog” of the No Kings events in San Diego County today. There are 22 separate protests and over a dozen people will be sending the Rag photos of the different sites.

Okay, well, what is a “live blog”? We’ll be blogging during the hours of the events today in a single post, contemporaneously written with photos of events posted from around the county– and country.

Most of the events in SD County don’t begin until 10 a.m. Some are in the afternoon. Here’s a list of all the SD County and City protests.

9:09 Protest in Paris France today.

9:07 a.m. PT Protesters in DC are marching from Arlington Cemetery across the Memorial Bridge into the city proper.

8:59 a.m. People are already at the Waterfront Park, waiting to get started.

8:50 a.m. PT Correction to La Mesa event site

The address for the La Mesa “No Kings” Protest today is the parking lot at Allison Ave. and Date Street where the old Post Office used to be, next to City Hall at 10 AM – NOT at University Ave and La Mesa Blvd.

8:23 a.m. Tens of Thousands Expected Across San Diego County for No Kings — Organizers anticipate largest San Diego turnout yet after 80,000+ joined October mobilization

Tens of thousands of San Diego County residents are expected at 22 rallies, marches and family-friendly events today, on Saturday, March 28, building on the 80,000+ who mobilized countywide in October 2025. Participants say they are mobilizing in defense of democratic institutions, civil liberties, and social programs affecting San Diego families.

Events are scheduled across San Diego County, including Downtown San Diego, Ocean Beach, La Jolla, Carmel Valley, Mira Mesa, Carlsbad, Oceanside,Vista, San Marcos, Escondido, Fallbrook, Temecula, Valley Center, Rancho Bernardo, Ramona, La Mesa, El Cajon, Chula Vista, Otay Mesa and Borrego Springs.

8: 15 a.m. PT The Rag is hosting a live blog today Saturday on No Kings March 28th.

There are 22 separate events in San Diego County today. See list here. Most of the San Diego protests don’t begin until 10:00 a.m.

Over a dozen people will be sending us photos of the different protest events around the county.