Organizers expect large turnout for Salem’s third No Kings protest 

Up to 15,000 people are expected to converge at the Oregon Capitol Saturday, March 28, for another No Kings protest, organizers say.

Salem is one of over 3,000 cities nationwide projected to participate in this third wave of No Kings protests. The local demonstration is organized by Salem Region Indivisible and will be held at the Capitol Mall at 900 Court St. from noon to  3 p.m. 

Keizer is also having a No Kings protest on North River and Chemawa Roads from noon to  2 p.m., organized by Keizer Forward.

Salem Region Indivisible spokesman Thom Gapen said he expects the recent military conflict in Iran, increased immigration arrests and the killing of two citizens in Minnesota by immigration agents will draw more protesters than previous demonstrations. 

“The incidents with ICE, the gunning down of people in Minneapolis, in addition to the uncalled for, unnecessary, needless war with Iran … we feel, I think, that those events, people are pissed off,” he said.

The movement, founded on the slogan, “America has no kings,” was created in response to what organizers describe as authoritarian overreach by President Donald Trump and his administration. It first drew millions of people to the streets last summer to protest Trump’s actions in office, which then included the deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles. 

Salem Region Indivisible has continued to organize regular protests against the administration, both under the No Kings label and others focused on specific issues like people who died while in federal immigration custody.

The latest No Kings protest in Salem last October drew an estimated 7,000 to 10,000 people, Gapen said, while the June 2025 event had about 5,000 protesters. 

Organizers will have a stage at the intersection of Summer and Center Streets, with speakers taking the stage starting at 12:45 p.m. Speakers will include organizers, Marion County Commissioner candidate Maria Hinojos Pressey, and a special, “nationally recognized” guest at 1:10 p.m., followed by Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield at around 1:40 p.m.

Salem Region Indivisible will have a safety team of 40 volunteers trained in deescalation and human rights observation at the protest. 

Salem Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Jonathan Hardy said officers have been assigned to monitor the event, but could not say how many. Hardy said there are no counter demonstrations known by the department and officers will “respond to situations as they develop.”

The department has no street closures planned, but Hardy said that “could change in the moment.” Gapen said the department has previously closed Summer Street between Marion and Center Streets for the other No Kings protests. 

The department often provides updates on its X account and reports impacts to nearby neighborhoods to Nextdoor.

Contact reporter Hailey Cook: [email protected].

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