Similar to two previous “No Kings” rallies held downtown at the Free Stamp next to Cleveland City Hall, demonstrators on Saturday denounced what they see as the authoritarian rule of President Trump, whom they mocked with playful signs and costumes as acting like a king. 

But the Trump administration’s decision to bomb Iran last month was top of mind among many demonstrators, who complained about the loss of U.S. service members, the rising gas prices triggered by the war and what, some said, was a betrayal of his promises to not drag the United States into such conflicts. 

The third nationwide “No Kings” rally attracted a larger crowd in Cleveland than the previous rallies, based on Signal Cleveland’s observation and on the claims of organizers. Though there is no official count, it appeared several thousand people filled much of Willard Park next to City Hall. After more than an hour of speeches, the rally participants marched a few blocks downtown with a police escort. 

There were rallies across Northeast Ohio on Saturday, March 28, including in Kent, Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, Strongsville and Bay Village. The Washington Post said there were 3,300 rallies across all 50 states on Saturday, which drew millions of demonstrators.

Editor-At-Large
I assist a team of storytellers pursuing original enterprise and investigative stories that capture untold narratives about people and policies in Greater Cleveland. I also use my decades of experience in print, digital and broadcast media to help Signal team members build skills to present stories in useful and interesting ways.