The No Kings protest movement has been one of the most effective ways that Americans who are opposed to the policies and ideology of the second Trump Administration have had to resist. Ann Arbor Indivisible will be hosting its own version of the third No Kings on March 28.
This is a nationwide system of simultaneous protests and Ann Arbor isn’t even the only one in Washtenaw County. You can go to one in Whitmore Lake, Chelsea, Ypsilanti, Saline and elsewhere. Also within driving distance are protests in Canton, Brighton, Howell, Livonia and beyond with a goal of increasing the number of Americans protesting, and to convince voters from every possible social group, race, community type and outlook to participate in push back through peaceful protest. The first No Kings attracted some five million people, according to NPR and the second No King’s in October attracted around seven million protestors according to WHYY.
Current Magazine spoke with Gus Teschke, one of the co-organizers for the Ann Arbor protest and march, to discuss what to expect on Sunday. The following interview was conducted over email and has been edited for length and clarity.
Current: Have you decided what your overall message will be on March 28?
Teschke: We are collectively responding to the violent, threatening, authoritarian governance by President Trump. His regime is attacking our rights, our neighbors and our democracy so that a small group of people can loot the government for themselves and concentrate their own power. We say No Kings! No ICE! No war on Iran!
We are experiencing a rapid onslaught from President Trump. The only path forward is to link arms and stand together, and treat an attack on one as an attack on all. We must collectively push back.
Current: Will you be at one location or several that day?
Teschke: We have a kids’ table, a rally, and a march. 1-2pm is a kids’ table at Liberty Plaza at Division and Liberty, and a dog decoration contest.
2-3pm is a rally at the Federal Building at 200 E. Liberty.
3-5pm is the march. The route is Liberty to Main to Huron to Fletcher to North University to State to Liberty and back to the Federal Building.
Current: What is your goal for turnout on March 28?
Teschke: We are hoping that No Kings 3 will exceed the 7,000 people who turned out at No Kings 1 in June of 2025. 10,000 would be fantastic.
Current: Do you have a plan to respond if ICE, DHS, or any other federal agency shows up? You don’t need to tell me details, but do you have a plan?
Teschke: We have a lot of marshals to keep everyone safe, and they will handle it. ICE and CBP do not usually come to these events, and they have never targeted any of ours.
Current: Have you settled on a strategy for dealing with counter-protesters?
Teschke: Ann Arbor Indivisible is committed to non-violence, and this event is no different. We will attempt to de-escalate any situations with counter-protestors. We have marshals to help everyone stay safe, and the Ann Arbor Police will also be on duty.
Current: The Trump Administration has been moving in multiple different directions since President Trump launched his war in Iran and the MAGA influencer class seems to be increasingly at one another’s throats. How do you assess what is going on and how does that inform Ann Arbor Indivisible’s protest strategy?
Teschke: Ann Arbor Indivisible is a national organization with many allies, and it is focused on building a national, massive, non-violent No Kings movement that can slow, block and defeat President Trump, and rebuild a stronger democracy. If you look at other cases, if the No Kings Movement can reach 3.5% of the population, adopt a good strategy, persist, and stay organized, it is clear that we will most likely win. According to a leading expert on civil resistance, Professor Erica Chenoweth, when a group reaches this 3.5% standard, it almost always wins, even against a dictator.
RELATED: No Kings Protests Swell Across Washtenaw County on October 18
Current: Do you feel like this is a protest movement that is withering or gaining strength?
Teschke: Definitely gaining strength. Our first big national protest was about 3 million people in April 2025. No Kings 1 in June 2025 was about 5 million people [nationwide]. No Kings 2 in October 2025 was about 7 million people [nationwide]. We’re hoping for 9 million people [nationwide] at No Kings 3. President Trump is an excellent recruiter for us. He has betrayed his supporters by not lowering prices, raising costs for health insurance, cutting Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security and then there’s his criminal war against Iran, which was no threat to us.
Current: If someone feels hopeless, or not sure how to help your movement, what advice would you give them?
Teschke: Authoritarians want you to feel hopeless because then you won’t fight back, and so they have an easier time. You’ll feel better if you join a group like Ann Arbor Indivisible that is fighting back. Our Indivisible community can find a role for you, so we can work together to build a massive, powerful, non-violent, national movement to defeat MAGA, protect elections, and elect people who will represent us. With enough of us, and a good plan, we can win!
Current: What is the best way for people to stay up to date with what Ann Arbor Indivisible is going to do next?
Teschke: Join Ann Arbor Indivisible! Email us at [email protected]. We meet in person every week because we are building a resilient community. We are also on Blue Sky, Instagram, and Facebook.
The Instagram page @aaindivisible posted a map with useful info for No Kings protest in Ann Arbor. It can be found here.
Drew Saunders is a freelance business and environmental journalist who grew up just outside of Ann Arbor. He covers local business developments, embraces his foodie side with reviews restaurants, obsesses over Michigan's environmental state, loves movies, and feels spoiled by the music he gets to review for Ann Arbor!
