by Aila F. & Susan N.
Friends, it was an absolute joy to march with you this past Saturday! The numbers are in and 20,000 people came together at Oakland’s No Kings 3 protest—20,000 out of 136,000 in the Bay Area, and 8 million nationwide. 8 million people—and that’s not counting the hundreds of thousands that participated in solidarity protests outside of the U.S. in cities like London, Paris, and Lisbon.
In Oakland, one message rang loudly throughout the day—we have a lot of work ahead of us, and we need everyone in this fight. The protest was bookended by calls to turn enthusiasm into action; before setting out from Frank H. Ogawa Plaza to the Oakland Courthouse, voices rang through loudspeakers urging protesters to sign on to pledge their commitment to participate in the upcoming May Day action, and as protesters spilled on to the grassy knolls alongside Lake Merritt and put down their signs, they were invited in to a “Teach-In” hosted by Bay Resistance.
The energy before 11:00 am in Frank H. Ogawa Plaza was already electric, as IEB volunteers, peacekeepers, and members of various Oakland-based grassroots organizations gathered to set up before the official noon start. As the plaza filled, protesters spilled out onto 14th Street, finding their place beneath bright yellow banners marking contingents: “FAITH,” “ANTI-WAR,” “PALESTINE SOLIDARITY,” “LABOR,” “CLIMATE.” The sense of solidarity was palpable among friends and strangers alike—sign compliments exchanged, butterflies handed out, resources shared. Everywhere one looked, there was an invitation not only to protest but to plug into sustained action as protesters turned to the people around them and asked, “Have you signed up for the May Day pledge?” “Do you have a neighborhood pod that you organize with? Would you like help setting one up?” It was beautiful to witness the balance with which protesters rose to the occasion of the present, while holding space for the urgency of the work that lies ahead.
As the march moved through the streets, the Singing Resistance choir was stationed at just the perfect spot, boosting everyone’s spirits midway through with their mix of new and classic protest songs. The drumming troupe set a festive beat all the way through, culminating in a joyful noise that reverberated in the 11th Street tunnel, keeping everyone dancing through the final stretch. The march and rally moved smoothly through downtown Oakland, with peace keepers everywhere giving guidance as needed, a testament to the power of an organized, mobilized collective.
People came out for the many issues that have galvanized crowds at previous No Kings rallies. However, this time it was the recent horrors like the war in Iran that came to the forefront—drawing a notable presence in the “Anti-War” contingent. The breadth of issues represented across contingents was reflected not only in the diversity of protesters and partner organizations present, but in the signs they carried, touting messages of brilliance, poignancy, and humor. We leave you with a few of our favorites, as spotted by our Newsletter Team:
“His files. Their wars. Your kids.”
“I need to tell my grandchildren I did not stay silent”
“My dad killed Nazis and liberated Dachau. Resist fascism!”
On a dog: “I have only 1 thing in common with Republicans in Congress … no balls!”
“Draft Barron”
“I knew it would be bad…but damn!”
“No ICE in Oakland! Only Ice Skaters”
What’s next? Glad you asked…click here to find out.
———————————
- All photos above courtesy of Bob Shonkoff, Pro Bono Photo.
- Click here to see the full gallery of photos from the No Kings Protest in Oakland on March 28, 2026.
