What's next?

Yesterday we marched. Now we have to sustain momentum.

We showed up. And it mattered. At least 8 million people turned out at more than 3,300 ‘No Kings’ protests across all 50 states Saturday, according to the No Kings Coalition. The protests were the largest single-day nationwide demonstrations in U.S. history.

But these days of action, while super important, are not enough. Because the truth is: Donald Trump and his MAGA sycophants are not stopping. They’re still trying to rig the rules (and the maps), suppress the vote, and sabotage our elections. So we’re not stopping either.

Why This Matters

“So long as we have enough people in this country willing to fight for their rights, we’ll be called a democracy.” - Roger Baldwin, Co-founder of the ACLU

Huge demonstrations won’t translate into immediate political results, but there’s a reason Trump is so bothered by them and it’s not just because he has a frail ego. Trump’s authoritarian takeover is unpopular — his approval is deep underwater, rivaled only by his first term for the worst since the 1950s. Trump and the rest of his administration depend on despair and surrender from the majority of Americans who oppose their unpopular agenda. It’s through complacency that they find success.

But, the huge and energetic crowds that came out this weekend are an antidote to that. Democracy is not a spectator sport. It depends on an engaged citizenry who is watching, paying attention and making sure the rules of democracy are upheld.

And let’s be clear: these protests aren’t just for Trump to see. They’re for communities under attack because of Trump’s policies and actions so they know they’re not alone. They are also for the unaffected people so they understand we’re in a crisis. And they are for other Republicans so they know blind obedience to fascism won’t be tolerated or go unanswered.

Next Step: Local Organizing Meetings

Host a “What’s Next After No Kings” local Organizing Meeting between March 29 – April 12 to gather newly activated people in your community and plan for what’s next.

The No Kings Coalition made a toolkit with everything you need to plan, facilitate, and follow up after your meeting. The toolkit walks you through how to take action in your community beyond No Kings:

• Build power locally: grow sustained organizing in your community

• Protect our neighbors: stand up to ICE abuses and threats

• Escalate and innovate: strengthen nonviolent and lawful actions that refuse business as usual

• Defend our elections: protect the vote and enforce the results

Together, we must keep organizing. Host a “What’s Next After No Kings” local Organizing Meeting to grow from a mobilization into a movement. We’re not done. We’re just getting started.

Keeping the Momentum Alive

The energy of “No Kings” must not fade. To sustain this movement and continue the fight against Trump, we propose five key strategies:

1. Build Local Networks: The protests connected millions of activists. Now, we must strengthen these bonds by joining or forming local chapters, hosting and participating in regular organizing meetings, and plugging new activists into existing networks. Use the toolkit above to get started!

2. Sustain Mass Action: Mass peaceful protests are our superpower. Stay tuned for chances to flex our collective power. Next up: May Day. Learn more here.

3. Share Your Story: Use platforms like the How We Fight Back Substack to share stories of resistance, analysis, and calls to action. Subscribe, contribute guest essays, or start your own newsletter to keep the conversation alive. Let’s drown out Trump’s propaganda with our truth.

4. Economic Resistance: Boycott corporations and law firms that cave to Trump’s threats, and reward those that stand firm. As consumers and investors, we can hit his allies where it hurts: their bottom line.

5. Protect and Support Each Other: In the face of Trump’s authoritarian tactics, we must safeguard our communities. Offer legal support for protesters, advocate for immigrant neighbors, and stand in solidarity with targeted groups.

A Call to Action

The “No Kings” protests were a victory, but they’re only the beginning. Trump’s agenda thrives on division and despair, but we’ve shown that unity and hope are stronger. Every sign waved, every chant shouted, every step marched was a declaration that this is our country — not Trump’s, but the people’s.

Here’s how you can act today:

• Organize Locally: RSVP for the What’s Next Mass Call on March 31. At the March 31 Mass Call, you’ll hear from leaders and fellow local activists to celebrate this historic mobilization and dig into what comes next.

• Make Calls in Upcoming Elections:

  • Join a Swing Left phone bank and call Wisconsin voters ahead of their upcoming election to stop conservative control of the state supreme court until 2030. On April 7, voters will choose their pick for Wisconsin Supreme Court judge. Wisconsin’s supreme court has enormous power over the future of democracy in one of the country’s most important swing states. This race could shape ballot access, redistricting, and the rules governing future elections. Talking directly to voters now about voting for progressive judge Chris Taylor can make all the difference.

  • Call voters in Virginia with Swing Left ahead of an important special election that could add Democratic seats to the U.S. House. On April 21, Virginia voters will decide whether to allow the state to redraw its congressional maps. This change could add 2 to 4 Democratic seats in the U.S. House. Back in 2024, Republicans won the House by just a 3-seat margin, which means this vote has national consequences. Like Prop 50 in California, this is a smart, targeted move that gives power back to the people and pushes back on efforts by Trump and Republicans.

• Amplify: Share this post and your “No Kings” story on social media with #NoKingsDay. Also share a photo of a sign you made or photos of signs you loved!

• Call Your Members of Congress: Demand that your two Senators and House rep do their job as a member of a co-equal branch of government and stop Trump’s dictatorial rule. Congress is supposed to serve as a check on the Executive Branch, not a rubber stamp for authoritarianism. Use this resource from 5calls if you need help figuring out what to say.

• Register to Vote: Things will only change when people show up. If we can just reclaim one chamber of Congress in November, we can stop Trump’s agenda in its tracks and finally act as a check on his abuses of power. Trump and his Republican puppets in Congress know this. That’s why they are rigging the maps, trying to pass voter suppression bills like the SAVE America Act, and threatening to send ICE to polling places. Go to iwillvote.com to make sure you are registered to vote and then get three (or more) friends to do the same.

• Write a letter to the editor of your local paper: Use our tool kit for guidance. If your letter isn't published, post it on social media and share with your personal network.

  • Join us for a Writing Workshop on April 7.

  • And then come to our Hit Submit Session on April 10!

  • We also have more dates scheduled for these workshops in May and June. You can find those here.

  • And you can learn more about our Write to Win program here.

However you choose to build on how you showed up for democracy today, thank you for being part of this movement and for turning outrage into action. From Wisconsin’s supreme court race, Virginia’s redistricting vote, to mobilizing for the midterms, every action we take helps defend democracy and build the power we need to win in 2026, 2028, and beyond.

No kings. No surrender. Only us, the people.