St. Paul: Thousands packed the Minnesota Capitol lawn and streets Saturday for "No Kings" rallies decrying President Donald Trump's policies, the Iran war, and immigration crackdowns—part of mass demonstrations spanning the US and Europe that organizers hoped would draw 9 million.
In St. Paul, the flagship event, Bruce Springsteen headlined with "Streets of Minneapolis," honoring victims Renee Good and Alex Pretti killed by federal agents. "Your strength and your commitment told us that this was still America. And this reactionary nightmare, and these invasions of American cities, will not stand," he declared amid upside-down US flags signaling distress.
Rallies erupted nationwide: 40,000 in San Diego; marches past DC's Lincoln Memorial with "Put down the crown, clown" signs; frog kings and "Cats Against Trump" in Kansas; even tiny Driggs, Idaho. Organizers logged 3,100 events in all 50 states—up 500 from October—many in red states and suburbs.
Grievances spanned Trump's ICE raids (especially Minnesota's resistance), Iran escalation, and transgender rights rollbacks. In DC, "LICE"-clad mockers spoofed ICE; NYCLU's Donna Lieberman vowed defiance: "They want us to be afraid that there’s nothing we can do to stop them. But you know what? They are wrong — dead wrong."
GOP dismissed them: White House called them "leftist funding networks"; NRCC labeled "Hate America Rallies."
Globally, "No Tyrants" echoes hit Rome (anti-Meloni, pro-peace chants), London ("Stop the far right"), and Paris (Americans and unions at the Bastille protesting "endless wars").
A massive Capitol banner read: "We had whistles, they had guns. The revolution starts in Minneapolis."
(Inputs from AP)