'We stand together': Thousands emphasize 'the people's power' in 'No Kings' rally

SALT LAKE CITY — "America's flag represents the people ... you can't say you love the flag but not its people," activist Robert Birch said on the steps of the Utah Capitol Saturday afternoon.

Birch gave a fiery speech to thunderous applause during a rally against President Donald Trump's administration, where he emphasized that the people have the power in America.

"As we pledge allegiance to the flag, let us remember that pledge is to each other. So I pledge allegiance to the people of the United States of America."

Birch questioned the billions of dollars the government is using on an "unnecessary war" and said America "must not lose its soul" by forsaking the less fortunate.

"We stand together as a people who stand for peace, who stand for accountability, who stand for democracy, who stand for one another," Birch said. "We are the people, and we are stronger than any would-be king."

Birch was just one of thousands of Utahns who chanted, cheered and raised their voices in downtown Salt Lake. Dubbed the "No Kings 3.0" rally, the demonstration is one of 3,200 coordinated events occurring across the country on Saturday. In Utah alone, 18 protests were planned across the state from St. George to Logan.

The Salt Lake City event started at 2 p.m.in Washington Square Park before the attendees dutifully marched uphill along State Street to reach the Utah State Capitol. Marchers spanned the length of several city blocks as they made the 1.3-mile trek to the Capitol building.

People waiting along the side of the road joined as the march continued northward, while others who couldn't walk for long periods of time stayed on the sidelines and cheered on the marchers.

An Australian woman visiting town even yelled from the side of the road that she stands with Americans against Trump, to which the protesters cheered back.

Chants during the march criticized ICE, called for Trump's impeachment, shouted disapproval for global conflict and unified attendees through slogans emphasizing the "people's power." Cries of, "This is what democracy looks like," could be heard in one portion of the march while others shouted, "The people united will never be divided."

Hundreds of American flags waved in the wind above the swarms of people, along with posters of all sizes. Some people leaned on humor to express their dissatisfaction with the state of the nation and its leaders — such as one poster held by a teenage boy that implied Trump was jealous of toilets because they are less full of poop — while others used profanity to express their rage on topics of the economy, immigration policies, legislation, the Iran war and the Epstein files.

Arthur Clarke, a 90-year-old from Orem, said he has seen a lot over his years living in America, but he is just so upset at the president and everyone who supports him.

"We gotta get him out of there somehow, and the people that are backing him up," he said.

His large poster emphasized he was mad about Trump's tariffs, the country getting involved in wars, the brutal nature of ICE agents, and that children are being killed in global conflicts.

His wife, Teresa Andre, said she is upset not just at Trump but also at Congress. She claimed the Utah senators and representatives are not listening to their constituents and are voting against the will of the people. But seeing so many people gather was "incredible."

"There's always a way to let your voice be heard," she said. "People are here because they're suffering. They want to be heard."

Natassja Grossman of Pleasant Grove was leading several of the chants during the march uphill and felt a similar sentiment.

"Just seeing so many people coming out just makes me feel so good that, you know, so many people are fighting against what's happening right now and seeing what's happening and saying 'enough,'" she said.

Grossman is a single mom who was greatly affected when the "Big Beautiful Bill" passed, as she depended on some of the programs that had funding cut. That was the last straw that made her decide to run for House District 56.

"When the big, ugly bill passed, I knew that I couldn't just sit around and do nothing," she said. "I didn't feel right sitting around and allowing the ladder to be pulled up from behind me, and that really just activated me into fighting ... I was like 'No, I got to be the change.'"

Protest organizers estimated more than 20,00 people attended the rally, but the Utah Highway Patrol estimated the attendance was no more than 8,000 people.

Saturday's event marks the third "No Kings" rally to be held in Salt Lake City.

In June 2025, a "No Kings" rally in downtown Salt Lake ended with the unexpected fatal shooting of innocent bystander Arthur Folasa "Afa" Ah Loo, 39, who prosecutors say was shot by Matthew Scott Alder, a security "peacemaker" at the event. Alder is facing manslaughter charges, and Ah Loo's widowed wife has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the accused gunman and organizers of the rally.

Despite that occurrence, thousands showed up again to march in another "No Kings" protest in October that was relatively calm and largely free of confrontation.

"What began in 2025 as a single day of defiance has become a sustained national resistance to tyranny, spreading from small towns to city centers and across every community determined to defend democracy," a statement from the "No Kings" website says.

A coalition of roughly 20 local groups organized the events throughout the state. Jamie Carter, logistics coordinator for the Utah coalition, said organizers have spent months preparing and implementing a "major safety and de‑escalation plan."

One of the local groups was the League of Women Voters' Utah chapter, which was helping women register to vote at their booth. Volunteer Brittany Parks said they had been answering tons of questions about recent legislation that can impact people's ability to vote, such as the SAVE Act that has the potential to affect women who have changed their last names.

Despite the amount of "trepidation" she saw in the women asking questions, her "civic engagement heart" was just brimming with joy seeing so many people exercising their First Amendment rights.

"I love seeing people getting out there and making their voice heard," she said. "This is just such a wonderful, wonderful turnout. We're happy to see so many people using their voice."

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