St. Mary’s County residents plan to join a nationwide wave of nonviolent protests on March 28, 2026, as part of the third No Kings National Day of Action, rallying against perceived authoritarian actions by the current administration while organizers emphasize peaceful assembly and community safety.
The local event, organized by St. Mary’s County MD Indivisible, will gather participants from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the corner of Route 5 and Hollywood Road in Leonardtown. Protesters aim to declare opposition to what they describe as unchecked executive power, including defying courts, alleged killings of citizens, disappearances, initiating wars, cutting services, and favoring billionaires.
Andy Wilson, St. Mary’s County MD Indivisible Organizer, stated, “This is bigger than political disagreement. We’re bringing together local residents from all walks of life who recognize that this administration has defied our courts, killed American citizens, disappeared people off the streets, started wars and slashed our services—all while orchestrating a massive giveaway to their billionaire allies. We’re not going to stand by and watch it happen – we’re pushing back.”
The No Kings movement, coordinated by a coalition including Indivisible, ACLU, American Federation of Teachers, Common Defense, 50501, Human Rights Campaign, League of Conservation Voters, MoveOn, National Nurses United, Public Citizen, and SEIU, has mobilized large crowds in prior actions. Organizers reported over five million participants across events on June 14, 2025, and more than seven million at over 2,700 events in all 50 states and D.C. on October 18, 2025. The March 28 action anticipates thousands of events nationwide, potentially drawing millions, with over 2,200 already planned as of mid-March 2026.
The protests respond to administration policies, particularly immigration enforcement actions involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that have included reported shootings and community disruptions. All No Kings events commit to nonviolence, with trained organizers in de-escalation, safety leads at each site, and coordination with local partners for secure demonstrations.
For event details, participating locations, or spokesperson interviews, visit www.nokings.org or email smcmdindivisible@gmail.com. A full partner list appears at https://www.nokings.org/partners.
Opposition to the No Kings movement has surfaced from Republican figures and conservative voices, who have criticized the protests as partisan attacks or linked them to extremism. Some GOP leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson in prior rounds, labeled them as evidence of “a rise of Marxism in the Democratic Party” and alleged involvement by “antifa” or “terrorist sympathizers” in the Democratic wing. Certain officials expressed concerns over potential violence, prompting preparations like National Guard activations in some states ahead of earlier events, though reports noted no widespread arrests or major incidents from protesters. Critics argue the demonstrations represent directionless opposition without clear policy alternatives, while supporters highlight their peaceful nature and broad geographic reach, including into Trump-voting areas, as evidence of grassroots resistance to perceived overreach.
In Southern Maryland, prior No Kings actions in 2025 drew participants across counties, with events in Lexington Park and other spots alongside statewide turnout in places like Baltimore, Annapolis, and the Eastern Shore. The Leonardtown rally aligns with this regional pattern, focusing on local engagement in a conservative-leaning area. No counter-protests or specific local opposition to the March 28 event in St. Mary’s County have been detailed publicly as of March 17, 2026. The movement continues building toward what organizers call the largest protest in U.S. history, underscoring deep national divisions over executive authority and democratic norms.