Champaign County Indivisible hosted the “No Kings 3” demonstration March 28 outside the Champaign County Courthouse in Urbana as part of a National Day of Action to protest against the Trump administration. Organizers said in a press release that the protest is meant to unite communities against authoritarian power grabs and defend freedom.
The group announced the protest earlier in the week, and organizers across the country planned more than 3,100 protests for this weekend. The event lasted from 1-3 p.m., featuring live music, speeches, a costume contest and a march through downtown Urbana.
“Would-be autocrats want us divided and afraid,” the press release read. “Instead, we’re coming together, taking time to acknowledge what the last year has put us all through.”
Local co-sponsors included American Civil Liberties Union of Champaign County, ACLU of Illinois, the University’s American Association of University Professors chapter, Champaign County Democrats and the Champaign Federation of Teachers, among others.
Coco Gabhart, a community member who has attended all three No Kings protests, shared her reason for protesting.
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“This presidency has been so clearly the opposite of what America stands for, and so that’s what I’m here to protest,” Gabhart said. “I believe in what America can be, and I believe that it can be better, but I think what’s happening now is not that.”
In addition to the costume contests and protest, two musical groups, the Back Porch Boys and Jadie & Doc Shredd, performed at around 1 p.m.
Individuals from the Central Illinois Party for Socialism and Liberation led various chants around 2 p.m., including “What do we do when civil rights is under attack?” with response chants such as “Stand up, fight back!”
The demonstration drew a wide range of participants. Current, former and even some prospective University students were also in attendance. Mike Wooley, a University alum, was attending Admitted Student Day with his family when they decided to go to the rally.
“I know right from wrong,” Wooley said. “What’s happening now is wrong. And (the Trump administration) is doing it in our name. It’s wrong, and we have to stop it.”
Wooley went on to comment on the political climate at the University and its recent crackdown on student demonstrations.
“When I was a student, the campus was more politically engaged,” Wooley said. “But it was a different time. And there weren’t all the crackdowns against the students that are happening now. So it makes me sick that they’re actually preventing students from legitimate protest on campus.”
At the same time, two counterprotesters emerged. One of them was Mark Thompson, a Dewey, Illinois resident, who went because of his dislike toward the “No Kings” movement and George Soros, multibillionaire and philanthropist, whose foundations contributed to some organizations backing No Kings such as Indivisible.
Thompson said he doesn’t think the people at the demonstration know what they’re protesting for.
“I’m tired of seeing so many people again – useful idiots,” Thompson said. “They don’t know what they’re doing. They don’t understand the bigger picture.”
This was the third “No Kings” demonstration in Champaign-Urbana. The first was held in June 2025, where thousands gathered to counterprotest the military parade in Washington for the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday.
Protesters gathered for the second “No Kings” demonstration in October 2025 in response to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies, along with research and social services cuts.
The next National Day of Action will be on April 16, where members from the American Immigration of Lawyers Association will have several meetings with congressional offices to advocate for the organization’s priorities.
