Bootleg Betty
What Is No Kings Day?: Bette Midler’s Protest Push
By Mister D
March 25, 2026
No Kings Day (also called No Kings March or No Kings Day of Nonviolent Action) is a series of coordinated nationwide protests in the United States, primarily organized as a grassroots response to the policies and actions of the Trump administration in 2025–2026.
The slogan “No Kings” draws from American revolutionary ideals, emphasizing that the U.S. has no monarchs or authoritarian rulers and is governed by the people, not by any single leader or “regime.” Organizers frame the events as peaceful, nonviolent mobilizations against what they describe as “brutality at home and abroad,” including issues like immigration enforcement (e.g., ICE actions), perceived autocratic tendencies, corruption, and threats to democratic norms and rights.
Key Details on No Kings Day Date: The next major national day of action is Saturday, March 28, 2026 (just days from now, as of March 25–26, 2026).
Scale: Organizers report plans for over 3,000 local events across the country, with expectations that it will be one of the largest single-day nonviolent protest mobilizations in recent U.S. history. California alone has hundreds of planned events (over 300 reported), and significant turnouts are anticipated in places like New York City, the Twin Cities (Minnesota), Washington, D.C., and the Bay Area.
Flagship events: The Twin Cities rally in St. Paul, Minnesota, is a major gathering expected to draw up to 100,000 people, featuring performances and appearances by artists and figures such as Bruce Springsteen, Joan Baez, Jane Fonda, and Maggie Rogers.
Organization: It’s a broad coalition effort involving progressive groups, labor unions, activist networks (such as Indivisible), and local organizers. Events are listed on the official site nokings.org, which provides maps, “know your rights” resources, safety trainings, and toolkits. Past “No Kings” actions have occurred on earlier dates (e.g., references to events in October 2025).
The protests typically involve marches, rallies, and demonstrations with signs, chants, and calls for unity against perceived overreach.
Bette Midler’s Involvement
Bette Midler, a longtime vocal critic of Donald Trump and an active progressive voice, has been prominently involved in promoting the No Kings events on March 28, 2026.
She shared a personal message and call to action for the “No Kings March – March 28, 2026,” which was posted on social media.
- Midler released a timely remake of Woody Guthrie’s classic protest song “All You Fascists Bound to Lose” (which she updated/adapted for the current context). This recording went viral in protest circles and is explicitly tied to energizing supporters ahead of No Kings Day, with hashtags and captions linking it directly to the rallies.
- She teamed up with actress Barbara Hershey (her co-star in Beaches) to reenact a famous scene from the movie in a short video. The clip protests ICE actions and teases/promotes participation in the No Kings rallies, blending humor, nostalgia, and activism.
Midler’s efforts—through her song, video, and direct messaging—position her as a cultural amplifier for the movement, using her platform and artistic history to encourage turnout and frame the protests as a stand against fascism and authoritarianism, in the spirit of Guthrie’s folk-protest tradition.
Events are decentralized, so people are encouraged to check nokings.org for local actions. Organizers stress nonviolence, safety, and legal preparedness. As with any large protest, details can evolve quickly, so real-time updates from official sources or local news are recommended.
