Around 700 people rallied at Toomer’s Corner on March 28 for the third “No Kings” protest since President Donald Trump took office. The protest was hosted by Indivisible Auburn-Opelika and lasted from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. It remained peaceful throughout.
Even before the protest officially began, several dozens of people were already present and holding signs. Some protesters walked up and down the sidewalk as they chanted slogans like “Gas is up higher ‘cause Trump is a liar,” “He thinks it’s fun to drop these bombs, but where was he in Vietnam?” and “Our Commander-in-Chief is a crypto-thief!”
A protester walking past Samford Hall on March 28, 2026.
Although the protest ran mostly smoothly, there were issues with Auburn University. Kristen Hinnant, a member of Indivisible AO’s steering committee, said that some Campus Security staff asked protesters to get off the sidewalk by the road despite it being city property. Protesters were also not allowed on any other sections of campus property.
Hinnant noted that Auburn University allowed protesters on Samford Lawn during the summer “No Kings” protest, saying that the University seemed more supportive then. When student organizers with the College Democrats submitted an event request for this protest, they were denied.
“They seem to have taken a pretty hard stance when it comes to any sort of protesting happening on campus, so we’re trying to be respectful of that, but it’s disappointing,” Hinnant said. “I really wish the University were more open to this. It’s not a good look.”
"No Kings" protesters line up along College Street on March 28, 2026.
Although the organizers confirmed with security staff that protesters were allowed on city sidewalks, they were still not allowed on Samford Lawn. Several people expressed their frustration with the University’s actions.
Daniel Butler, a retired associate dean of international programs for the Harbert College of Business and current part-time instructor in marketing, questioned the university’s motivations for not allowing protesters on campus. He believes that it is a double standard if organizations like Turning Point USA are allowed to hold political events on campus while those with differing views cannot.
“Was there a rally for Charlie Kirk and that organization [TPUSA] in the last week and a half? If the answer is yes, then we have a hypocritical — and I like our [Auburn University’s] president, I’ve known him for many years — we have an administration that’s scared to allow opposing voices to be heard,” Butler said. “You can’t have it both ways, and I’m afraid that this university is moving in a direction where it does not allow freedom of thought. That scares me, that is why I am with this right here. You gotta speak up.”
The Plainsman has reached out to Jennifer Adams, Vice President for Public Affairs, Communication & Marketing for Auburn University and Ashley Gann, Public Information Officer at Auburn University Campus Safety and Security for a statement; however, neither Adams nor Gann responded.
Protesters line up along College Street on March 28, 2026.
Anea Cruz, a sophomore in journalism, believes it is important to be visible and to make your voice heard, especially in more Conservative areas. She said that Trump’s actions will harm the entire nation.
“It’s disheartening and disgusting. The Constitution and the laws that we’ve had for so many years, it’s just all being destroyed. It’s so sad that people are so brainwashed and stuck in their ways that they can’t see that it’s not just affecting people of color, LGBTQ+ people; it’s going to affect everyone, eventually.”
Cruz also expressed her disappointment in the University, which she believes is penalizing those certain viewpoints over others with opposing views.
“I think the way our university is handling stuff like this is not good,” Cruz said. “Especially with that one incident where the student was seen yelling some very bad things through here. It took people complaining for the University to make a statement about it, which I feel was very inappropriate.”
Despite some of the difficulties, protesters continued their demonstration and received mostly positive feedback from passersby. Numerous drivers honked their horns in support, gave a thumbs up and cheered for them. A group of students from South Carolina filmed and waved at the protesters as they passed through.
The large turnout and positive reception led several community organizers to feel excited for the future. Lindsay, an Indivisible AO organizer who requested to not give her last name, hopes that “No Kings” will encourage more people to reflect on their beliefs and start protesting.
“We are not anti-people, we are anti-upholding harmful ideas,” Lindsay said. “If you want to change your mind, most of this country disagrees with this regime and this president, so it is safe for you to express that you’ve changed your mind. The best time to do it was a while ago, but the second-best time is now.”
The Indivisible Auburn/Opelika setup at the "No Kings" protest on March 28, 2026.
According to Hinnant, the nationwide “No Kings” protests are slated to be the largest in United States history with an expected 10-million-person turnout.
The last “No Kings” protest in Auburn had a turnout of over 400 people. With an even higher expected turnout for this protest, Indivisible AO brought out a dozen safety marshals who are trained in crowd control and de-escalation techniques to ensure the protest remained safe, orderly and peaceful, especially with the limited space.
“We’re trying to have a respectful, peaceful, nonviolent demonstration,” Hinnant said. “We don’t want to pick fights with anyone, and we’re not trying to stress out anyone on campus. This is just where we go. Toomer’s, this area, is the beating heart of Auburn. This is where we go to demonstrate, and this is one of the more highly visible areas in Auburn, so it just feels like it’s valuable for us to be here.”
Those interested in Indivisible AO can learn more on their Facebook page.
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