photo credit: Greta Mart
Sonoma Square on March 28. 2026. 

Over a thousand people gathered in downtown Sonoma and around Sonoma Plaza for the ‘No Kings’ protest in the city of Sonoma. It started at 11 with a march…then protestors stuck around in the square while bands played and people gave speeches. 

KRCB News asked each protestor the same question: what motivated you to come downtown today? 

"Because it was the only thing I wanted to do today; because we have to, we have to speak up and be loud and save our country because no one else is."

"What is happening in our country is egregious and unbelievable. And if you just simply stand by and do nothing, it will continue."

"Because I like freedom and I love democracy. I like electricity and running water, all kinds of things. But this is so important. We need to stand up against this criminal no good. And, and we are so bravo, Sonoma and Bravo America in general for doing this. This, this is all we can do until we vote."

"Every day I wake up and there's a new low and a new outrage, and I, I just say, I can't believe this happened or he did this, but it just keeps going. It's like a nightmare that you never wake up from."

"[My] sign says, 'This is time for the 25th Amendment,' and that Trump is not well. And of course the 25th Amendment, you know, comes about when somebody shows that they're not up to the job. So that's what we feel right now."

"Of all three marches [in the city of Sonoma]. I've seen nothing but support. A few times, there have been a few people that have come by and made comments, but nothing that's been too disruptive. I think it's real, respectful and amazing, amazing signs, amazing people. And again, young and old."

That’s Sonoma residents Elizabeth, Frank Speakly, Antonia, Eric Jensen, Neva Bear, Joan Martin and Jane Hutchinson speaking to KRCB News in Sonoma on March 28. 

An estimated 12,000 people showed up in downtown Santa Rosa for the No Kings march and rally. Crowds gathered at Santa Rosa Junior College and Juilliard Park at 3pm and then converged on Courthouse Square for the rally, which included music and speeches.

A group called the Resister Sisters led the crowd in a sing-a-long “Nobody is above the law…”

MaDonna Feather Cruz is a third generation Indian Boarding School Survivor, and she spoke to the crowd gathered on the Square:

“We are not just rejecting crowns. We are rejecting systems that were built to dominate," said Feather Cruz.

Meg from Guerneville was one of the people walking down Mendocino Avenue, which police had entirely blocked off in the southbound direction.

“So my sign says we didn't abolish monarchy to cosplay one 250 years later. I had to be a little cheeky. The other side's more serious. So, No Kings last year was actually the first time I was had ever protested protested. But since last year, No Kings 2, I've been involved weekly protesting on the street corner in Guerneville and involved with my local groups. Yeah, all kinds of activism since then. This was really the kickstarter. We started our day in Guerneville. There was an event earlier this afternoon and I arrived and it was actually about the same size as October last year, but just seeing the energy of everyone there made me teary. Like I'm just I'm so proud of all of us. I'm so proud of myself," said Meg. I'm so proud of all of us for showing up, but this just it feels so good to put energy toward something that is going to protect us in the future going forward.”

While motorcycle officers kept lanes clear for protestors marching south from the Junior College, Scott from Sebastopol says that did not happen for those marching from Juilliard Park:

"And it was very slow at first. Uh and we tried to take over the street, but then they put us back on the sidewalk because there were still cars trying to get out of there," said Scott. "It was slow and hot, but very exciting. Lots of people are really into it. It's really great.”

Lloyd Iverson of Santa Rosa was set up on the sidewalk near Courthouse Square with a homemade trailer with two portable restrooms, and a water tank for clean water.

“Free water! Free sodas, help yourself, free bathrooms," said Iverson.

Iverson says he built this out himself because his experience at prior rallies had been hot and uncomfortable.

“To enable people so that they feel like coming to these and and doing it because if it's too miserable, you don't want to do it," said Iverson. "I want to take protesting to a new level.”

People of all ages attended the event, including brother and sister Reed and Stella Tucker of Santa Rosa.

“I'm 14 or 15, 15. Just turned 15? Yeah, like 3 weeks ago. So tell me what brought you out today? Why are you protesting? My mom kind of dragged me out here, but I do support the cause and I want to go and yeah, I just want to go but mainly my mom encouraging it. Why did you want to come? Because I support the cause and Trump is a loser," said Reed Tucker.

His big sister Stella attends SRJC.

“I'm a journalism student, so it's nice to come out and like observe everybody and take it all in and see that people care about what I care about," said Stella Tucker.

There were many creative hand made signs, including one by Leah Shahum of Sebastopol.

“My sign says resisting bitch face with a cut out in the middle. And it's exactly how I feel," said Shahum. "I get a lot of compliments on it. Though I have to give credit someone else gave it to me, so I give them a lot of credit, but I think a lot of people relate to this sign and this feeling.”

Cate Steane of Santa Rosa thinks that the momentum from these protests may have an impact on upcoming elections.

“In 2026, we're going to be able to slow things down a lot," said Steane. "2028 I think we will get a president more to our liking, but I mean he represents a lot of people. It's still a divided country and it's not going to be like flipping a switch.”

When asked what she does to stay hopeful, Steane responded:

“Just always start with yourself, think about your daily interactions with people, and just a little thing that I find I do rather than just um kind of having a, you know, settled face like this. I think resting kind face. Just trying so hard to be kind to everyone you encounter and it's contagious," said Steane. "And then the thing we need to do which is really hard, is talk to people who don't think the same way that we do. It's really hard to do but it's it's important to try.”

While the march and protest was peaceful, there were reports of a man wearing a MAGA hat in a large black truck driving aggressively and taunting people. Jeremiah of Rohnert Park says he saw a group of shirtless young men out on their front lawn on Mendocino Avenue, meant to rile up protesters:

“They were baiting for instigation by having a beer pong table and a Trump flag on the beer pong table immediately adjacent to the march," said Jeremiah.

KRCB News saw the men as she walked back to her car, but they politely declined to be interviewed.

Editor's note: There are no available official crowd size numbers yet available from the Sonoma Police Department or others.