‘No Kings’ Capitol rally draws 100K as organizers plan May 1 strike; Bloomington counterprotester now charged with felony assault
Organizers of the "No Kings" March 28 Capitol rally in St. Paul said the flagship event drew more than 200,000 people (the Minnesota State Patrol estimated about 100,000) and billed the nationwide, anti‑Trump, midterm‑energizing movement — featuring speakers including Gov. Tim Walz, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Jane Fonda, Joan Baez and Rep. Ilhan Omar — as moving into a planned May 1 national strike after what organizers say were more than 3,300 events with at least 8 million participants. Separately, Hennepin County charged 36‑year‑old Zak X of St. Cloud with felony third‑degree assault and a felony for wearing a bullet‑resistant vest during a protest after prosecutors say he livestreamed a Bloomington No Kings event, punched a father in the nose after the man pushed his phone away when X pointed the camera at the child (breaking the victim’s nose and requiring surgery), and was found with a concealed vest, OC spray, a loaded airsoft gun and other gear; X has admitted throwing the punch, claimed self‑defense and is being held on $75,000 bail.
📌 Key Facts
- Organizers said the St. Paul flagship No Kings rally drew more than 200,000 people, while the Minnesota State Patrol gave a more conservative estimate of about 100,000 attendees.
- Organizers also said there were more than 3,300 No Kings events nationwide with at least 8 million participants.
- Speakers at the St. Paul rally included Gov. Tim Walz, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Jane Fonda, Joan Baez, Rep. Ilhan Omar and others.
- Organizers and local leaders framed the No Kings movement as explicitly protesting President Donald Trump’s policies and mobilizing voters ahead of the midterms; Indivisible Twin Cities said it is working with its national organization on a planned May 1 national strike as the next phase.
- On the ground, Indivisible Twin Cities leader Tim Wegener tied the protest to Operation Metro Surge and the claim that '3,000 federal agents were sent to Minnesota'; Minnesota GOP Chair Alex Plechash dismissed the rallies’ likely electoral impact, while analyst Blois Olson said the gatherings are a concrete sign of midterm-year energy that worries Republicans.
- Hennepin County charged 36‑year‑old St. Cloud resident Zak X with felony third‑degree assault and felony wearing a bullet‑resistant vest after an incident at a No Kings event in Bloomington on March 28.
- Police say X, who was livestreaming at American Blvd and Penn Ave S, pointed a camera at a child, then punched a father who pushed his phone away; the victim suffered a broken nose that required surgery. Officers reported X was wearing a concealed bulletproof vest and carrying OC spray, and a later vehicle search turned up a loaded Sabre airsoft gun, projectiles, THC cigarettes, pepper spray, tactical gloves and a facemask. Investigators reviewed social‑media and bystander video they say showed X had space to retreat; X admitted throwing the punch but claimed self‑defense, has a pending 2025 assault case, and is being held on $75,000 bail.
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
March 30, 2026
7:18 PM
No Kings counterprotester charged after allegedly punching man in front of child
New information:
- Hennepin County has charged 36‑year‑old St. Cloud resident Zak X with felony third‑degree assault and felony wearing a bullet‑resistant vest during a protest after an incident at a No Kings event in Bloomington on March 28.
- Police say X, a counterprotester livestreaming at American Blvd and Penn Ave S, punched a father in the nose after the man pushed his phone away when X pointed the camera at the man’s child, breaking the victim’s nose and requiring surgery.
- Officers say X was wearing a concealed bulletproof vest and carrying OC spray; a later vehicle search found a loaded Sabre airsoft gun, projectiles, THC cigarettes, pepper spray, tactical gloves and a facemask, and investigators reviewed social‑media and bystander video that they say showed he had space to retreat.
- X admitted throwing the punch but claimed self‑defense, has a pending 2025 assault case, and is being held on $75,000 bail.
3:12 AM
Minnesota No Kings protest: 100,000 rally at State Capitol as midterms approach
New information:
- Organizer framing that the ‘No Kings’ movement is explicitly focused on protesting President Donald Trump’s policies and energizing voters ahead of the midterm elections.
- Indivisible Twin Cities says it is working with its national organization on plans for a May 1 national strike, presented as the next phase after the Capitol rally.
- On‑the‑ground quotes from Indivisible Twin Cities leader Tim Wegener tying the protest directly to Operation Metro Surge and the sense that '3,000 federal agents were sent to Minnesota.'
- Reaction quote from Minnesota Republican Party Chair Alex Plechash dismissing the rallies’ likely electoral impact and framing Minnesotans as not needing 'that kind of demonstration' to decide how to vote.
- Additional context from analyst Blois Olson interpreting the scale of the gatherings as a concrete sign of midterm‑year energy that worries Republicans.
March 29, 2026
12:43 AM
St. Paul No Kings protest had over 100K in attendance
New information:
- Organizers now claim more than 200,000 people attended the St. Paul flagship No Kings rally.
- Minnesota State Patrol provides a more conservative estimate of about 100,000 attendees at the Capitol event.
- Organizers say there were more than 3,300 No Kings events nationwide with at least 8 million participants.
- Article confirms the star lineup actually appeared: Gov. Tim Walz, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Jane Fonda, Joan Baez, Rep. Ilhan Omar and others spoke at the St. Paul rally.
March 27, 2026