By Charlie Mahler
Carrying signs, listening to speeches and chanting slogans along with rally leaders, thousands of No Kings Northfield rally-goers gathered in Ames Park on Saturday in support of democratic values they see being threatened by the current president and his administration.
The rally lasted roughly an hour and featured speeches from Kenneth Garnier from the Hennepin County local of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSME), Drew Yakel, the Associate Chaplain for Christian and Interfaith Life at Carleton College, and Erin Maye Quade, the DFL District 56 state senator from Apple Valley.
Music at the gathering was provided by Northfield’s Singing Resistance and The Justice Choir. Paul Wellstone’s campaign bus was also on site for tours.
“We’re just so thrilled that people keep showing up and as long as they keep showing up we’ll keep doing these,” Julia Menard, a co-lead for rally organizer Northfield Indivisible, said. “This is how we save our democracy, because democracy is something we do, not something we have.”
Menard estimated 3000 rally attendees although other rough estimates pegged attendance closer to 2000.
The No Kings Northfield rally was one of more than 3000 No Kings gatherings nation-wide, including the movement’s flagship rally in St. Paul that was said to have drawn some 150,000 attendees. Saturday’s events were the third edition of No Kings, following nationwide rallies in June and October of 2025.
Menard said hopes the event engages attendees going forward.
“I really hope people use what we do as a call to action,” she said. “So everything that someone does that wouldn’t have been done otherwise is a plus. I don’t care where you volunteer, as long as you’re doing something – because every little thing matters.”
A rally attendee named Richard carrying an American flag told KYMN he attended the rally because: “Protest is the highest form of patriotism and it’s the best way to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country.”
There was no noticeable police presence at the rally nor any organized counter-protest.
Charlie Mahler is the Senior Correspondent for Politics and Education with KYMN News
