An estimated 8 million people nationwide — including over 2,100 in the Verde Valley — took to the streets for No Kings 3, the largest protest in U.S. history
Cottonwood, AZ — More than 2,100 Verde Valley residents exercised their First Amendment right to peaceful assembly on March 28,2026, joining an estimated 8 million Americans across more than 3,300 cities for No Kings 3 — now recognized as the largest single-day protest in United States history. From West Sedona to Jerome, residents gathered to send an unambiguous message: the Constitution is not negotiable – we have No King in the USA.
Five events took place across the valley:
In West Sedona, approximately 750 marchers set off from Red Rock High School and gathered at The Commons for a Freedom Festival rally featuring former Flagstaff Mayor Coral Evans and writer Kelli Klymenko, along with food trucks and live music.
In Cottonwood, a morning rally at Riverfront Park drew 300 to 400 participants for music and community, and visits to information booths, including voter registration, climate action, and proposed 2026 ballot initiatives. A separate all-day demonstration at the corner of SR89A and 260 drew 468 people throughout the day.
In the Village of Oak Creek, 580 protesters gathered at the roundabout at Jack’s Canyon and Highway 179. In Jerome, 75 demonstrators joined the weekly protest at the Jerome Town Steps.
The protests come amid local and national concern over what is widely seen as an unprecedented consolidation of power by the Executive Branch including the use of federal agencies to circumvent congressional authority, the deployment of ICE in ways that have terrorized immigrant and non-immigrant families and destabilized communities across the country, and the erosion of constitutional checks and balances that have protected Americans for more than two centuries. Participants came not only as concerned citizens, but as neighbors — many of whom have watched ICE operations disrupt schools, workplaces, and families in their own communities.
The First Amendment exists precisely for moments like this. When government overreaches, the people’s answer is to show up. On March 28th people showed up, and there is already talk about the next time.
National organizers credited the movement’s scale with drawing in new participants beyond those who marched. “By being huge, and being everywhere, they invite new people into our movement,” the Indivisible Team noted, “not only those who attend, but those who drive by and get inspired, or see the scale of opposition on TV and realize they aren’t alone.”
Local organizers noted that they saw many new faces among participants. Their ages varied from school age children attending with their parents, to the young adult musicians who performed at both venues, to adults and senior citizens. Some said, “I’ve never done anything like this before,” or “I haven’t seen action like this since the 60’s!” A number of protesters on the corner in Cottonwood said they were visitors who saw the action and decided to join because they wanted to be part of the national message of this day.
The momentum from No Kings 3 is expected to continue. National organizers are launching community meetings to welcome newly politically awakened protesters into sustained local action around ICE monitoring, election protection, and noncooperation, and are mobilizing toward a national day of economic disruption on May Day. Visit https://www.
All participants adhered to the No Kings commitment to peaceful, nonviolent protest. Organizers were trained in de-escalation and worked with local partners to ensure a safe and lawful exercise of First Amendment rights.
Local groups supporting the Verde Valley actions included: After the March Indivisible, Camp Verde Indivisible, Democrats of the Red Rocks, Indivisible Cottonwood/Cornville/
