Story and photos by L. M. Land and Tanya Terry
Featured photo by L.M. Land
On March 28, 2025, eight million people attended 3,300 No Kings Day 3.0 events nationally, as reported by No Kings. Not all protests were organized by No Kings, so there may have been many more.
The protests were part of a series of demonstrations against the second presidency of Donald Trump and the efforts of his administration. This followed No Kings I, which took place on June 14, 2025, and No Kings 2, which happened October 18, 2025.
Locally, hundreds of people showed up for grassroots protests at the corner of Miller and Linden Roads in Flint Township, as well as hundreds more down Linden Road.
In downtown Flint, the ‘Bridge Brigade’ has come every Friday for the past 57 weeks to the Beach Street bridge over I-69, downtown Flint. They were also there for the Saturday rally. The focus is on bringing joy and enjoying the company of like minded people, and hanging anti-King signs as well as peaceable signs for the drivers to see as they pass below on I-69. You are welcome to join them. Be prepared for good conversation and waving at the passer-bys. Bring a lunch, and clean up after yourself when you leave!
Robert “Bob” Arnold, a regular there, designs his own protest hats and T-shirts, and has them printed locally. He posts them on his Facebook account, https://www.facebook.com/robert.arnold.3766/about/. If a design speaks to you, he says to feel free to use his ideas at your favorite printer.
Arnold also spoke to TransformCo (or Transform SR Brands LLC) the private American company who owns the former Sears building at Genesee Valley along Linden Road. The second rally was held there, and was to be held there again on March 28, 2026. He was contacted by the owner of the former Sears property to cancel the rally a short time prior to the event.
A voice message was left on Arnold’s phone, and they were “ungodly, confrontational and combative.”
The goal of all No Kings events is to be peaceful and non-confrontational. TransformCO refused to have a discussion. They told Arnold that “If you show up we will call police to have you arrested” if the rally is held at the old Sears.”
Arnold explained that people don’t always understand why a public event cannot be held in some locations. The Sears parking lot is privately owned, therefore permission must be given to have an event there. The space between the sidewalk and the road is public, so the rally can only happen in that narrow space without permission.
The No Kings event was moved to the corner of Linden and Miller Roads, and there were still people all along the public land along Linden Road.
There were also red knitted or crocheted hats at both locations. This trend began with patterns designed by members of the Needle & Skein yarn shop in Louis Park, MN, just a stone’s throw from Minneapolis and the recent ICE violence. They wanted to show their support for their entire community after the violence (which is also where George Floyd was killed). They borrowed the red hat concept from Norway during the WWII occupation of their communities.
From their pattern page on Ravelry.com: “In the 1940’s, Norwegians made and wore red pointed hats with a tassel as a form of visual protest against Nazi occupation of their country. Within two years, the Nazis made these protest hats illegal and punishable by law to wear, make or distribute. As purveyors of traditional craft, we felt it appropriate to revisit this design. All proceeds from the sale of this pattern go to the immigrant aid agencies who will distribute the funds to those impacted by the actions of ICE.”
To date, this simple hat pattern has raised over $700,000 as of 2.19.2026*, the pattern link is below.
At Miller and Linden there was a short program with several speakers and two singers.
There, DeWaun E. Robinson, President, Black Lives Matter Flint, stated the following towards members of the crowd:
“…When we see a government that tries to rule through fear, whether it’s through unconstitutional actions abroad or targeting our neighbors here at home, we don’t stay silent. We’ve seen what happens when leaders think they’re untouchable. We’ve seen it in our water bills, we’ve seen it in our schools, and we see it in our voting booths.
“But today, from the 5th Ward to the furthest reaches of this city, we are sending a message. We are standing for the rule of law. We are standing for the right to protest without being targeted. And we are standing for a future where our children don’t have to wonder if their rights will still be there tomorrow…”
Arnold said about 30 people were on the Beach Street bridge. He noticed that nationally more red states were also participating. So, he is among many who considered No Kings Day 3.0 a local and national success.
Arnold also shared concerns that people he perceives as a having a lack of empathy have threatened his physical safety because he peacefully expresses his viewpoint. Despite these threats, he remains committed to what he has been doing.
A nationwide general strike is being planned for May 1. Organizers are calling for “no work, no school, no shopping” to create massive economic disruption, aiming to “put workers over billionaires.”
*To read more about the woman who runs the yarn shop, in a Norwegian magazine: https://www.sciencenorway.no/usa-world-war-ii-culture/why-are-american-ice-protesters-using-a-symbol-from-the-norwegian-resistance-movement/2621873
Knit and crochet red hat patterns available at: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/melt-the-ice-hat
To see actual red hats in the Norwegian resistance:https://www.visitnorway.com/listings//norways-resistance-museum/15556/
