HARTFORD, CT — Thousands of people braved unseasonably cold weather Saturday morning to deliver a message to President Donald Trump about their opposition to everything from his immigration policies to the ongoing war with Iran.
Capitol Police estimated that 5,500 people gathered at the Capitol building in Hartford as part of the ongoing series of “No Kings” protests. More than 3,100 protests had been planned in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, along with events taking place internationally as well. Organizers are calling it the largest single-day protest in American history.
More than 50 events were scheduled to take place across Connecticut. Unofficial estimates were that several thousand gathered at New Haven Green, and a large crowd attended a rally in Stamford. Overall, organizers said about 3,100 events were planned for the day nationwide.
The theme “No Kings” is meant to protest the rise of authoritarianism and political violence in the United States, organizers said. A similar event in October 2025 drew about 7 million protesters nationwide, with thousands gathered for a rally in Hartford.
While this is the third No Kings protest, it was the first political action for some. College student Jake Delcampe of Canton came to the protest with his family while on spring break. He said that his mother has been attending protests for a while, and this felt like the time for him to get involved.
Jake Delcampe (right) stands with his father at the No Kings rally in Hartford on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Credit: Jamil Ragland / CTNewsJunkie
“Participating in an event like this is important for not just adults, but also kids like me to come out here and express our beliefs because I think we too have a say in where the country’s headed in the future,” he said. “So I think it’s important to be out here and express our beliefs, and show how frustrated we are with the current government.”
On the other side of the spectrum, Kathleen Tracy of Old Lyme said she has been attending protests for decades. She too was introduced to protest by her mother during the Civil Rights and anti-war movements of the 1960s. She said that she sees many similarities between what was happening in America then and now.
“It’s like we’re still fighting for our equal rights,” she said. “I mean, the whole war situation, it’s the same. You know what I mean? It’s like we repeat our karma. We repeat our destiny unless we change it. And I thought, as I got older, that we solved the civil rights problem. But I realized, no, we have a long way to go to solve our problems of racism, our problems of injustice.”
The rally itself featured state Democratic leaders and activists who spoke about the importance of opposing the Trump agenda.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-CT, took to the stage and pledged to vote against more money for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the war with Iran, which he called an illegal, lawless war.
“This is what democracy looks like,” he told the crowd. “This is what America looks like. And we’re here to stand up for democracy and America against a would-be king, a would-be tyrant, and we’re here to say, no, we’re going to defend and preserve democracy.”
Attorney General William Tong previewed arguments before the Supreme Court this coming Wednesday, where a coalition of states is challenging President Trump’s attempts to end birthright citizenship. Tong drew upon his own story as the son of immigrant parents to explain what was at stake.
Attorney General William Tong speaks during the No Kings rally in Hartford on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Credit: Jamil Ragland / CTNewsJunkie
“I’m a United States citizen because the 14th Amendment says if you’re born on American soil, you’re an American, period,” he said. “The language is clear and there is no ambiguity. But you know what Donald Trump thinks. And he wants the Supreme Court to say that millions of American children born on American soil are not Americans. He wants to say that I was never really an American at all in the first place. Well, I’ve got news for you, Mr. President. We are Americans right here.”
Gov. Ned Lamont speaks during the No Kings rally in Hartford on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Credit: Jamil Ragland / CTNewsJunkie
Gov. Ned Lamont, invoking President Abraham Lincoln’s famous opening to the Gettysburg Address, reminded the gathered protesters that the United States was founded 250 years ago on the promise that all men and women are created equal, and said that we are still striving towards that more perfect union. Lamont said that Trump’s attacks on immigrants and African Americans threatens the progress that has been made.
“This is 250 years later, and we’re not going backwards. We’re not going backwards in this country. And goddamn it, we’re not going backwards in the state of Connecticut. We’re going to stand up and fight,” he said.
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