Gilbert hosts first No Kings protest March 28

By Tom Blodgett
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An estimated 2,500 people gathered in downtown Gilbert on March 28 for the town’s first “No Kings” protest, part of a coordinated national day of nonviolent demonstrations.

The event, organized by Chandler Gilbert Indivisible, brought residents from across the East Valley to the intersection of East Civic Center Drive and Gilbert Road, where participants lined the corridor holding handmade signs and wearing costumes in a visible show of civic engagement.

Organizers said the turnout exceeded expectations for a first-time event in Gilbert, which has not historically been a focal point for such demonstrations.

“This is the first time that we held one in Gilbert, and so we really weren't sure how successful it would be as far as turnout, but we were very pleasantly surprised,” organizer Brandy Reese said.

Crowd estimates ranged from roughly 2,200 to 2,600 attendees, according to Reese, who noted the difficulty of counting participants in an open, moving environment.

The Gilbert protest was part of a broader national mobilization that included more than 2,700 events and millions of participants across all 50 states. In Arizona, organizers said demonstrations were held in all 15 counties for the first time, with more than 100,000 participants statewide.

The downtown Gilbert gathering featured a continuous line of demonstrators, along with a volunteer safety team and a designated tent area offering shade and water. Reese said the setup also created opportunities for interaction with attendees.

“There were just so many people saying they were really, really glad that there was an event in Gilbert,” she said.

Participants included residents from Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa and Sun Lakes, reflecting what organizers described as a growing regional interest in civic engagement.

Reese described the atmosphere as upbeat and community-driven, with some attendees joining spontaneously after encountering the protest.

“Just excited and happy to be among like-minded people,” she said.

She also noted a passerby who had not planned to attend stayed to participate and assist with cleanup after the event.

Despite Gilbert’s reputation as politically conservative, Reese said the event did not draw significant negative reactions from passersby unlike previous events in Chandler.

“I didn't really hear a lot of that reaction in Gilbert,” she said.

The protest is part of the broader “No Kings” movement, which advocates for equal accountability under the law and increased civic participation. Organizers said the Gilbert event reflects the movement’s expansion into suburban communities.

Reese said the turnout and engagement suggest continued momentum.

“A lot of people were asking about what we're doing next and how they can help and be a part of it,” she said.

Organizers indicated the March 28 demonstration is part of a longer-term effort to build community involvement heading into the 2026 election cycle.

Tom Blodgett
Senior News Editor | Gilbert

tblodgett@iniusa.org

Meet Tom
Tom Blodgett joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2022, when the company acquired Community Impact Newspaper's Phoenix-area properties. Raised in Arizona, he has spent more than 35 years in journalism in the state.

Community: He has served as an instructional professional in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication since 2005, and is editorial adviser to The State Press, the university's independent student media outlet. He also is director of operations for an 18U girls fastpitch softball team from Gilbert.

Education: Arizona State University with a BS in Journalism. 

Random Fact: He lived in Belgium during his freshman year of high school.  

Hobbies: Tweeting enthusiastically about ASU softball (season-ticket holder) and grumpily about other local sports (pessimistic fan).