Palisades Park hosts a mass mobilization and community fair as part of a 50-state protest against the Trump administration’s policies.
Palisades Park will serve as the local staging ground this Saturday for “No Kings 3,” a nationwide mobilization challenging the return of the Trump administration and what organizers describe as a shift toward authoritarianism.
The Santa Monica event, scheduled for March 28 at 11 a.m., coincides with mass protests planned across all 50 states. The demonstration features a keynote address by Steve Schmidt, the prominent political strategist and Lincoln Project founder who previously advised John McCain and George W. Bush. Schmidt, a co-founder of the Save America Movement, has become a leading national voice in the organized opposition to the current Republican platform.
In addition to the protest, a “Democracy Fair” will be held at the picnic tables north of the Palisades Park Rose Garden. The fair will feature booths from several advocacy and community organizations, including the ACLU, Indivisible, the Stonewall Democrats, and the Los Angeles Guild for Reproductive Health.
To accommodate the expected crowd, Ocean Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic beginning at 10 a.m. Local volunteers in yellow vests will be stationed throughout the park to provide directions to the various rally and resource zones.
The City of Santa Monica issued this statement regarding the protest, We are committed to upholding everyone’s right to peacefully demonstrate. The city respects everyone’s First Amendment right to peaceful protest and wants to ensure our community can do so in a safe manner. However, criminal behavior will not be tolerated. Individuals taking advantage of the situation with criminal acts will be subject to arrest and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
For protest participants: follow event rules and guidelines provided by organizers. Keep it peaceful. Do not bring any prohibited items. The city encourages everyone in Santa Monica to sign up for emergency alerts by texting SMVISIT to 888-777 or registering at santamonica.gov/alerts.”
The program includes:
- The Democracy Fair: Community resources and political action networking at the north end of the park.
- Singing Resistance: A choral performance at the south end of the Ocean Avenue closure.
- Keynote Address: Political analysis and strategy from Steve Schmidt.
Organizers emphasized a strict commitment to nonviolence, noting that staff have been trained in de-escalation techniques to ensure participant safety. The Santa Monica rally is part of a broader “day of defiance” aimed at reinforcing the principle that the executive branch remains subject to the rule of law.
Palisades Park is located at the intersection of Montana and Ocean avenues. For a comprehensive directory of related national events, the public can visit nokings.org.
