Name: Video: Live updates: ‘No Kings’ rallies kick off in St. Paul and across the state
Description: Three separate marches started around noon in St. Paul for the flagship event. Rallies across the state have also kicked off.

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Three marches began at noon in St. Paul that will convene at the Capitol around 2:30 p.m. for the national flagship “No Kings” rally. Organizers expect the rally to be the largest, single day of nonviolent protest in U.S. history. 

Over 3,200 events are scheduled in every U.S. state — and most continents — to demonstrate against the Trump administration. About 100 events are planned in Minnesota alone.  

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2:25 p.m.: Rally-goers talk democracy, federal agent killings

Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, said he believes Minnesota and the nation will continue to “resist.”

“You got thousands of people here already, and thousands more marching towards the Capitol today to stand in solidarity and to show again to the country what Minnesota has always shown us, how to lead, how to stand up and how to show this country, and the world, frankly, that even in the worst of humanity, there still is good,” he said. “There still is this idea of Minnesota nice.”

Ned Jeter came to the St. Paul rally from San Francisco. The 71-year-old said he is a passionate lover of democracy and is worried it is going away. 

“I don’t like any of it,” he said. “So that’s why we decided to get on a plane and fly all the way out here. I think if we don’t push back against this it’s going to be all over. We’re going to lose this democracy.” 

Cynthia Crooks came from Mahtomedi to attend and has been a volunteer for 35 years with asylum seekers and teaches English to immigrant children. She said they influenced her decision to attend the rally. 

“I’m appalled and so angry about the current government we all have to suffer under and I’m thinking of Alex Pretti and Renee Good especially today and their families,” Crooks said.  

She carried a sign that she made in January after Renee Macklin Good was killed that read “Mad Trump Goon Kills Kind Poet.”

1:25 p.m.: Robert DeNiro sends a message to Minnesota

Actor Robert DeNiro recorded a video message for Minnesotans that played on screens outside of the Capitol for rally-goers. As he shared his support of Minnesota during the ICE surge and disdain for the Trump administration, the crowd erupted. 

“You Minnesota are at the epicenter. It’s your courage and commitment that has inspired all of us. You have shown the power of non-violent protests. You stood together and ran them out of town,” he said about federal agents.

12:50 p.m.: Speakers and performances begin at the Capitol 

Minnesotan Liz Winstead, the co-creator of the Daily Show and founder of Abortion Access Front, started the festivities as emcee. 

“You chased out of this state pure evil,” Winstead said. “You chased out the fun-sized fascist Greg Bovino. You chased out that evil Kristi Noem.” 

The Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus group Borealis was the first performance and sang “We Shall Overcome,” a gospel song associated with the Civil Rights movement. 

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Three separate marches started around noon in St. Paul for the flagship event. Rallies across the state have also kicked off.

Live updates: ‘No Kings’ rallies kick off in St. Paul and across the state

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