Colorado Democrats Plan No Kings Protest in Highlands Ranch This Weekend

Colorado Democrats are organizing a "No Kings" protest at the intersection of Highlands Ranch Parkway and University this Saturday, March 28, placing the affluent Douglas County suburb on a statewide map that has grown to at least 72 events across Colorado, according to online listings published on March 20.

The Highlands Ranch event is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 9203 S. University Blvd. It arrives as part of what organizers are calling the third "No Kings" demonstration since 2025.

As of midday on March 20, a listing showed 72 events scheduled for March 28 across Colorado, spanning communities including Alamosa, Arvada, Aspen, Aurora, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Denver, Durango, Fort Collins, Grand Junction, Parker, Pueblo, Telluride and dozens more. Some cities have multiple events.

The rapid expansion is notable. Previous rallies have drawn millions of people, and organizers said they expect even greater numbers on March 28 in the wake of Trump's immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, where violent clashes have led to the death of two people. The events have been held to challenge the Trump administration's use of law enforcement, executive power and other actions organizers say constitute a slide into authoritarianism. The listing showed 72 events scheduled for March 28 across the state, up from 43 events on March 4.

The immediate trigger for the latest wave of protests is the deaths of two American citizens during Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale federal immigration enforcement effort in Minneapolis. Renee Nicole Macklin Good was shot and killed by an ICE officer on January 7, 2026, during an immigration operation in Minneapolis. Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was fatally shot by ICE agents during a protest against immigration enforcement in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026. The killing sparked national protests and multiple investigations.

Organizers said they expect even greater numbers on March 28, with Ezra Levin, co-executive director of the nonprofit Indivisible, saying: "We expect this to be the largest protest in American history."

In Colorado, the Denver No Kings Coalition, made up of roughly three dozen local activist organizations, estimated that Saturday's attendance at the State Capitol would surpass 70,000. Denver's largest crowd is expected to gather outside the Colorado State Capitol at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

The planned Highlands Ranch event has not been without criticism. Online commentary has mocked the planned demonstration as activity by "rich white women with nothing to do," a reaction that mirrors broader skepticism sometimes directed at protests in well-resourced suburban communities. Prior Colorado "No Kings" events in June and October 2025 drew tens of thousands of participants across the state, suggesting that Saturday's turnout in Highlands Ranch and beyond may be difficult to dismiss regardless of the demographics of those who show up.