On Saturday, Oct. 18, hundreds — by organizer counts, possibly over a thousand — assembled on the lawn of the North Dakota State Capitol in Bismarck for the fifth iteration of the No Kings Rally. The demonstration marked the largest local turnout to date for the nationwide protest movement.
The “No Kings” rallies emerged as a national day of action on Oct. 18, during which thousands of protests took place across the U.S. in more than 2,600 cities.
In North Dakota alone, eleven cities hosted events.
In Bismarck, this was the 5th consecutive local rally (several previous ones were smaller) — and this time, local organizers and observers say the crowd was noticeably larger.
Locals gathered along East Boulevard and the capitol grounds, holding signs, waving flags and chanting slogans rejecting what they described as authoritarian drift in federal leadership.
The increased attendance in Bismarck signals growing civic engagement in the capital city—not just in major metros.
Residents here are visibly aligning with a national movement while bringing local concerns into the dialogue. One Bismarck participant told a regional outlet, “I love America, I love the Constitution, and I love what this country represents.”
While the movement is national in headline, the gathering in Bismarck ties to state‐level visibility (right at the State Capitol) and local media coverage—thus providing an on‐the‐ground moment for local democracy watchers.
Despite some concerns in other states about clashes or heavy law‐enforcement presence, the Bismarck event was described as peaceful, ensuring the city’s image as a stable venue for civil public expression.
“Everything he does he gets something back for himself,” said Ken Opheim of Fargo on the same day’s rally — a sentiment echoed by some in Bismarck who compared the gathering to standing guard for democratic norms.
The “No Kings” branding — referencing a rejection of one‐man rule or crown‐style leadership — resonates here as much as nationally, and in Bismarck’s case ties into the city’s identity as a seat of state government.
For local organizers, the success of the turnout could lead to more frequent civic mobilization and stronger local networks for future social and political initiatives.
The event may also influence how future gatherings (pro or con) are covered locally—news outlets like the North Dakota Monitor and KFYR‐TV have already cited the Bismarck rally as a high-water mark.
The Oct. 18 rally did more than just mirror a nationwide movement — in Bismarck, it asserted that the capital city’s citizens are engaging visibly in the national conversation. With its largest turnout yet at the State Capitol, Bismarck is setting a stage for future civic actions. When the next big–day mobilization rolls around, the “No Kings” name may just sound smaller locally — because Bismarck’s voice will have grown bigger.
