At First Ward Park on Saturday, March 28, Charlotte’s latest “No Kings” protest brought thousands into the streets, including a strong showing from the city’s LGBTQ+ community. Bishop Tonyia Rawls was in attendance. Freedom Center for Social Justice Executive Director Cameron Pruette addressed many of the people on hand. Charlotte City Councilmembers Danté Anderson and JD Mazuera Arias were also present.
The rally, one of more than 3,000 held nationwide, was organized by a coalition of local groups including Indivisible Charlotte. Speakers included author and historian Ibram X. Kendi and Pruette. After the program, participants marched through Uptown before returning to the park.
For organizers, the goal was not just turnout, but connection.
Carolyn Eberly, a volunteer organizer with Indivisible Charlotte, described the event as a way for people to see one another and recognize shared concern. “This is the Charlotte area coming together for a peaceful, visible gathering of the community,” Eberly said. “People are here to defend democracy and their freedoms.”
She also emphasized the rally as a starting point, particularly for those attending for the first time or looking to get involved. “This is an entry point [for] people to get involved,” Eberly said. “We’re hoping that people leave this event feeling a little less alone and a little more connected, and that they’ll keep showing up.”
That throughline carried into the crowd.
Arwen Varner, an LGBTQ+ community member attending their first “No Kings” protest, said they came because of concerns about immigration enforcement, due process and broader political conditions. “I’m here because I’m deeply concerned about what is happening with ICE, kidnapping and detaining people, the lack of due process, the escalation of war and many other things,” Varner said. “Whatever happens, I want to know that I tried to get involved and do something about it.”
For Varner, the structure of the event itself stood out, particularly the mix of speakers, music, and participation. “It was excellent,” they said. “I was so honored to hear Dr. Kendi speaking to us. I also thought the music, art, and the amount of inclusion that went into it really warmed my heart and backed up the words everyone was saying with action.”
They also pointed to something more direct about why LGBTQ+ people show up in spaces like this. “We’ve done a pretty good job of building community within the LGBTQ community,” Varner said. “But the truth is, we are percentage wise a minority, and to advocate for our own rights, we need to build relationships outside of the community. Events like this are the perfect place to do that.”
What happened next was less visible, but no less important to the day itself. The conversations that began in the park, the relationships formed across communities, and the entry points Eberly described continued beyond the march. For those who showed up, including LGBTQ+ attendees navigating both their own concerns and those shared more broadly, the day was not only about being present, but about what comes next.