Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A small but determined group gathered last Saturday along the sidewalks of the airport road at the Daniel K. Inouye Industrial Park, where organizer Wendy Malepeai led a local installment of the nationwide “No Kings” protest movement. Though only about twenty participants attended the two‐hour demonstration, Malepeai said the turnout didn’t dampen her spirits.

“It’s not about the numbers,” she told Samoa News. “It’s about raising awareness of the president’s dictatorial style of leadership.”

Malepeai noted with pride that American Samoa appeared on the national map, tracking more than 3,000 “No Kings” protests held across the country that day. For her, the inclusion of the Territory emphasized the importance of ensuring that even small, remote communities have a voice in national conversations.

Organizers reported on their website, <NoKings.org>, that more than 3,300 “No Kings” protests and related events took place across all 50 states of the United States, in large cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, down to small towns and rural communities. The event in Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota (the Twin Cities) or the Twin Cities rally, was designated as the "flagship" or central event, in part because Minnesota has become a focal point for anger over the Trump administration’s immigration crackdowns and the murder of Renee Goode and Alex Pretti by masked ICE agents. The number of people who participated in these protests and events is estimated at more than 8 million.

The "No Kings" theme was orchestrated by the 50501 Movement, a national movement made up of everyday Americans who stand for democracy and against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration. The name 50501 stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement.

It was also reported that "No Kings" protests took place in all five US territories and even in countries around the globe. Demonstrations were reported across Europe and other regions, including cities in Paris, Rome, London, Berlin, and more. In countries with monarchies, organizers adapted the slogan to “No Tyrants” or “No Dictators” to avoid confusion with local political systems. These solidarity protests took place in Denmark, Canada, Spain, and other constitutional monarchies, organized mostly by American expatriates and progressive groups, with local partner organizations joining in many cities.

Organizers and movement‐linked accounts even state that No Kings Day on March 28, 2026, reached “all seven continents”, including Antarctica, pointing to a small demonstration at Deception Island in the Antarctic region.

Last Saturday morning across the street from the Red Cross Headquarters and the Oasis Restaurant in Tafuna, protesters held signs with messages such as “Buy Books, Not Bombs,” “No New Wars,” “No Kings Since 1776,” “Protect Our Democracy,” “Healthcare Not Warfare,” "No crowns, No Thrones, No Kings" and “We the People, No Kings.” Malepeai said the slogans were chosen to highlight concerns about democratic principles and the direction of national leadership.

“It serves as a reminder of the core principles our nation was founded on,” she explained. “A democracy that is of, for, and by the people. It reaffirms that our system of government rejects rule by kings, monarchs, or oligarchs, and instead centers on the voice and power of the people.”

One of her strongest concerns, she said, is that the United States has entered a conflict without congressional authorization.

Wendy Malepeai, organizer of the local installment of the nationwide “No Kings” protest movement, held last Saturday in Tafuna. [photo: Asi A. Fa'asau]

“I’m not happy with Donald Trump threatening to send U.S. military troops — which may include Samoan soldiers — into Iran,” she said. “Congress has to approve if the U.S. goes to war. The Congress of the United States has not authorized it and will not authorize it.”

Malepeai also voiced frustration over what she views as unqualified appointments within the administration, citing the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is not a medical doctor, and her concerns about his public statements regarding childhood vaccinations. In fact, his record and advice on vaccinating children are seen by many experts as misaligned with the core mission of protecting public health through science‑based recommendations.

Despite the small size of last Saturday's local demonstration, Malepeai emphasized that the message remains the same.

“The main idea is that Americans must resist the current president, who is bent on acting like a dictator,” she said. “His unreasonable and dangerous dictates must be opposed. The rule of law must be respected. Due process must be observed for all. No Kings means no tyrants, no dictators.”