List of the Largest Single-Day Protests in the United States

The first Earth DayA hand-painted banner raised at the 1970 Earth Day demonstration in Central Park, New York City.

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees citizens the rights to free speech and peaceful assembly—freedoms that have empowered generations of Americans to take to the streets to speak out against injustice, demand change, and advocate for civil rights. The following graphic and table highlight the largest protests in U.S. history; each marks a significant moment of collective political and social activism.

Largest Single-Day Protests in the United States Ranked by Lowest Estimated Attendance
rank event issue date location estimated attendance
1Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests erupted nationwide following the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, and continued well into August. June 6 marked the movement’s peak. An estimated 15–26 million people participated in these sustained protests, making BLM the largest protest movement in American history.
Sources: Earthday.org; BBC; nokings.org; CNN; NBC News; The Washington Post; The New York Times; Smithsonian National Museum of American History; Time; Reuters; The Guardian; Crowd Counting Consortium (Harvard University, University of Connecticut); ABC News; Vox; The Hill; Zinn Education Project; National Park Service; Brookings Institution; CBS News.
1 First Earth Day environmental conservation April 22, 1970 nationwide 20 million
2 “No Kings” protests rejection of executive branch overreach, 2026 Iran War, and the rising cost of living March 28, 2026 nationwide estimated 8 million
3 “No Kings” protests rejection of authoritarianism, immigration raids, and federal troops in U.S. cities October 18, 2025 nationwide nearly 7 million
4 Hands Across America support for anti-poverty programs targeting hunger and homelessness May 25, 1986 nationwide 5 million–6 million
5 “No Kings” protests rejection of corruption and authoritarianism June 14, 2025 nationwide 4 million–6 million
6 Women’s March social change, including gender equality, LGBTQ and civil rights, and reproductive freedom January 21, 2017 nationwide 3.2 million–5.3 million
7 March for Our Lives student-led demand for stricter gun-control measures March 24, 2018 nationwide 1.3 million–2.2 million
8 Second Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam ending the war in Vietnam November 15, 1969 Washington, D.C. 500,000–750,000
9 Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests1 fighting racism and anti-Black violence, especially in the form of police brutality June 6, 2020 nationwide 500,000
10 Million Man March African American unity and family values October 16, 1995 Washington, D.C. 400,000–1.1 million
11 Million Woman March solidarity of Black women to initiate positive change in Black communities October 25, 1997 Philadelphia 300,000–1.5 million
12 March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay, and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation passage of an LGBT civil rights bill, an end to government and military discrimination, increase in AIDS research funding, right to reproductive freedom and choice, and an end to discrimination and oppression based on race, ethnicity, actual or perceived sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, class, or HIV status April 25, 1993 Washington, D.C. 300,000–1 million
13 March on Washington racial justice and support for civil rights legislation August 28, 1963 Washington, D.C. 250,000
Mindy Johnston Rick Livingston
Citation Information
Article Title: List of the Largest Single-Day Protests in the United States
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 15 April 2026
Access Date: November 15, 2026