A crowd estimated by organizers at nearly 2,500 lined Asbury Avenue between Green Grove and Essex roads March 28 as part of a No Kings protest in Tinton Falls. Patrick Olivero 
Protest signs were everywhere at the No Kings rally, addressing immigration enforcement, the war in Iran, voting rights, LGBTQ+ rights and broader concerns about democracy and executive power. Patrick Olivero 
Along the protest route, most drivers honked in support of the rally, displayed their own signs or simply waved to the people gathered, as did this driver, whose dog took in the action along a road normally empty of pedestrians. Patrick Olivero
By Patrick Olivero
TINTON FALLS – Nearly 2,500 people lined parts of Asbury Avenue near Green Grove Road in Tinton Falls March 28 for a No Kings protest, turning a busy Monmouth County roadway into a lengthy, highly visible demonstration against actions by the Trump Administration.
The Tinton Falls gathering was part of the third nationwide No Kings Day of action; the took place in June 2025 and the second in October. No Kings organizers said an estimated 8 million people took part in more than 3,300 events in all 50 states, as well as in other countries.
In Tinton Falls, protesters stood along the roadside carrying American flags and handmade signs addressing immigration enforcement, the war in Iran, voting rights, LGBTQ+ rights and broader concerns about democracy and executive power.
Nancy Bryon, the organizer of both the October and March Tinton Falls events, said her involvement grew out of a practical concern. After trying to help friends and neighbors from her senior living residence attend an earlier No Kings protest in Red Bank, she said transportation and parking made that difficult. Holding an event in Tinton Falls, she said, made it easier for older residents to participate close to home.
Byron said planning the protest required extensive coordination with local police departments as well as repeated emails to registered attendees about safety and parking. She singled out Tinton Falls Police and Capt. Christopher Grimm for staying in close contact with organizers ahead of the event. Afterward, many attendees told her they were glad they came because it made them feel less alone.
The No Kings organization described March 28 as a day of nonviolent action and said participants were expected to de-escalate conflict and act lawfully. That emphasis matched the orderly scene in Tinton Falls, where the protest unfolded as a long roadside show of numbers rather than a disruptive march through town.
One protester interviewed at the event said they came out because they believed the country was moving away from ideals of liberty, freedom and shared belonging, and because staying quiet no longer felt right. The comment reflected a theme visible across the demonstration, where messages varied from sign to sign but often returned to the idea of defending democratic values.
As the afternoon continued, some demonstrators waved to passing cars, others walked the sidewalk with signs, and drivers waved back or sounded their horns as they moved past the crowd in support. In a township better known for shopping centers and traffic patterns than political street actions, the protest brought a national movement unmistakably into local view.
The article originally appeared in the April 2 – 8, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
