When Americans take to the streets, history listens.
Given the current anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles, traders on Polymarket think there’s an overwhelming chance (81%) a state of emergency is declared in the city.
So from civil rights to war, gender equality to racial justice, the biggest protests in U.S. history didn’t just draw crowds — they moved the needle.
Here’s a look at the largest demonstrations ever held on American soil, and the flashpoints that fueled them.
2020 – George Floyd Protests
Sparked by the murder of George Floyd, these protests swept across all 50 states in the summer of 2020. Estimates suggest 15 to 26 million people participated, making it the largest movement in American history. Demonstrations focused on police brutality, systemic racism, and calls to defund or reform law enforcement.
2017 – Women’s March
Held the day after Donald Trump’s inauguration, the 2017 Women’s March drew more than 4 million people across the U.S. It became a defining moment for modern feminism, uniting causes from reproductive rights to immigration and LGBTQ+ advocacy under one massive, pink-hatted umbrella.
2006 – Immigration Reform Protests
In response to proposed legislation that would have criminalized undocumented immigrants, millions of demonstrators—many of them Latino—flooded cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Dallas. “A Day Without Immigrants” highlighted the vital role of immigrant labor in the U.S. economy.
1969–1971 – Vietnam War Moratoriums
Anti-war sentiment crescendoed with nationwide protests in 1969, especially the November 15th Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam, which brought over half a million people to Washington, D.C. It marked a pivotal shift in public pressure on the Nixon administration.
1993 – March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights
An estimated 800,000 to 1 million people descended on D.C. demanding civil rights for LGBTQ+ Americans. It was one of the largest queer rights demonstrations ever, occurring during the AIDS crisis and following the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy rollout.
2018 – March for Our Lives
Launched by students after the Parkland school shooting, this protest pushed for gun control legislation. Around 1 to 2 million people marched in cities across the U.S., with Washington, D.C.’s event drawing about 800,000. It marked a new generation’s entry into the political fight.
1995 – Million Man March
Organized by the Nation of Islam and Louis Farrakhan, nearly a million Black men gathered on the National Mall to promote family unity, community responsibility, and spiritual renewal. It was one of the largest gatherings of African American men in U.S. history.
2010 – Tea Party Protests
While not a single-day event, the Tea Party movement’s protests across 2010 drew hundreds of thousands opposing big government and the Affordable Care Act. The rallies helped realign the GOP and laid groundwork for Trump’s future political rise.
1963 – March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
Best known for Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, this iconic protest brought over 250,000 people to the Lincoln Memorial. It pressured Congress to pass the Civil Rights Act and remains a landmark in the fight for racial equality.
2004 – March for Women’s Lives
Around 1.15 million people gathered in D.C. to support reproductive rights, making it one of the largest women’s rights protests in U.S. history. It protested Bush-era policies restricting abortion access and rallied against threats to Roe v. Wade.
