Things To Do

Your weekly guide to taking action in Iowa (May 14-19, 2026)

A weekly roundup of Iowa political events, protests, advocacy opportunities, and ways to take action statewide from May 14-19.

A packed crowd of people in the Captiol Rotunda in 2023, on the day the abortion ban passed in a special session, pink is the predominant color. Three signs are visible: one says 'abortion is normal,' one says 'no forced births' and one says 'if I wanted your religion in my pussy I'd fuck a priest.'
The crowd at the Capitol for the July special session to ban abortion Nikoel Hytrek/Iowa Starting Line

Protests and rallies:

📅 Tuesday (May 12)

*Indivisible Protest: noon, across from the Federal Building, Cedar Rapids

Indivisible QC: 6 p.m., 1152 15th Ave., East Moline

📅 Wednesday (May 13)

*DSM Visibility Brigade bridge protest: 4:30 p.m., Des Moines

📅 Thursday (May 14)

*4 Corners Peaceful Protest: 4:30 p.m., near the Casey’s/Methodist Church in Panora

*DSM Visibility Brigade bridge protest: 4:30 p.m., Des Moines

Resistors Unite: 5:30 p.m., Grumpy‘s Saloon

Stump Speech Eve: 6 p.m., Polk County Northside Community Center

Dining Democratically: 7 p.m., Garcia’s Family Restaurant

Debate Watch Party – Turek & Wahls: 8 p.m., 100 W Broadway, Council Bluffs

📅 Friday (May 15) 

*Vigil for Immigrant Rights: noon-12:30 p.m., Waterloo Post Office

*Jefferson Protest: noon-1 p.m., Jefferson Square, Jefferson

*Veterans for Peace: noon, across from the Federal Building, Cedar Rapids

*Veterans for Peace rally: 3:30 p.m., east entrance of Pentacrest, Iowa City

*Linn County Visibility Brigade: 3:45 p.m., Emmons Street overpass, Hiawatha

📅 Saturday (May 16)

*Community Rally for Democracy: 10 a.m., NE corner of Hickman and Alice’s Road, Waukee

*Grieving for Gaza: 11 a.m., Decorah

*Rally in the Wayside Park: noon, Decorah

*Perry Protest: noon-1 p.m., First and Willis by the bicycle sculpture, Perry

IA: Hold Miller-Meeks Accountable: Talk to Our Neighbors: 12 p.m., Lafayette Park

*Peaceful Protest: 1 p.m., corner of Mamie Eisenhower Avenue and Story Street, Boone

Connecting and Strengthening Local Community: 2:30 p.m., Urbandale Public Library

📅 Sunday (May 17)

*Save Our Parks: 10 a.m., Harper’s Ferry

Love as Action Des Moines: 10 a.m., 42nd Street & Grand Avenue

*Henry County First Amendment Rally: noon-1 p.m., front of the courthouse, Mount Pleasant

VIGIL by the Pott Co. Jail (Ice Detention Facility): 3 p.m., Big Lake Road and N. 16th Street

Have an event to add? Email Lily Jackson, lily@couriernewsroom.com with details (please send details at least one week before the event).

Related: Reynolds-connected lobbyist recruited paid attendees for JD Vance’s Iowa rally on behalf of ‘an ethanol company’

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Zachary Oren Smith
Zachary Oren Smith Political Correspondent
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