Things To Do

Your weekly guide to taking action in Iowa May 19-24, 2026

Protests and rallies around Iowa for May 19-24, 2026.

Iowans protest a trans erasure bill at the Iowa Capitol Feb. 12, 2024. (Iowa Starting Line)
Iowans protest a trans erasure bill at the Iowa Capitol Feb. 12, 2024. (Iowa Starting Line)

Protests and rallies:

📅 Tuesday (May 19)

*Indivisible Protest: noon, across from the Federal Building, Cedar Rapids: 10:30 a.m., Iowa City Public Library

Equal Pay in Iowa: Legal Protections, Challenges, and Pathways to Change: 10:30 a.m., Iowa City Public Library

Pro-democracy, anti-Trump demonstration: 4:15 p.m., the corner of Elmore Avenue and 53rd Street, Davenport

Support Iowans, Not Big Ag – Food Drive and Rally: 6 p.m., Cowles Commons, Des Moines

📅 Wednesday (May 20)

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

Hump Day Holler, Visibility Brigade: 4:30 p.m., 1101 N Broadway, Council Bluffs

Candidate Forum: DMC Board of Supervisors: 6 p.m., Burlington Public Library

4th Congressional District Candidate Forum: 7 p.m., Council Bluffs Public Library

📅 Thursday (May 21)

*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

📅 Friday (May 22) 

*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 23)

*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

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

📅 Sunday (May 24)

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

*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, Council Bluffs

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

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Authors

  • Lily Jackson is the Community Development Organizer at the Granite Post with five years of organizing experience at the local, state, and federal levels. Prior to joining Courier Newsroom, she organized her alma mater, the University of New Hampshire with the New Hampshire Democratic Coordinated Campaign, and the Presidential Inaugural Committee for the MLK Day of Service. She continued her advocacy with the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire after graduation. Lily grew up in Boston, but now calls the Granite State her home.