‘Democracy in action’: Thousands fill Boston Common for ‘No Kings’ protest to denounce Trump
Boston's "No Kings" protest drew crowds of thousands to Boston Common Saturday for what was a peaceful demonstration against the Trump administration, with protesters calling out what they saw as a worrying authoritarian trend for the country.
Over the course of about four hours, protesters filled the common, many carrying signs or wearing shirts denouncing the administration. Attendees came from Boston and around the state, with residents of Bridgewater, Lynn and Westborough all making the trek.
Some protesters gathered near a stage to hear the day's speaking program and listen to live music, while others simply milled about the park. Among the most crowded areas was a row of tables set up by various organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, Homes for All Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Teachers Association.
The day's speaking program was headlined by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, but featured surprise appearances from many other prominent political voices, including the state's two U.S senators and three members of its congressional delegation.
Boston Police maintained a visible presence on the common, but stayed out of the crowds. The department did not make any arrests during the protest, a spokesman confirmed to MassLive Saturday afternoon.
A surprising number of those who gathered Saturday did so in costume, including John Hoyer, 63, of Lynn, who dressed as an inflatable lobster.
He explained the costumes were an effort to counter the narrative that the protesters were violent. Using humor is a "major way to fight an authoritarian regime," he said.
The huge crowd filling the common, Hoyer said, "makes my heart soar."
That was a common sentiment among protesters, who seemed to relish the opportunity to be surrounded by those who felt similarly to them.
Jessica Millet, 45, came from Bridgewater to see the crowds in the state's largest city. Silence or sitting out the protest was not an option, she said.
"That implies we're OK with it," said Millet, who carried an American flag with her.
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell called for leadership and action, telling the fired-up crowd that Massachusetts "doesn't back down."
"We are just getting started!" she proclaimed.
While the crowd trended older, some parents brought their children, ranging from infants to teenagers.
Tiffany Glasier, 49, of Westborough, attended with her two children, Violet and Gunner Shimer, who are 16 and 14, respectively.
Gunner Shimer, who is trans, said they feared losing their rights.
"It's crazy," Shimer said. "Just let people be."
U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley said she's tired of people "who carry a mouthful of scriptures but a heart full of hate."
Many of the politicians who spoke recounted Boston's revolutionary history.
Wu told the crowd, "in Boston, every day is no kings day"
Massachusetts has kicked out a king before, she noted, adding "and we'd do it again."
Joseph Hunt, 82, who was passing out flyers on behalf of Massachusetts Peace Action, which advocates for peaceful U.S. foreign policy actions, similarly recalled the city's role as a revolutionary hotspot.
"This is democracy in action," he said. "This is what matters."
Many protesters carried signs denouncing the administration's immigration crackdown, including many that mocked Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, which has detained thousands of people across the country since Trump's election.
Bob Keener, 69, of Needham, said the administration's "unlawful deportations" made his "blood boil."
Virginia Pratt, 68, of Jamaica Plain, similarly pointed to ICE raids as a major concern.
"This is not the America we envisioned," she said.
At one point, a crowd gathered around Soldiers and Sailors Monument began chanting, "No ICE, no fear, immigrants are welcome here" as a brass band played.
U.S. Sen. Ed Markey called out the U.S. Supreme Court for giving "a green light to racial profiling in our country."
There was no organized group of counter-protesters at the event, but a handful of Trump supporters still made their way to the event.
Laura Simpson, 52, of Cambridge, who wore a hat bearing Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan, said those who opposed the president were "crying like little babies every day."
"We love our president," she said.
Shawn Nelson, 47, of Boston, who wore a vest with the American flag on it, urged the protesters to go home. They have "no clue what they're talking about," he said.
While most of those who gathered did so because of a distaste for the country's direction under Trump, the mood was not dour.
Eileen Kurkoski, of Newton, who, like Pratt, is a member of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, said she believed the message coming from those gathered Saturday afternoon was strong.
"I have hope," she said.
Perhaps no single member of the crowd embodied the festive atmosphere more than Jonah Philibert.
The 30-year-old from Foxborough walked around the park on stilts Saturday afternoon, which he said was an effort to create a spectacle.
"This is the sort of thing that needs as much attention as possible," he said. "This isn't the first and it won't be the last."
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