‘We’re here, millions of people’ say ‘No Kings’ protesters in defiance of Donald Trump
The crowd for Saturday's "No Kings" protest was still filtering onto the West Springfield Town Green as Frank Ferreira helped set up a large sign protesting the presidency of Donald Trump.
"We've got to stop him," Ferreira, of Chicopee, said. "We're here to show that there is an opposition. We're here. Millions of people."
Organizer Ron Stillman passed out "Know Your Rights" cards and printed "No Kings" bandannas in the event's signature yellow. He'd gotten about 377 online registrations by Saturday morning. But by the time the 11 a.m. rally and standout began, people lined all sides of the busy intersection where Elm and Union streets cross the parallel Park Street and Park Avenue.
Trump got 48% of the vote in West Springfield in 2024, nearly edging out the Democratic ticket led by Kamala Harris.
More than 2,600 No Kings Day rallies and events were planned across the county, including at the National Mall in Washington, the Boston Common, Westfield, West Springfield, Springfield, Ludlow, Amherst and Holyoke. In Ludlow, a crowd ringed Memorial Park for the event. In Northampton, crowds once again filled Pulaski Park as they for "No Kings" protests did in June.
In West Springfield, Paul Piotrowski recalled his days protesting the Vietnam War just outside the gates of what's now Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee.
"We're seeing the same militarization now," he said.
Saturday's events came after months of stepped-up immigration enforcement, budget cuts targeted at Democratic states like in Massachusetts and most recently a government shutdown now entering its fourth week.
Tracy Stancill, of West Springfield, at the NO KINGS protest on West Springfield's Town Common on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (Leon Nguyen Photo)Leon Nguyen
Norene Pease, of Easthampton, wore a Revolutionary-style three-corned hat to the "No Kings" event in Springfield at the corner of Boston Road and Parker Street.
"It's time we stop the insanity," she said., "I don't feel safe as a gay woman."
Nearby, protesters carried signs decrying aggressive tactics by immigration enforcement.
"I don't want to be next." she said.
Lori Tisdell, a member of Rise Up Western Massachusetts Indivisible, estimated there were more than 1,000 people on Boston Road Saturday afternoon.
The Boston Road intersection is one of the busiest places in Western Massachusetts on Saturday afternoon with shoppers hurriedly out doing errands.
"We thought it would be better to focus here than in super-liberal Northampton," she said. "We want to reach more people."
Including Trump supporters?
"Yes. Come talk to us," she said. "Hear what we have to say about what's going on with our country."
It was mostly car-horn honks of appreciation or recognition at West Springfield or Springfield Saturday.
The Springfield crowd cheered the city police car as it cruised the intersection a few times flashing its lights and chirping its siren.
In West Springfield, one pickup driver shouted "Vote Trump" and a few passersby yelled about "weirdos."
McKenna Kelly, clad in an inflatable chicken costume, danced a do-si-do at the West Springfield rally with a friend in an inflatable unicorn suit.
McKenna Kelly and her friend the unicorn at the NO KINGS protest on West Springfield's Town Common on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (Leon Nguyen Photo)Leon Nguyen
"It's to show that the protest is all done in good spirits," Kelly, of Indian Orchard, said. "Not the hate you might have heard about."
And the inflatables are in solidarity with protesters in Portland, Oregon and elsewhere who've adopted them, said her rainbow-tailed unicorn friend.
Tracy Stancill of West Springfield bought his George Washington costume for the protest.
"The original 'No Kings' guy," he said.
Dave Beturne's hat identified him as a Marine veteran of Vietnam. He said he doesn't like what he sees in the country right now.
"I was tired of sitting home and getting angry about it," the Hampden resident said. "I wanted to come out and do something about it."
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