‘People are powerful:’ No Kings protest draws 7,000 to Northampton

NORTHAMPTON — The nonstop activity of the Trump administration has not exhausted the creative energy of those who oppose him, with millions nationwide and thousands locally turning out Saturday for No Kings protests — the third national rally of President Donald Trump’s 14-month second term.

As in past rallies, costumes, signs, music and dancing dominated the landscape in Northampton were people lined the sidewalks from Main Street to Bridge Street, as well as from King Street to Pleasant Street, forming a massive “X” to symbolize no kings in the United States.

For many, the rally, which was twice as large as a similar one last October, served as a sort of group therapy.

“It’s just a way to find some solidarity and reset my faith in humanity,” said Bucky Sparkle, speaking at the Northampton standout. “You get soaked up in the news. It’s not about staying home and doomscrolling — spending time with congruent energies is helpful.”

Some in attendance said there wasn’t nearly enough room on their signs to list all of the policies and actions they oppose since the start of Trump’s second term.

Those decisions have fueled all three No Kings rallies. Last June, tariffs, Social Security cuts and other federal safety nets being stripped by Trump were a big concern.  In October, the Epstein files weren’t released. Now, after the invasions of both Iran and Venezuela, all these concerns and more culminated on Saturday with a record-breaking turnout nationwide.

Organizers estimate that Northampton’s No Kings 3 rally drew about 7,000 people lining the city’s main downtown arteries. Meanwhile, roughly 1,000 others gathered on the Amherst Town Common in the early afternoon to send a similar message against President Donald Trump and his administration.

The Hampshire County standouts, along with many others in municipalities up and down the Valley, coincided with more than 3,100 events in all 50 states on Saturday. U.S. organizers estimated that the first two rounds of No Kings rallies drew more than 5 million people in June and 7 million in October. They expected 9 million participants Saturday, though it was not clear whether those expectations were met, according to the Associated Press.  

Paul Wanta of Wendell said that he came out because he believes the country is being taken over by fascists and billionaires.

“It’s easy to get isolated. This is a way to register my issues with what’s happening in our country,” he said.

Keith Milney said, “Just like almost all of us here, I’m here to protest the most criminal, most unjust, most evil person I’ve ever seen who has somehow managed to once again become president of the United States — beyond my wildest dreams and imagination that could even be possible. I just cannot believe it.”

He added that Trump and his cabinet need to be held accountable for bombing Iran, taking oil from Venezuela and for the Trump family enriching themselves in the meantime.

“Just follow the money man,” he said.

Maya Norman returned to her hometown, Northampton, from Connecticut with her two young daughters. She fears for her daughters’ future since rights to abortion access and women’s health care are slipping away.

“We’re watching history repeat itself in front of our eyes. People ask, ‘How did the Holocaust possibly happen?’ Well, we’re seeing it happen in front of our very eyes,” she said.

Nessim Watson of South Deerfield said, “We’re all out here, where are you? It’s the right thing to do. It’s that simple. We’re all out here supporting the country and so should you.”

Evan Johnson, in Northampton, said, “The bottom line is this guy [Trump] is tearing apart what we’ve had for 250 years, and it has got to stop.”

Several state legislators also made their way out, including Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, D-Northampton, who talked with people on the Northampton sidewalks, Rep. Mindy Domb, D-Amherst, and Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton.

Domb, who spoke in Amherst, said the takeaway from the day is that, “we’re mobilizing a movement.”

“This is necessary so that we can come together, connect with each other, show that we’re not alone and then also get our marching orders,” she said.

Domb expects the Democratic Party to step up by the midterms.

“I think that this is an indication that people are unhappy with what’s going on right now, and very dissatisfied,” Domb said. “And we need to channel that into the November elections.”

Comerford said the big takeaway from the demonstrations is that, “people are powerful.”

“The movement is growing. We are resilient in our resistance, in our care for each other,” she said. “We will not stop until Donald Trump is vanquished and the values that we hold dear are guiding us. We’re not afraid of the man in the White House, nor are we asleep about the horror and devastation of what’s happening in Washington.”

Kevin Smith, who attended in Northampton, said that even more needs to be done.

“This is great. I love this, but we need to do more,” he said. “We need to like shut down for a weekend — hit the oligarchs where it hurts. Boycott Amazon. That guy [Jeff Bezos] doesn’t pay taxes.”

He also said that the Republican Party has swerved away from the party of former Republican President Dwight Eisenhower.

“He was more liberal than liberals are today,” he said.