Shouts echoed from Boston Commons as an estimated 200,000 chanted, “No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here.” The third “No Kings” protest was hosted by the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, Indivisible Mass Coalition and Mass 50501 on Saturday, March 28. It was held to address political issues such as the raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, reproductive health rights, transgender rights and general discontentment with the Trump administration.
The protest had a long line-up of speakers including Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Governor Maura Healey, Senator Ed Markey, Representative Ayanna Pressley and many others. There were also many entertainers, the likes of comedian Jimmy Tingle, BVOCAL Chorus, a union singing group, the Boston Area Brigade of Activist Musicians and the famous Boston band the Dropkick Murphys.
A Brookline parent who attended the “No Kings” protest and preferred to remain anonymous, said he has attended all three “No Kings” protests in Boston. He said he did not see all of the speakers, but he did hear Maura Healey, Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey.
“They are all politicians, but I thought they were the most charismatic because they know how to engage a crowd,” he said. “The power in a rally is energizing people and speeches that are compelling.”
Brookline resident and parent, Sarah Darghouth also attended the “No Kings” protest. Darghouth said that she enjoyed hearing the politicians, but a student voice stood out to her a little more.
“It was inspiring to hear from Marcelo Gomes Da Silva, a high school student from Milford who was detained by ICE, speaking out and advocating for the rights of others,” Darghouth said.
There was a broad range of ages, signs and even species there. Dogs could be seen with signs that read, “Sit, Stay, Protest.” Humans carried signs that said, “Joyful dissent is patriotic,” “Dear President, what hurts my neighbor hurts me,” “Republicans against Trump” and “Goon squads go home.”
Barbara, who only shared her first name and is a member of the grassroots group Support the Courts, came out to the “No Kings” protest. She said her group offers support to judges and their families who are being targeted by the government. According to Barbara, their goal is to make judges feel safe and valued in the country.
“We’re here because if they make judgments that the current administration doesn’t like, federal judges are threatened, their families are threatened. We don’t think that’s right because in a democracy, you need an independent judiciary,” Barbara said.
Kelly Griffin, a protester, said she felt very strongly about the importance of making a difference now because of how the present can affect future generations, hopefully for the better.
“[“No Kings”] means resisting and standing up for my children and their future,” Griffin said. “I won’t sit back and let the world suffer and sit quiet. This is a way for me to have a voice and my kids to have a voice.”
One man, Sean Lynch, was dressed as a naked king in a head-to-toe nude body suit with a gold crown on his head. He said the protest was aimed at the president and how he feels about Trump’s actions.
“I don’t think it’s about a king, it’s more about a tyrant, it’s about Trump,” Lynch said. “I’m just totally against this administration and everything they’re doing.”
According to the anonymous Brookline parent, “No Kings” means a plethora of things, including speaking up against attacks on people politically, socially and economically.
“To me, “No Kings” serves as a form of collective expression of upset and anger at Trump’s administration,” he said. “A collective push back against autocracy and suppression of speech, against immigrants, minorities, women and the LGBTQIA+ community.”
