Across the country 7 million people fed up with the Trump administration gathered to protest this cruel and corrupt regime.
The “No Kings” demonstrations took place in more than 2,700 cities and towns across every state in the union including even the reddest states.. A massive gathering in Boston and rallies all across the North Shore including Danvers that were part rally and part call to action for causes ranging from civil rights to climate change.
The protesters filled Boston Common with an estimated crowd of 125,000 people. Demonstrators filled the Common, standing shoulder to shoulder from Boylston to Beacon streets.
Locally, No Kings protests were also held in Beverly, Danvers, Middleton, Ipswich, Marblehead, Swampscott, and Gloucester. 250 people turned out in Middleton, hardly a Democrat stronghold as it typically votes Republican. Danvers rallied at the Route 114 rail trail bridge had over 400 people. They were packed on the bridge and stretched down each side of 114. Folks held signs, waved flags and were generally joyful but committed. The number of people honking their horns in approval was constant. At times, the sound was large and blaring. Naturally there were some who yelled Trump out their window or gave us the 1 finger salute but these were few. The enthusiasm carried over as our DanversDems LibertyFest event in teh evening was standing room only to listen o our elected officials.
Outside of the U.S., crowds gathered outside U.S. embassies in Berlin, Rome, Paris and Sweden in solidarity with the protesters in the U.S. Photos show them holding signs denouncing fascism and dictatorships.
Mr. Trump’s Republican Party disparaged the demonstrations as “Hate America” rallies, but the events looked more like a music festival. There were American flags, marching bands, huge banners with the U.S. Constitution’s “We The People” preamble that people could sign, and demonstrators wearing inflatable costumes, particularly frogs, which have emerged as a sign of resistance in Portland, Oregon.