Demonstrators pack Newton Centre Green for “No Kings” protest

Upwards of 2,000 protesters filled Newton Centre Green on Saturday, October 18, for the second No Kings demonstration condemning the policies of the Trump Administration. The rally was one of more than 2,700 held nationwide, with organizers estimating roughly seven million participants across the country.  

The Newton event was organized by Newton Indivisible, a local chapter of a grassroots movement dedicated to electing progressive leaders, rebuilding democracy, and defeating “the Trump agenda.”

Sen. Markey fires up the crowd

Senator Ed Markey opened the event with a fiery call to defend democracy, invoking Massachusetts’ revolutionary past and urging residents to “stand up and fight the White House.”

“We live in the birthplace of democracy,” Markey said. “It all began here 250 years ago, and it is good to be here together in this moment, because it is a moment that demands truth. It demands truth about corruption, truth about greed, truth about injustice, truth about hate.”

Markey accused President Trump of concentrating power “in the hands of too few,” calling him “a walking, talking Constitutional crisis every day that he is in the White House.” He cited recent mass deportations of immigrants as well as attacks on educators and marginalized communities. From abolition to women’s suffrage to marriage equality, Markey drew on Massachusetts’ history of social movements throughout his speech to frame the crusade against Trump. 

“They got knocked down, but they were not knocked out,” he said. “They got up, they fought, they won.” 

He concluded by pledging solidarity with marginalized groups such as members of the LGBTQ+ community and rallying the crowd to action.

“Massachusetts will not be occupied by Donald Trump,” he said. “We do not coronate, we liberate. We do not agonize, we organize.” 

Before Sen. Markey took the stage, Jenny A., a Newton resident, told Fig City News she joined the protest out of fear of what she described as “authoritarian rule.” 

“I am really scared by how so many people are being treated in our country,” she said. 

Echoes of history

Virginia Lee and Amanda Ridgefield said they came to the event out of concern for the country’s direction and outrage over Trump’s treatment of immigrants. 

“The entire situation of our government—Donald Trump and the unspeakable carnage that ICE is putting on our people,” Lee said. 

Her friend Amanda Ridgefield, who grew up in Newton, said the moment feels existential. “If we’re not here, then we’re complicit,” she said. 

Ridgefield drew on her family’s experience fleeing Hungary during a Soviet Union takeover to underscore her fears. 

“My parents survived Europe,” she said. “They fled from one day to the next and came to the United States. If they were alive today, my mother would shake her head and say ‘There’s nothing new,’ but they would be so disappointed.”

Ridgefield added that Congress must “stop sitting around and doing nothing” and “take back the checkbook.”

Craig McPherson, a retired cardiologist from Newton, stood by Centre street as cars driving by honked in support of the demonstration. 

“Our democracy is clearly dissolving because of Donald Trump and the people who are mindlessly following him,” McPherson said. 

McPherson’s father served in the Navy in World War II. “He would be rolling over in his grave to see what’s happening now,” McPherson said. 

McPherson called Massachusetts a “Democratic bubble,” but said protests nationwide are essential. 

“The Republicans in Congress have got to grow some spine and stand up for what they all pledged to defend, which is our democracy and the Constitution,” McPherson said.

Protesting through humor

Bonnie and David Rind drew smiles as Bonnie was wearing an inflatable zebra costume.  It was difficult to hear Bonnie behind the plastic veil of the costume, so David explained to Fig City News the choice for the costume. 

“This is in solidarity with the inflatable animal costumes that have been dealing with ICE in other parts of the country,” David said. 

A cohort of protesters wore inflatable frog costumes in Portland, Oregon, calling themselves the Portland Frog Brigade as a way to protest through absurdity and humor. 

“We are keeping it safe, peaceful, and humorful, versus the hateful administration’s response,” Bonnie said. 

Judge Gertner’s call to action

After the standout concluded, more speakers stepped into the circle of protesters. 

Former U.S. Federal Judge Nancy Gertner, now a Harvard Law professor, told the crowd she was warned to “keep my head down” when she was a judge. She condemned the Trump administration’s “rogue” behavior and assault on democratic institutions. 

“I am not a Marxist. I am not Antifa. I don’t even know what the hell you are talking about. I am an American,” she said as the crowd cheered. 

Gertner said the current crisis reminded her why dissent is essential. 

“This is a country where you have to exercise your right to dissent,” she said. “Resistance is what this country is about.”

Ed Dube, a social studies teacher, union organizer, and veteran, spoke to the crowd,  urging people to keep calling their local representatives until they take action. 

“We’re all activists,” he said. “We’re going to keep doing this until we push back enough that we can take back our government.”

Two representatives from LUCE Immigration Justice Network of Massachusetts described recent raids in Brighton, Allston, Waltham, and other Massachusetts municipalities. They mentioned the detention of a mother outside Brighton High School on her way to drop off her child and a 13-year-old boy taken from Everett to Virginia without his family’s knowledge.

At the center of the planning for the protest was Nadine Cohen, one of the lead organizers with Newton Indivisible, who said she was moved by the scale and spirit of the turnout.

“It was just a fabulous showing of so many people who are fed up with what our government is doing and who want to show their opposition in a peaceful, nonviolent way,” Cohen said.