More than 900 residents from surrounding towns and cities rallied Saturday afternoon on the Milford Oval to display their disagreement with the current administration’s threats to the U.S. Constitution and to honor the flag and our servicemen who have fought against tyranny for 250 years.
Local citizens chanted “No Kings!” and waved flags and posters to express their concern that Trump, acting like an unbridled monarch, continuously violates the protections afforded by the Constitution.
In addition to dozens of posters with the No Kings graphic, participants held signs with messages such as, “My Dad Fought Against Fascists,” “No Human is Illegal,” “The 5th Amendment: No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law” and “His Troops will take your neighbors, your friends, your children. Then they come for you.”
“It was inspiring to see so many Amherst residents turn out in support of democracy and the rule of law. The energy at the rally was peaceful and determined, a clear reminder that our communities still value fairness, decency, and accountability in public life. We’re going to keep that energy going and continue building on the message that we are, and will remain, a nation of laws, not kings,” said State Representative Dan Veilleux of Amherst, who attended the rally.
Pete Basiliere, the lead organizer for Indivisible.org event, said he was very pleased with the turnout of nearly a thousand — whose number was checked and double-checked — and the tone of the participants, on and off the oval. “The rally’s atmosphere was electric and peaceful,” said Basiliere. “Many passing vehicles honked their horns and, by the middle of the rally, had their own signs, implying the drivers and families made a point of coming by.”
A woman who hadn’t protested since the 2017 Women’s March in D.C., said it was time she threw herself back into demonstrating her concern for the country, even though she frequently writes letters and calls her representatives.
An Amherst resident who took up the charge said he was driven to bear witness for our historic civil rights and against creeping tyranny.
“Trump and his administration are not following the laws of the U.S., even when the judicial system says actions are illegal — such as deportation without due process,” said another Amherst participant. “The US Congress is not taking any steps to question the administration’s actions or to hold them accountable. So if the people’s representatives are not acting, the people must act.”
A Milford woman said she had been impacted deeply by the current administration: “What’s happening to my community brings up so much pain. I don’t feel safe, not just as an immigrant, but as a human being.” She exhorts all who can to take action for those who have already been resisting: “If you have a voice, use it. If you have safety, stand up. If you have power, speak out. I’ve carried this weight for a long time, but I can’t carry it alone anymore.”
Basiliere echoed the need for safeguarding our multiple rights for all: “The rally-goers are not protesters, they are protectors,” he said. “The huge No Kings turnout in small towns and large cities nationwide vividly demonstrates the fact Americans still stand up to—and fight against—tyrants.”
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