Winchester and Medford residents gather for third 'No Kings' rally

By: Crystal Yormick and Tavishi Chattopadhyay | Correspondents

Dozens of people gathered Saturday morning in Winchester for the third “No Kings” event to protest President Trump’s policies, reject authoritarianism and defend constitutional rights.

The number of people who participated nationwide was still being calculated on March 28, but there were over 3,200 organized events throughout the country, with more than 160 in Massachusetts alone. Protests also spread across the globe to major cities like London and Tokyo.

Winchester’s event, which drew residents of Medford and surrounding towns, began at 10:30 a.m. with a walk toward town called Neighbors Join In. Protesters gathered in three locations — the First Congregational Church, Bellino Park and Riverwalk Sculpture Park — before heading into town.

The walkers then met other protesters who had already gathered in downtown Winchester. Participants held signs with phrases like “Fight Fascism,” “Democracy Not Autocracy” and “We the People No Kings.”

At Bellino Park, Rebecca Slisz, executive director of the Network for Social Justice and a hub leader for the Neighbors Join In walk, went over safety reminders and encouraged protesters not to respond to negative comments.

For about two hours, protesters spread across the Winchester Unitarian Society’s lawn and on the sidewalks across from the building and in the surrounding area.

IndivisibleWIN, the Winchester chapter of the national nonprofit founded in response to Trump administration policies, sponsored the event, which was aided by the Winchester Unitarian Society.

The Rev. Maeve Kieran Hammond, a 29-year-old associate pastor of the First Congregational Church, gave a blessing to the group gathered in front. She joined the rally to follow the same ideals that call her to her faith.

“We strongly believe in the call that Jesus gives us that we can’t serve two masters,” Hammond said. “Participating in this rally is a representation of our faith.”

The Network for Social Justice, a nonprofit dedicated to creating systemic change in Winchester, handed out information about immigration issues and rights. The League of Women Voters of Winchester table helped protesters register to vote, and IndivisibleWIN had a table informing people about the protest and directed people to voter registration packets that would be sent to Georgia voters.

Members of Mystic Mashup, a local chapter of the national Indivisible movement covering the Mystic Valley area, joined protesters at the Boston Common, where about 100,000 people were expected to show up. Leader Sue Edelman said she expected 3.5% of the population would participate in Saturday’s protests.

Research from the Harvard Kennedy School’s Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights found in 2019 that nonviolent protests that have engaged 3.5% of the population have never failed to bring about change.

Why they came out

People said they joined for a variety of reasons, including standing up for future women and marginalized communities, being around like-minded individuals and making legislators aware of their frustration.

Other protesters said they showed up because they want to save democracy, they’re appalled at what is happening in the country and they had “no choice.”

Slisz said she protested because it is “foundational” not to diminish local action and because she is as concerned about the next generation as she is about her own.

“What happens here in our communities has such a big impact on our lives and the lives of people we care about,” Slisz said.

Two siblings, Eli and Ruby, accompanied their parents, who wanted their children to be identified only by their first names.

“America doesn’t have kings,” Eli said.

“The only reason America was invented was because they didn’t want kings,” Ruby said.

At the beginning of the rally, Sierra Scott, a junior at Winchester High School, read the preamble of the Constitution before handing the microphone to state Rep. Michael Day, the event’s emcee.

Speakers such as Maria Theresa Nagel, director of the Immigration Affairs office in Somerville, Rev. Seth Carrier-Ladd, a minister at Winchester Unitarian Society, and Mei Wu, a sophomore at Tufts University and an alumnus of Winchester High School, took to the stage to deliver speeches.

In between speakers, there were often chants. A speaker would say, “Show me what democracy looks like,” to which the crowd would respond, “This is what democracy looks like.”

Performers Willie T & Doctor X performed their original song “No Kings.” Later, Nick Lees performed Jesse Welles’ “Sometimes You Bomb Iran” and two other songs.

Amy Boss, a Winchester resident, protested with her young daughter. Boss — who is a teacher at Lexington Montessori School, where her daughter also attends — said the No Kings protest reinforces the same values the school teaches of accepting people and taking care of neighbors and the community. She wanted to show her daughter what a community looks like when it comes together.

Frank Virnelli, a Winchester resident, said he found it satisfying that there are millions of people who share his strong feelings about the “disaster going on in Washington [D.C.].”

Medford resident Patricia Egan said she protested because she wants to prevent people from being drafted into an “unjust war,” to support immigrants like her grandparents, and to see Trump impeached. She said she didn’t see as many children or families at this protest as the last one she went to in the fall.

Protesters said they felt positive about the turnout and the protest. Danielle Allen, who ran for governor in 2022, said the event had a “beautiful crowd,” and she hopes people understand that they need a government that's “by the people” and “for the people.”

Crystal Yormick and Tavishi Chattopadhyay are journalism students at Boston University. This story is part of a partnership between Gotta Know Medford and the Boston University Department of Journalism.