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Northampton Joins Nationwide No Kings Protest

As cities around the country hosted No Kings Protests, Amherst students participated in demonstrations in Amherst and Northampton. Assistant Opinion Editor Caroline Flinn ’28 documented the Pulaski Park action.

Protesters fill Pulaski Park in Northampton, raising their voices against authoritarianism during the nationwide “No Kings” demonstration. Photo courtesy of Caroline Flinn ’28.

On Saturday, Northampton filled with chants like “The people united will never be defeated” and “No Kings, No Thrones, Donald Trump has got to go.” The speeches blared from speakers, and later, drums echoed off brick walls in the street. Marchers waved handmade signs, various flags, and banners as they moved through downtown. The demonstration — part of the nationwide No Kings protests — drew crowds across the United States and internationally, totaling between 7 and 8 million people worldwide. In Northampton, organizers estimated 2,000 to 3,000 protesters converged at Pulaski Park and marched down Main Street, closing traffic.

Demonstrators march down Main Street in North Hampton chanting “No Kings, No Thrones." Photo courtesy of Caroline Flinn ’28.

The atmosphere was energetic and communal. Protest signs reflected a mix of humor, anger, and urgency: “No Kings, Just Democracy,” “Authoritarianism Ends Here,” “Trump Is Not Above the Law,” and “Silence = Consent.” There were humorous ones like “real men aren’t threatened by Sesame Street.” One older woman carried a sign that read “I’ve Protested Every Tyrant Since Nixon,” while a group of college students held a banner painted with “Make Fascists Afraid Again.”

Waves of marchers fill downtown Northampton, circling a group of people playing music and chanting. Photo courtesy of Caroline Flinn ’28.

Julian Montes-Sharp ’28 holds a handmade protest sign at Pulaski Park. Photo courtesy of Caroline Flinn ’28.

Children blew bubbles while their parents marched. A few dogs trotted along with cardboard placards strapped to their harnesses — one reading “Bark Against Tyranny.” Older residents marched beside students and young activists. People wore inflatable dinosaur costumes (the protest style started in Portland, Oregon, to decrease tensions and draw attention) or crowns made of tin foil. Communists carried red banners and handed out pamphlets, while a contingent of women dressed as handmaids from Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” stood silently — a visual protest against authoritarian control over women’s rights. Volunteers circulated through the crowd asking people to sign petitions or pledge to vote in upcoming local elections.

Young people were invited to address the crowd from the Pulaski Park platform. Photo courtesy of Caroline Flinn ’28.

At Pulaski Park, the rally began with speeches from local leaders and community members. Speakers addressed the crowd from a yellow tent, sharing their perspectives on civic engagement and the importance of participating in democracy. Student democracy and advocacy group leaders from surrounding colleges emphasized the role of young people in shaping the future, encouraging attendees to stay involved in local and national political processes.

Other speakers echoed similar sentiments. U.S. Representative Jim McGovern, State Senator Jo Comerford, Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, and several military veterans, among many others addressed the crowd, linking President Donald Trump’s rise and return to power to broader global patterns of authoritarianism.

Editor’s Note, Oct. 22, 2025: The author delivered a speech at the rally.