By Geena Monahan—For the North Star Reporter
In conjunction with hundreds of “No Kings” protests across Massachusetts on June 14, close to 70 people gathered in North Attleborough to rally against President Donald Trump’s administration.
Sign-holders assembled at the intersection of Route One and Elm Street with signs that read “Rejecting kings since 1776” and “Deport the guy with 34 felonies,” along with chants of “this is what democracy looks like.”
One protester, Alexandra Colacito, spoke of her years rallying for animal rights and participating in events for the Democratic Party as to why she decided to help organize one of the town’s first protests against the current administration. Colacito, who donned a red dress inspired by the drama “The Handmaid’s Tale,” described the event as “overwhelmingly positive,” citing hours of non-stop horn-honking from supporters driving by.
“We’re a town that is very loyal to its veterans, and we have a lot of history here, so I thought it was important for North Attleborough to speak out,” said Colacito. “He (Trump) is going down after today. We’re making all the difference.”
Standing near Colacito was Peter Brock, chair of the North Attleborough Democratic Town Committee, and state Sen. Paul Feeney, D-Foxboro, both of whom were impressed and encouraged by the turnout.
“This is the first real protest I’ve seen out here in the suburbs—you used to have to go to Boston or something to find one,” said Brock.
To Feeney, seeing such a large crowd turn out to exercise their First Amendment rights and join in on a movement was uplifting. Feeney said that at least three or four of the towns in Massachusetts that he represents are holding similar events today, and was planning on participating in Attleboro’s “No Kings” rally, which took place Saturday afternoon.
“We had a great showing today and I think it’s evidence that there’s a movement of people around this country, even right here in North Attleborough, that are fed up with the administration making decisions based on ego and corruption,” said Feeney. “People are out here trying to save democracy.”
According to the website nokings.org, the “No Kings” movement is a “nationwide day of defiance” that coincided with Trump’s military parade which took place in Washington D.C. on June 14, which is both Flag Day and the President’s 79th birthday.
“In America, we don’t do kings,” reads a message on the No Kings website. “On June 14th, we’re showing up everywhere he isn’t — to say no thrones, no crowns, no kings.”
Mike Banks and Kathy Murphy stood under umbrellas along Route One while “For What It’s Worth (Stop, Hey What’s That Sound)” by Buffalo Springfield played in the background as they held signs that read “Kidnapping children is not patriotic” and “No facism.”
Murphy hasn’t protested in over 50 years, and Banks said the last rally he attended was in protest of the Vietnam War during the Civil Rights Movement.
Banks said that one of his main concerns is the widespread deportations taking place under the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, along with corruption and illegal abuse of power at the White House.
“There’s just so many things, between spending tax dollars for a military parade and cutting the budget drastically for Medicaid and closing government offices that need to stay open, that puts us in jeopardy,” said Murphy as to why she came out today.
While the protest remained peaceful over two hours, towards the end of the event a man in a silver Subaru Forester stopped at the intersection to shout “you guys suck” and then chanting “Go Trump.” The rally-goers waved and smiled in response saying, “It’s all love.”
“Make no mistake about it, I think people are waking up and paying attention to an administration that’s trying to throw kids off of Medicaid, trying to eliminate healthcare, that’s sending Marines training for urban warfare into American cities,” said Feeney. “It’s just not democracy.”