During this nationwide “No Kings” protest on Saturday Oct. 18. people peacefully held signs and chanted “No kings!” and “This is what democracy looks like!” along with much honking from passing vehicles. While people were coming and going from 9 a.m. to noon, about 250 participants participated at the crowd’s height at the Route 20/27 intersection.Jean Milburn, one of the organizers from the First Parish Church in Wayland, said that she had 193 online registrations but more people simply showed up.
Here’s what some of the rally-goers had to say:
“I think that we need to start teaching more civics in our schools to understand what the Constitution really means, and that’s something that I think we all have to pay attention to, especially today, when all our laws are being threatened and people are being threatened to live under a dictatorship that none of us really want.”
“I think everybody knows why we’re out here. You know why? Because this is a dictatorship. It’s not an autocracy. It’s going right straight to a dictatorship. That’s why I am here.”
“We are vehemently in total disagreement with Trump’s policies with regard to immigration, the economy, free speech, and the use of troops in the cities and… painting this picture that they’re on fire.”
“We have to stand up to this fascism that they’re trying to enact in the government right now. We have to stand up for the rights, not only of ourselves, but of immigrants who are human beings that they’re treating like garbage. And bring some sanity back to this government.”
“This is my 78th birthday present to myself — it’s being here to help preserve democracy. I’m proud of being a part of this, but I’m proud that Wayland has as many people out here.”
“I am here today because I care deeply about this country. I love this country, and it breaks my heart to see the abuses that are happening. And I think that the people have the power, and we’re using our voices, as is our First Amendment right.”
