Amherst Turns Out to Support Democracy at No Kings 2.0

An estimated crowd of 2,500 filled the Amherst Town Common and lined the surrounding streets on October 18, as part of the No Kings 2.0 national day of protest of Donald Trump’s assault on democracy. The national turnout was estimated to be 7 million by event organizers and as high as 8.2 million by the Atlanta-based science newsroom The Xylom, making this protest the largest in the nation’s history, and exceeding the first No Kings on June 14, 2025 by at least 2 million. Precise counts are expected in the coming weeks.

Beyond the US there were demonstrations in 18 other countries including large turnouts in Montreal, Toronto, Paris, Rome, Copehangen, Stockholm. Madrid, London, and Zurich.

In Amherst, as around the nation, the event was festive and peaceful, with a joyful street party vibe, song, creative signage, dancing inflatables, a spirited defense of democracy, and a substantial number of American flags. Altogether No Kings offered a stark contrast with Trump’s charge that the events were sponsored by terror- supporting sympathizers who hate America. While Trump warned that the events would be characterized by violence and destruction that might require him to invoke the insurrection act, not a single arrest was reported in any of the cities hosting the largest demonstrations.

The Amherst event both began and ended with movement songs led by Lara Shepard-Blue and the Show Up Sing Out Singers and with enthusiastic participation from the assembled. The opening singing was followed by remarks from State Representative Mindy Domb and from U.S. Representative Jim McGovern who personally attended No Kings events in Haydenville, Hopkington, Northampton, and Worcester, and whose remarks in Amherst were delivered by aide Jon Niedzielski.

*The Show Up and Sing Out Singers opened and concluded the Amherst No Kings 2.0 rally on October 18, 2025. Photo: Art Keene*

Domb exhorted the crowd to stay involved and build solidarity, reminding them that we are all threatened by the anti-democatic actions of the Trump regime. She said “You know what they say about Amherst. Only the H is silent. So this is our time. And here’s what we are going to do. We are not going to be provoked into violence. We are not going to contribute in any way to justify further militarization of our cities. We are angry and we are not afraid. ….We have each other and we are not alone. We will not let them mischaracterize this protest or any protest for any reason as insurrection because if they want an example of insurrection – we have one – January 6. We will not let them confuse our right to peaceably assemble with insurrection. We will not stand by and do nothing as they attempt to rewrite our history, erase our friends and family and kidnap and disappear our friends and neighbors.” She went on to urge people to action.

McGovern called on people to rise up and defend democracy with words that echoed the Declaration of Independence. His remarks are excerpted below. (read his complete remarks here)
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“A lot of scary things are happening in our country. The news is overwhelming. It’s suffocating. People are afraid. But seeing today’s rallies gives me hope. Hope that we will not sit back and let this administration dismantle our democracy. Hope that we will not stand by while this president tramples on our rights.

Because today, we are standing shoulder to shoulder to proclaim a simple American truth:

That we are a nation of laws. That our freedom is not up for debate. And that in this country we are not–and we will never be—ruled by a king. …

This President has made a mockery of the rule of law—arresting his political opponents while pardoning the traitors who orchestrated an insurrection on January 6^th, 2021.

He’s threatened to turn the might of our own military against us, calling his fellow Americans “the enemy within.”

He’s deployed troops to our cities, not to defend freedom, but to intimidate us on our own soil.

He seethes with revenge against his own people—cancelling federal projects to punish whole states like Massachusetts for having the audacity to vote against him.

He’s unleashed masked agents who use gestapo tactics to rip apart and destroy families—violating U.S. and international law by deporting people to overseas gulags where they face torture or even death.

He’s undermined our institutions to the point of irrelevance—propping up a spineless speaker who aids and abets his tyranny by canceling Congress in the middle of a crisis.

He’s stacked our Supreme Court with sycophants who have given him immunity for whatever crimes he commits.

And he has usurped power that is not his—ignoring Congress, flouting court orders, and declaring that his word alone is the law.

These are the actions of a sick man. Someone who stands for nothing but his own greed and power… and who exploits his office to line his pockets at our expense.

And I believe it is our duty as Americans to rise up and peacefully resist this administration with all our heart, all our soul, and all our strength.

This country was born in revolution, nurtured in protest, and strengthened by dissent.

From the abolitionists who refused to accept slavery. To the suffragists who refused to be silenced. To the workers who demanded a living wage. To the civil rights heroes who faced down the water cannons—and the protesters at Stonewall who demanded equality.

Each generation has been called upon to ensure that the flame of liberty is passed down to the next.

And each new generation has found strength in the idea that patriotism is not just about pledging allegiance to the flag and tying a yellow ribbon around an old oak tree.

True patriotism—true loyalty—true allegiance means calling this country to a higher standard.

That’s why this is not only about what we fight against—but what we stand for.

We need people to understand that the last guardrail of this democracy is us. We need them to understand that when the branches of government fail, the roots must hold, or the tree will fall.

We are the roots. This fight is our fight. And our presence here today is a symbol of our strength—and a sign to this administration that we will not go gentle into that good night.

We will resist. We will persist. And I can promise you this: as your Congressman, I will NEVER bow down to a king.

I will NEVER bow down to a man who sees us not as fellow citizens…but as subjects.

And as long as we stand together—as long as we refuse to bow down—we will have no kings in America.

Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.

*Signs extolling America’s democratic traditions and values were plentiful at Amherst’s No Kings 2.0 rally on October 18, 2025. Photo: Art Keene*

After the Rally
The rally lasted about an hour and was followed by an informal dance party on the common. Many of those who had crowded onto the common joined those lining North Pleasant Street, Main Street, and Route 9, holding up signs, and waving to passing motorists and receiving a lot of enthusiastic responses in return.

Many in the crowd visited the welcome tables, staffed by Indivisible with information on how to get involved with ongoing resistance efforts.

Event organizer Miriam DeFant, deemed the rally a success, saying:

“We are very pleased with how successful this event was. It was a true group effort, with us borrowing skills and great ideas from several activist groups and a small army of volunteers. The Town of Amherst was great. The police were very helpful. We even had a coalition of UMass student groups who organized for this event, many bringing their visiting parents along for the ride. The music and singing was uplifting and energizing. The speakers were all spot on and highlighted the state of emergency our democracy is facing.”

DeFant expressed special gratitude to Lara Shepard-Blue and the Show Up Sing Out Singers and to Melissa Giraud from Amherst Indivisible-Pokeberry. Amherst

No Kings South Amherst
About 150 people, mostly residents of the Applewood retirement community, lined both sides of Bay Road in front of Applewood in South Amherst to stand up for democracy and protest Trump’s authoritarianism. Joined by State Rep. Mindy Domb, the group chanted, “Show me what democracy looks like – this is what democracy look like”, as passing cars waved and tooted horns in support.