By Beth David, Editor
A steady rain did not stop about 2,000 people from showing up to a “No Kings” protest on Saturday, 6/14/25, a day that also saw an assassination of a sitting state lawmaker in Minnesota and her husband; and the attempted assassination of another Minn. lawmaker and his wife.
The protest was part of a nationwide effort to shine a light on President Donald Trump’s brutal tactics against immigrants, and disregard for the rule of law. The Trump administration has snatched people off the street without due process and sent them to detention centers, including a notoriously harsh prison in El Salvador, claiming they are all violent criminals. But most of the people taken have no criminal records and were taken as they traveled to and from their immigration appointments, which means they had authorization to be in the country and they were following the rules. Many have not had access to lawyers or court proceedings or told the charges against them.
Under the Trump administration, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents wear masks and do not identify themselves.
The administration has also ignored many court rulings against Trump’s numerous power grabs.
Groups around the country have sprung up alongside established civil rights groups to stop the administration’s brutal tactics of ripping people from their families, off the streets, and stripping them of their legal status for no reason or dubious reasons.
The president also ordered the National Guard to protests in Los Angeles against the wishes of the mayor and governor; and has ordered Marines to combat protesters on US soil in Los Angeles and other cities. The constitution expressly prohibits the use of the military for police actions on US soil.
Saturday’s protests were organized by a number of groups. In Fairhaven, the Town Democratic Committee took the lead and held the demonstration at Fairhaven High School, where they have been holding protests and visibilities during the past few months.
Signs on Saturday ran the gamut from funny to serious, to wordplays, to profanity: Deport the despot; No Crown for a Clown; Hate won’t make America great; The Constitution is not a suggestion; Too much shit for one sign; Stop terrorizing children; Make American think again; No autocracy in our democracy; Liberty not monarchy; Rejecting kings since 1776.
Pat Parker of Freetown said she came to Fairhaven because Freetown did not have a protest. She wanted to stand up for people whose lives are being disrupted for no reason.
“We all have friends and neighbors who maybe were not born here, but this is their country,” she said.
“I think Trump is awful,” said Adam Oliveira of Dartmouth. “I like what this stands for: no kings. This is a place for people who want to stand against Trump and I really appreciate it.”
“We got rid of the king,” said Herb Foisy of Dartmouth. “There are no kings in America.”
Vietnam Veteran, Paul Ducey of Fairhaven, wore a shirt that said “I’m a veteran, not a sucker or a loser,” in reference to a statement Trump reportedly made about veterans who were killed in war.
Mr Ducey said Trump is “acting like a dictator.”
“I went to war for my rights,” he said. “I took an oath to the constitution that was written to get rid of the king of England.”
Mr. Ducey said that Trump has been going after veterans because his family has no history of service, not himself, not his father, not his sons.
“He has a disrespect for veterans that we have never seen,” he said.
Kelly Freitas of Rochester said she was there because she was feeling lonely among family members who still support Trump. She wanted to feel a sense of community with people who are like minded.
“I have a little spark back in me,” she said, adding that she grew up Catholic and was taught to be kind, caring, and have empathy. “Not just if they look like you, not just if they are well off.”
Several people asked that their names not be used because they were afraid of repercussions at work or with family.
“I’m here just to support the people with no voice,” said one woman.
“We are very concerned,” said David Schutt. “I have never seen anything like it and I’m in my seventies.”
“We’re fighting for the future of our children and grandchildren,” said his wife, Sandy.
Organizer Ann Richard, of the Fairhaven Democratic Town Committee, said the turnout was “amazing.” She compared crowd size to their last biggest turnout, which was 850. She said this one, with the lines stretching from Middle Street to the football field on both sides of Route 6, around the corners at Main Street, and several deep on the high school side, was easily twice as large.
She also said that lots of people left when the rain started, but then others showed up.
“We’re very pleased with the turnout,” she said. “It was very peaceful, with people dancing and having fun.”
There was a DJ playing music, and a little speechmaking at the beginning, said Ms. Richard.
State Rep. Mark Sylvia, said his family members were worried after what happened in Minnesota. He said he went to talk to people, to hear their concerns on a number of issues.
“People are getting fed up and they should,” said Judith Lavoie. “The numbers are growing.”
Visit https://www.nokings.org/ to see a livestream of events around the country and the flagship event in Philadelphia.
The Fairhaven Town Democratic Committee meets the last Wednesday of the month. Find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FHVNdems/
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- Some of the approximately 1500–2000 protesters line the sidewalk and lawn in front of Fairhaven High School in the rain on Saturday, 6/14/25, joining nationwide “No Kings” demonstrations to protest President Donald Trump’s disregard for due process for immigrants and his blatant disregard for the rulings of the courts. Photo by Beth David.
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- Some of the approximately 1500–2000 protesters line the sidewalk and lawn in front of Fairhaven High School in the rain on Saturday, 6/14/25, joining nationwide “No Kings” demonstrations to protest President Donald Trump’s disregard for due process for immigrants and his blatant disregard for the rulings of the courts. Photo by Beth David.
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- L-R: Peter and Denise Arsenault are among the approximately 1500–2000 protesters lining the sidewalk and lawn in front of Fairhaven High School in the rain on Saturday, 6/14/25, joining nationwide “No Kings” demonstrations to protest President Donald Trump’s disregard for due process for immigrants and his blatant disregard for the rulings of the courts. Photo by Beth David.
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- L-R: Bob and Ann Espindola are among the approximately 1500–2000 protesters lining the sidewalk and lawn in front of Fairhaven High School in the rain on Saturday, 6/14/25, joining nationwide “No Kings” demonstrations to protest President Donald Trump’s disregard for due process for immigrants and his blatant disregard for the rulings of the courts. Photo by Beth David.
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- Herb Foisy holds three signs showing demonstrations at a protest which drew approximately 1500–2000 protesters to line the sidewalk and lawn in front of Fairhaven High School in the rain on Saturday, 6/14/25, joining nationwide “No Kings” demonstrations to protest President Donald Trump’s disregard for due process for immigrants and his blatant disregard for the rulings of the courts. Photo by Beth David.
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- A group displays their signs for the local free sheet at the end of the protest that drew approximately 1500–2000 protesters to Fairhaven High School in the rain on Saturday, 6/14/25, joining nationwide “No Kings” demonstrations to protest President Donald Trump’s disregard for due process for immigrants and his blatant disregard for the rulings of the courts. Photo by Beth David.
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- Paul Ducey wears a t-shirt that says “I’m a Veteran, not a sucker or a loser,” at a protest which drew approximately 1500–2000 protesters to line the sidewalk and lawn in front of Fairhaven High School in the rain on Saturday, 6/14/25, joining nationwide “No Kings” demonstrations to protest President Donald Trump’s disregard for due process for immigrants and his blatant disregard for the rulings of the courts. Photo by Beth David.
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- A woman holds a sign saying removing the dictator is “priceless” at a protest which drew approximately 1500–2000 protesters to line the sidewalk and lawn in front of Fairhaven High School in the rain on Saturday, 6/14/25, joining nationwide “No Kings” demonstrations to protest President Donald Trump’s disregard for due process for immigrants and his blatant disregard for the rulings of the courts. Photo by Beth David.
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- Some of the approximately 1500–2000 protesters line the sidewalk and lawn in front of Fairhaven High School in the rain on Saturday, 6/14/25, joining nationwide “No Kings” demonstrations to protest President Donald Trump’s disregard for due process for immigrants and his blatant disregard for the rulings of the courts. Photo by Beth David.
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