Hundreds gather for No Kings protest in Orange

ORANGE — Sporting signs condemning Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the war in Iran, federal budget cuts and a variety of other issues, an estimated 600 people showed up for a No Kings protest along South Main Street on Saturday.

The protest, organized by Indivisible North Quabbin, was scheduled from 11 a.m. to noon, but protesters were showing up at 10:30 to express their displeasure with the Trump administration. About two dozen people were recruited by organizers as “peacekeepers” in preparation for any problems that might arise. The demonstration, however, remained peaceful from start to finish.

“We’re losing our democracy,” said Gail Parella of Orange, adding that this was her first time taking part in a protest. “It’s everything, a whole combination of everything that’s going on right now. I’m from around here and I’m tired of seeing things go downhill.”

Parella’s daughter, 20-year-old Abby Eknaian, said this was also her first time as a protest participant.

“I think we’re losing our democracy,” Eknaian echoed. “There’s no humanity anymore, everyone is so unkind. He was supposed to be an anti-war president and now we’re having wars.”

Templeton resident Beverly Bartolomeo said she made the effort to show up, “Because of the fact that Trump is dangerous. People treat him like he’s OK, but he’s sick. He’s probably the most dangerous person in the world right now. I’m so afraid for the future, for my grandchildren and the kids growing up in this country.”

Bartolomeo was accompanied by her husband, Frank Bart, who said they took part in a protest in the run-up to the war in Iraq in 2002. He also took part in the 1969 Vietnam War Moratorium in Boston, he said, and now opposes the war in Iran.

Athol resident Ann Willhite said she was taking part in her first political protest.

“I’ve reached the age where I’m just so concerned about the future for my daughter’s generation, for my grandchildren,” she said. “It’s terrifying. What’s going on in the country right now is absolutely terrifying. If there’s another protest, I will definitely be here again.”

Opponents of the Trump administration were not the only ones making their presence known along South Main Street. A single counter-demonstrator, sporting a Donald Trump mask and a megaphone, joined the hundreds of anti-Trump demonstrators. The man walked back and forth from one end of the protest to the other, criticizing immigrants, liberals, the LGBTQ community, as well as U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Gov. Maura Healey. He declined to identify himself or speak with a reporter. 

Still, his string of complaints didn’t seem to bother the demonstrators, who cheered with every passing vehicle that honked in agreement with their standout.

When noon rolled around, much of the crowd gathered at the First Universalist Church on North Main Street for musical entertainment and to discuss strategies for getting more involved in the No Kings movements, rapid response activities in reaction to ICE operations and preparations for the 2026 mid-term elections.