‘No Kings’ Protest Draws Crowd for Protest
- Rae Loomis
- Oct 18
- 2 min read
Written by: Rae Loomis
Fall River, MA— While thousands gathered in Boston and Providence for a second wave of protests against what many Americans see as the country’s shift toward authoritarianism, residents of smaller communities like Fall River, Massachusetts, organized to make their voices heard.
Fall River saw at least a hundred people gather along William Canning Boulevard, some dressed in inflatable costumes, with others wielding drums, whistles, cowbells, trumpets, trombones, and tambourines. Protesters carried signs with messages ranging from “No Kings” to “Make Orwell Fiction Again,” but the main sentiment displayed was love for the country. American flags dominated the crowd, hung from signs and waved enthusiastically at passing motorists.
Volunteer organizations also came to encourage the protesters and to rally support. One volunteer went from person to person collecting signatures for various ballot initiatives, including rent control and allowing incarcerated felons to continue voting, while cars honked in the background.
The protests are seen as a particularly significant statement in a city that voted predominantly Republican in 2024 for the first time in decades. (Sherman, 2024)
“I wanted to use my freedom while I still have it,” one volunteer said when asked why she came to protest. “Knowing that [my kids] actually have fewer rights than me really hurts. I want to change that for my kids and for future generations. Because everyone should have the right to live and pursue happiness in this country.”
While committed to protesting, she requested to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation from her employer. “Right now they are trying to target people based on political ideology. It’s a shame. We should be judged on our abilities, knowledge, or success. But now they’re being targeted for not being loyalists.”
Another volunteer, a friend of one of the organizers, explained their view on those who are afraid to attend. “In response to people being fearful about standing up and joining ranks with other like-minded individuals for democracy, I’ll say this: you can be afraid, but don’t go back.”
Community pushback did occur. Pro-Trump protesters marched through groups of ‘No Kings’ attendees carrying ‘Trump 2024’ flags, while passing motorists shouted pro-Trump sentiments at attendees. But discourse remained largely civil. Organizers diffused tense situations, and the protest maintained an air of respect for the entirety of the two-hour-long event.
Sherman, E. (2024, November 6). Fall River votes republican for the first time in decades as trump surges in
Bristol County. WPRI.Com. Retrieved October 18, 2025, from
trump-surges-in-bristol-county/.
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