“No Kings 2” at North Bridge was fun and inspiring!

7 million nationwide said “No King. Yes Constitution!”

On October 18, across America, over 7 million people showed up to peacefully protest Trump’s authoritarian actions. It was the largest single-day protest in U.S. history.

At our rally, speakers urged the enthusiastic crowd approaching 3,000 to draw inspiration from the patriots who once resisted tyranny at the nearby Old North Bridge — and to channel that spirit in today’s fight for freedom and justice.

“Every act of resistance matters,” declared Substack writer Robert Hubbell.

Carol Rose, executive director of the ACLU of Massachusetts, reminded us that “democracy is a muscle — the more you flex it, the stronger it gets.”

State Senator Mike Barrett named the “two antidotes to tyranny”: “stand up and stand together.”

State Rep. Simon Cataldo vowed: “We are not giving up our rights — or anyone else’s.”

And Rev. Andrew Harris urged that at this moment “where shared past and shared future meet,” we must cry out “no more!”

Several speeches linked the sacrifices of earlier generations to the present moment. Emcee Jimmy Tingle asked if contemporary immigrants, now subject to ICE’s cruelties, were “not modern day Pilgrims?”

Hubbell invoked the courage and persistence of the Civil Rights movement as an example for the present day: “We must be brave and be bold despite our fears.”

And Nikki Turpin, co-President of Robbins House, called for the perseverance of the Robbins family and the courage of the Minutemen at the bridge. “Ask yourself a question: What you would have done back then? Then change it: What are you doing now?”

The rally also spotlighted concrete ways to act. Rose urged support for democracy defenders like Concord Indivisible, NAACP, ACLU, League of Women Voters, and Common Cause. And all the speakers echoed one key refrain: Keep showing up!

Danielle Allen of Harvard and Partners in Democracy summed up with a 5-point plan for “How to Have No Kings”:

1. Litigation
2. Elections
3. Showing Up
4. Mutual Aid
5. Save Congress (reduce polarization by replacing single party primaries with a general)

Former Ambassador Rufus Gifford reminded us: “We will show up, because we love America. We are not going away, because we love America.”

Finally, Emma’s Revolution and Tingle (on harmonica) sent us home with “Amazing Grace,” and Diane Proctor left us with the charge that defines our movement: Take action.

Watch a great recording of the rally by MMN.

And check out our recommended follow-up action.

The photos below are by Maia Kennedy Photography. You can find them, and many more, on Maia’s website — and buy high-res versions if you like.

Some more photos, by comms guy Jeff.