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A crowd of more than 800 people gathered in front of the Winchester Unitarian Society church on Oct. 18 for a second No Kings Day rally.
Protestors with signs and banners gathered at 478 Main St. early in the morning to “push back against authoritarian threats to democratic values,” according to Indivisible Winchester’s (IndivisibleWIN) press release announcing the event.
A similar rally in June drew about 400 plus protestors to the same spot in Winchester. About 5 million people nationwide joined the June protests.
On Saturday, about 2,700 No Kings events were planned across all 50 states to protest the administration of President Donald Trump. Winchester residents were joined by people from other communities, including members of Indivisible LAB (Lexington, Arlington, Bedford and beyond).
IndivisibleWIN stated that June’s protest affirmed “that democracy belongs to the people — not to one ruler or one party — and to send a powerful message of resistance against the erosion of democratic norms under the current administration.”
“We were inspired by the energy and commitment of our neighbors who turned out in June,” said Kim Whittaker, treasurer of Indivisible Winchester, in a statement before the rally. “On Oct. 18, we’ll gather again — louder, prouder, and determined to show that residents of Winchester and beyond believe our democracy is under threat and we are committed to protecting our norms and institutions.”
The nokings.org website estimated that more than 7 million people joined in all the rallies “to say: America has no kings, and the power belongs to the people.”
What’s next?
On Monday, Oct. 20, join Indivisible Winchester for “Activism That Works!” at the Winchester Public Library, 80 Washington St., from 6 to 7:30 p.m., and learn how your activism can be more effective and impactful!
This 90-minute session will combine theory and real-world examples to help you understand what works best in social activism today. The conversation will focus on:
• Identifying primary and secondary targets of advocacy efforts
• Building alliances with unlikely partners and engaging passive supporters
• Creating culturally resonant and creative tactics to energize your campaigns
Led by two experienced social justice activists and scholars, Betsy Leondar-Wright, PhD and Anne Wright, this workshop encourages active participation, critical thinking, and practical application of strategies for meaningful change.
On Tuesday, Oct. 21, nokings.org will host a virtual meeting from 8-9 p.m., eastern time, to “celebrate what we accomplished, and learn about what’s next.”
Click here to register.
Winchester News was onsite during the Oct. 18 rally. Check back for more coverage as the week goes on.
Nell Escobar Coakley has been a journalist for more than 30 years. She is co-founder and editor-in-chief of Gotta Know Medford and editor of Winchester News. She can be reached at editor@winchesternews.org.
