Protestors fill the plaza in front of the United States Federal Court House on State Street in Springfield.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
SPRINGFIELD — About 2,000 people gathered in front of the United States Federal Court House on State Street in Springfield on June 14 to protest the actions of President Donald Trump. The protest, dubbed “No Kings,” was part of a coordinated group of actions in more than 1,800 cities and towns across the country.
The protests coincide with a military parade in Washington D.C., with a stated purpose of honoring the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army. However, critics of the president say the parade, estimated to cost between $25 million and $45 million, is to celebrate Trump’s birthday, which also fell on June 14.
“Flag Day and the Army’s birthday are incredibly important, but using tanks and troops as props in a birthday celebration sends the wrong message,” Beth Lev from Indivisible Northampton said in a press release ahead of the protest. “We believe patriotism looks like voting, organizing, and standing up for the Constitution, not militarized pageantry.”
The protest was jointly organized by activist organizations Rise Up Western Mass Indivisible, Indivisible Northampton/Swing Left Western Mass, Defending Democracy of Hampden County and Northampton Resists.
People lined both sides of State Street, from Springfield Central Library to School Street, while police kept traffic flowing on the busy thoroughfare. Amid a constant chorus of vehicles honking in support and chants from protestors, staff for U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Cambridge) and Ed Markey (D-Malden) read statements on their behalf. Speeches were given by local activists, including retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. John Paradis, state Sen. Adam Gomez (D-Springfield) and Springfield City Councilor Zaida Govan.
“We don’t have kings in this country,” Govan told the crowd, sharing that her ancestors were Taino, Native Americans who lived in what is now Puerto Rico. She railed against the legal, healthcare and financial systems that do not care about the people and called for the abolition of the electoral college and an end to rules ushered in by the Citizens’ United Supreme Court decision that corporations can be considered people for the purpose of free speech.
Reminder Publishing photos by Sarah Heinonen
“This administration thinks we’ve gone too far. I say, we haven’t gone far enough,” Govan proclaimed. She ended her remarks by leading protestors in a chant of “justice for all.”
Gomez told the protestors, “Don’t be spectators.” He urged them to volunteer, register voters and help immigrant neighbors. “When we come together, nothing can stop us,” he said.
Mary Wang-Boucher of Northampton Resists read a speech on behalf of a Veterans’ Administration employee who remain anonymous for fear of losing their job. The speech’s author said, “Our country is breaking its sacred oath” by not caring for transgender veterans. They said gender-affirming care has been denied to veterans, suicide prevention programs tailored to those individuals had been ended, preferred pronouns had been scrubbed from records and veterans were referred to using their dead names. Further, the Veterans’ Administration employee said their co-workers had been instructed to report any colleagues who were not following these new directives.
John Bonifaz, a constitutional lawyer with Free Speech for People, took to the mic, enumerating actions of the Trump administration, including ignoring judicial rulings on matters of immigration, freezing funds allocated by Congress and assuming control of California’s National Guard and deploying them to Los Angeles to quell protests. After each of these examples, Bonifaz declared that it was an “abuse of power” and “an impeachable offense.”
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
A variety of issues brought people out to protest. Many of them were there to stand against what they saw as a threat to democracy and authoritarian power grabs by the president, but others were most concerned with raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, women’s rights or cuts to social safety net programs.
“I just feel it’s my responsibility,” area resident Carrie Casaceli said of why she came to the protest. “I think I’m just a moral person and I’d like to see the policies be more kind. I know we can’t afford everything, as a country,” but “I think we need to have policies that reflect care for everyone. I want people everywhere, wherever they are — cities or small towns — to have a good quality of life.” She added, “I came here to learn today what more I can do from experts and others that I met today.”
Agawam resident Daniel Arventos said, “I grew up in a democracy. I don’t want that to change.” He spoke against the use of military forces to crackdown on protests in Los Angeles and said it was “a situation that could have been handled by the LA Police.”
Judy Hartling of Springfield said, “People have to stand up and speak out. This is not the United States we built. A lot of people sacrificed to make this country. We should honor them by moving forward, not back.” She continued, “Most people in this country are only one or two generations removed from being an immigrant and people forget that.”
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
Immigration policies are also a major concern for Mary Friedman of Longmeadow. “I feel terrible about the thousands who came here legally and are working and paying taxes.” By revoking humanitarian parole for people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, Friedman said, “Trump has created thousands of undocumented people. Haiti is worse than ever. It’s so dangerous,” and people should not be deported there, she said.
Area resident Patty Ryan wore a sign around her neck that read, “Save Lives. Hands Off Medicaid.” Ryan is the primary caretaker for her 20-year-old granddaughter who is disabled due to epilepsy and is on Medicaid. She takes thousands of dollars’ worth of medicine each month, Ryan said, adding, “Without those meds, she won’t live.” Cuts to Medicaid are included in legislation that has passed the house and is moving through the Senate. “Right now, I am hoping the Senate will vote down the [The One, Big, Beautiful Bill],” Ryan said. “I’m a Democrat, but if it was the other way around, I’d feel the same.”
