An event evocatively named ‘No Kings Day’ found a number of individuals congregating in downtown Riverhead, despite an unrelenting rainy weather. This rally was one among more than 2000 others that were organized across the nation, aimed at protesting against President Trump and the Republican-led Congress. Mostly asserting their resistance against the president’s policies, protesters thronged Griffing Avenue, right in front of the local courthouse. Elements of this demonstration included a slew of American flags, echoed chants, and a curious display of hand-penned placards held aloft.
The attendees, wrapped in the gloom of a grey sky, sported golden paper crowns as a bold admonishment of what they perceive to be Trump’s autocratic governing approach. National organizers of the rally leaned into hyperbole, claiming the day as ‘one of the largest days of protest in American history’. In terms of numbers, the local coordinators confidently estimated the crowd to be over a thousand. However, a more realistic assessment from the Riverhead Police pegged the figure closer to 500.
This rally served as a platform for a diverse crowd coming from various regions, breaking the barriers of party lines and political schools of thought. Among the eclectic lot was Barbara Clay, a Greenport resident whose past affiliations included tenure in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations. ‘This is not normal’, she lamented upon the current government, discrediting it as an unusual incarnation of a Republican administration.
‘We do not accept this’: this sentiment captured the essence of Clay’s stance. Having parted ways with the Republican party during Trump’s first term, she now found herself at the heart of the street protests. ‘We need to say no kings,’ she fervently contended, capturing the heart of the rally’s message in her words. All in all, despite the variance in political allegiances, the rally was a peaceful affair, brimming with the vigor of the attendees.
Seemingly imitating the orderly line-up of a school assembly, the event kick-started with a recital of the Pledge of Allegiance followed by an array of speakers, each advocating for civic participation and political awakening. The resonant chorus of the Pledge of Allegiance set the tone of the demonstration. The throngs of protesters were addresed by New York’s Lieutenant Governor.
Appearing at the steps of the courthouse, Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado echoed sentiments against the notion of a monarchy, and against power lines delineated by class, status or heritage. ‘We want power to be with the people everywhere,’ he enthused, his speech met with enthusiastic cheers and applause. His speech was elicited a groundswell of support from the multitude, effectively raising the event’s momentum.
Soon after the Lieutenant Governor’s address, Southold Town Council Member Greg Doroski took to the stage, expressing his distaste at certain policies enacted by the Trump administration. He criticized the mass deportation methods of the Trump administration and the president’s deployment of military troops in Los Angeles. The forceful implementation of such measures was, to him, ‘a recipe for tragedy’.
‘It’s important that we support the removal of violent criminals, but we should not compromise the rule of law, due process, and basic human rights,’ he argued, maneuvering a fine line between the need for securitization and the guarantee of fundamental rights. One of the more poignant speeches came from an expected quarter: Jon Lopez, a 26-year-old native of Southampton who wore his immigrant roots proudly.
Lopez, a college student at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., shared an emotional account of his life as a Mexican-American who had to navigate the complexities of American societal norms without the guidance of elders well-versed with them. His heartfelt story affirmed the complexities of immigrant life, hilighting the human element in the contentious topic of immigration.
Denise Silva-Dennis, representing the Shinnecock Nation, also found her voice at the rally. She issued a stark reminder to the crowd: municipalities like Riverhead were thriving communities long before the sight of Europeans on local coasts. Her statement served as a call for humility and a nod to the enduring history of the land.
Representative Nick LaLota of New York’s First Congressional District appreciated the peaceful nature of the protest in Riverhead. His statement contrasted the tranquil protest held in Riverhead with the more volatile episodes of unrest in other parts of the country. Although the details were scant in a follow-up email from his staff, one thing was clear: the peaceful conduct of the Riverhead rally was greatly appreciated.
The post ‘No Kings Day’ – Liberals Show Disdain for Authority with a Misguided Protest appeared first on Real News Now.
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