By Deborah Rose & Dave Dunleavy
KENT, Conn. — A crowd estimated variously as between 200 and 350 people lined the sidewalks of North Main Street on Saturday, March 28, to protest, what they said, are the draconian measures imposed by President Donald Trump.
Kent joined communities across the country in the No Kings movement, a show of civic engagement that has grown in recent years to express opposition to the policies of the Trump Administration. The rallies draw on a core democratic principle: that no single person should rule above the law.
Attendees assembled peacefully to share perspectives and connect with neighbors around the importance of democratic values and public participation. Motorists beeped and waved out car windows as they drove by while those gathered cheered and held their signs higher. The turnout reflected growing local interest in community dialogue and collective action.
Participants also rang cow bells and Christmas bells while Ray Charles’ version of “America The Beautiful” boomed in the background.
The protest was organized by the Kent Democratic Town Committee and was one of 3,100 registered “No Kings” rallies held nationwide. An estimated 9 million people were expected to take part in the nationwide protests making it one of the largest, if not the largest, demonstration in U.S. history. Two similar rallies were held last June and October but drew smaller crowds.
“We are simply against Trump and the direction this country is going,” said Kent DTC Chairman Gary Ford. “There’s been a massive shift to the right and the behavior of the Republicans has been deplorable.”
“People today are so disgusted beyond anything we’ve seen before,” said Kent resident Susan Prince. “Trump and his cabinet are a disgrace and we’re sick of it.”
Greg Swinehart of Millerton, N.Y., said Kent was his third stop of the day, as he already had attended rallies in Salisbury and Amenia, N.Y.
“I try to go to as many as I can to show my support. Things have to change in this country,” Swinehart said..
Several in the crowd said the use of force by masked federal ICE agents in Minneapolis in January, which resulted in the fatal shootings of two people, highlight the “immoral and reckless” policies of the current administration. The mass arrests and targeting of immigrant families is at the core of the No Kings movement.
Gregg Sheridan of Kent held up the largest and highest sign of the day which read “Shame on ICE, Abuses.”
“Truly a shame with what’s going on in this country,” Sheridan said. “We have to do better together.”
