On Saturday, a massive crowd of people gathered in front of the federal courthouse in Springfield for one of the many rallies across the region and country dubbed “No Kings.”
The demonstrations — organized nationally by groups including Indivisible, the American Civil Liberties Union, and 50501 — coincided with the military parade held in the nation’s capital on President Donald Trump’s birthday. A day before the parade, U.S. military veterans protested the event on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, demanding the money spent on the parade be used for food, housing, and health care. Many were arrested, including an 87-year-old veteran who was handcuffed and taken away without his mobility aid.
The “No Kings” demonstrations followed those arrests and the violent police and National Guard crackdowns on protests of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in Los Angeles and New York over the past week.
For many, the protests represented a chance to voice their anger at the Trump administration’s deportations, slashing of social services, and much more, and to show solidarity with one another. Some of those who spoke to The Shoestring were attending a protest for the first time in a while.
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But for all the focus on unity, others have criticized the movement for its open collaboration with police and with Democratic Party members.
Springfield’s demonstration included a statement that a representative read on behalf of U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, who recently signed on to a House resolution that expressed gratitude to ICE “for protecting the homeland.” The June 9 resolution also affirmed support for “free and open” communication between the state and local law enforcement and federal enforcement agencies.
Neal, a Springfield Democrat, was among 75 members of his party who voted in favor of the resolution, together with four other Massachusetts Democrats — representatives Jake Auchincloss, Bill Keating, Stephen Lynch, and Seth Moulton.
Neal’s Springfield office is inside the federal courthouse where the “No Kings” demonstration was held.
When asked by The Shoestring, Tom Peine of the group Rise Up Western Mass Indivisible confirmed that organizers collaborated with the police for the “No Kings” demonstration in Springfield. Peine said that because the demonstration was happening at the federal building, they “had to obtain a permit from the U.S. Marshal Service” and that the Springfield Police Department would be providing a “small detail.”
“They told us to keep people out of the street,” Peine said. “It’s like herding cats.”
Rise Up Western Mass Indivisible organizers were successful to that end, however. With help from the police, they kept the intersection in front of the building open and clear despite the large turnout.
The demonstration drew in people with a variety of political views, from liberals to socialists and anti-capitalist organizations like Democratic Socialists of America and the Party of Socialism and Liberation. Attendees’ signs addressed domestic and global issues ranging from federal budget cuts to war and climate. Many signs were critical of ICE and the right wing’s attacks on immigrants.
The Shoestring interviewed attendees, speakers, and political groups, asking what brought them to the demonstration and what they wanted to see happen. These are their words:
Springfield resident Jason Lebrun said he wanted to see a wide shift in the political direction of the United States. “I want to save democracy and end facism, fight for a free Palestine, fight for women’s rights, gay rights, all of it. I want to stop ICE from deporting immigrants and make it easier for them to become citizens. I want abortion rights.”
Mollie Wilson and Jenny Shin, who came to the demonstration together, stood on the steps of the federal building, holding signs and rallying the crowd.
“We have to peacefully resist or nothing will change,” Wilson said. “We will keep going until there is real change.”
“We both have the privilege and agency to be here,” Shin added. “We have the right to disapprove, with peace and with our voices we can create change if we all come together.”
Justin Boshears-Hazen held a double-sided homemade sign and wore ear plugs. On one side the sign read “people should not be afraid of their governments.” On the other side it read, “governments should be afraid of their people.”
“This is my first time in years going to a protest, but it’s time,” Boshears-Hazen said. “People with autism are being hurt by this government, I can get over it for a little bit to be out here, to do the right thing.”
“No justice, no peace! No racist police!” Geneva Bessette and Alex, who declined to give their last name, chanted as they passed by police in the street. “Fuck ICE,” Bessette told The Shoestring. “We want them to stop stealing children, to stop hurting families, and stop the abuse of power.”
Katie Talbot, a member of the housing-justice organization Springfield No One Leaves, spoke at the “No Kings” demonstration. Talbot was walking through the crowd handing out informational resources to attendees. Springfield No One Leaves had helped organize a May Day march in Springfield a month and a half prior.
“We’re here for more opportunities for people to get involved,” Talbot said. “I want to call for more opportunities for people to get involved in policy that decides where money goes, policies for social programs, policies that create housing, and opportunities to challenge corporate housing investors.”
Greg Zorko, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, was walking through the crowd offering people information and signs that read “abolish ICE” and “no war with Iran.” He said the DSA was organizing to resist and abolish ICE, and to show people how these enforcement structures, and the structures of capitalism, are connected to the fight against facism.
“If we don’t have a different system that expands democracy to the economic sphere we will end up in situations like the one we are in now, over and over again,” he said.
Across the street from the federal building, members of the Party for Socialism and Liberation rallied the crowd and led their own chants accompanied by drumming. Two of their members present were also former members of the military.
“Brick by brick, wall by wall, this racist system has to fall!” they chanted.
PSL member David Feliciano told The Shoestring they were there to capture the moment of mass disillusionment people are feeling about the political system.
“Lots of organizations recognize the political moment we are in right now,” they said. “We need to build connections between networks, and put our vision for socialism out there. Democrats have failed to provide answers. We’re here for an anti-capitalist party.”
At the conclusion of the “No Kings” demonstration, handfuls of people stayed behind, lining the intersection and holding their signs, receiving cheers from passing cars. Others who stayed behind shared contact information and resources. Police stayed behind, too, chatting in a close huddle until the remaining stragglers left the area. The Shoestring observed no counter protestors during the demonstration.
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At the same time, in Northampton, the groups Jewish Voice for Peace Western Mass, Demilitarize Western Mass, and River Valley Families for Palestine held a benefit concert for the Sumud School in northern Gaza.
Organizers said that the Sumud School has been operating out of a damaged building following mass displacement of children and teachers due to Israel’s ongoing, U.S.-backed genocide in Gaza. Needs for Gaza’s children have become even more pressing as the besieged strip has been largely unable to receive food and humanitarian aid since March 2.
“This Father’s Day weekend, we cannot honor our fathers without actively fighting for the rights of fathers everywhere to raise and feed their children in safety,” Leyla Moushabeck of Valley Families for Palestine said in a press release. “This concert is a beautiful opportunity to spend an afternoon with your family and help fund the Sumud School in Gaza to support families impacted by the ongoing genocide.”
On Sunday, Jewish Voice for Peace member Kaia Jackson stepped off on their second 25-mile march from Springfield to Northampton in solidarity with the global march to Gaza. They began their march at Neal’s Springfield office.
The first 25-mile march was in December 2023, and was meant to draw attention to the size of the Gaza strip, which has faced a barrage of military artillery strikes from Israel.
Jackson, who co-organized the 2023 march, provided a statement for this Sunday’s march.
“It’s unimaginable that over a year and a half since the first 25 Mile March, where hundreds of locals joined global calls for a diplomatic, humane and just response to the events of Oct. 7, the world continues to watch ongoing escalations of violence by the Israeli military and its backers,” Jackson said. “Many of us cannot bear it any longer, and our grief compels us to take action. We must keep watching, and doing everything within our power to stop the flow of weapons and money by the U.S. government to Israel.”
Jackson and Jewish Voice for Peace Western Mass are encouraging people to apply pressure to their legislators, to donate to humanitarian aid funds, and show up at local rallies and events.
Tommy Lee is a writer, investigative journalist, and audio video producer for community television based in Western Massachusetts.
