More than 500 people gathered in Shawsheen Square in Andover in one of thousands of “No Kings Day” protests held across the U.S. on Saturday.
The turnout more than doubled the 200 people Greater Andover Indivisible, the local protest’s organizer, had estimated on Friday morning. Mike Myers, a long time local government activist from Andover, marveled at the turnout and said it likely exceeded the number of people who attended a George Floyd protest in 2020.
“I haven’t seen anything like it,” Myers said. “I was walking around expecting to see the same people I always see at these things, but I don’t recognize anyone. It’s great — these are regular people getting out to be heard.”
With rallies timed opposite a planned military parade in D.C., No Kings Day organizers aimed to shift public attention to grassroots power rather than performative displays. In addition to the military parade, Saturday flag day and President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.
There was a small counterprotest at the end of the row of protesters lining the west side of North Main Street. A handful of tween boys waved a Trump flag and other MAGA gear.
Arrests and violence were reportedly minimal at the more than 2,000 rallies held across the U.S., although Minnesota officials canceled all No Kings protests in the state protests after Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed and state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were wounded in politically motivated shootings targeting the Democratic lawmakers. There was also a “credible threat” targeting Texas state lawmakers ahead of a No Kings protest at the state capitol in Austin.
More photos from Andover’s No Kings Day Protest:
Photos by Dave Copeland.
