‘Fed up’: Thousands demand No Kings in roaring protest against Trump

Thousands of people gathered on Erie Boulevard through snow and in sunshine to stand up against the Trump administration Saturday in one of eight No Kings rallies across Central New York.

Protesters came out in force to show resistance. One man, David Thomas, wore a costume with a Donald Trump face mask and a sign that pointed to his crotch, reading “micropenis.”

Thomas said he doesn’t fall on the left or right of the political spectrum and has always been an independent.

“I’m fed up with the bullshit. I don’t know who can watch this going on and be okay with it,” Thomas said. “[It’s] incessant lying about every fucking thing you could be lying about.”

This was the third No Kings rally since the beginning of Donald Trump’s presidency. The No Kings rally started as a response to Donald Trump’s birthday military parade in Washington, D.C., and has since turned into the largest protest in U.S. history, with millions of Americans taking to the streets.

In Syracuse, protesters stood on the sidewalk and in the street median rather than taking over the full road and blocking cars, so drivers were able to drive through the protest and show their support by honking or their distaste by yelling.

One passing driver yelled, “[get] a f*cking job, loser,” at Thomas as he stood in the median.

The energy on Erie was palpable. The large turnout made it hard for people to walk down the boulevard, so they took to walking in the right-most lane on the street instead. Cars were stuck in heavy traffic, which allowed people in the crowd to jaywalk without injury. 

Many vehicles were decorated with American flags and signs, and had passengers sticking their heads out with their fists up. Some cars circled the street through the demonstrations.

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The March 28th No Kings protest allowed for vehicles to pass by and honk in support of protesters.

The protest took over multiple city blocks, with citizen marshals herding protesters out of driveways and keeping them safe while crossing the road. There was no visible police presence. 

Kris Waldron was one of the marshals and was in charge of keeping protesters out of the driveway of the Dunkin’ Donuts.

“It’s kind of like herding cats to some degree. You got people crossing in odd places,” Waldron said. “A lot of traffic on the street, honking, carrying on. They get caught up in the moment and forget that there’s somebody coming around the corner in a car.”

Even as a marshal, she shares similar opinions with the protesters.

“We’re all immigrants, except if you’re Native American … immigrant rights are human rights,” Waldron said.

The No Kings protests are demonstrations against Trump’s immigration crackdown, threats to federalize elections, healthcare policy and more, according to the No Kings website.

American flags were waved by people in various costumes and signs with vulgar language and clever puns. But less present at the protest was young people. 

Gerry Unz, who wore an inflatable chicken costume, made this exact observation.

“Why are there so many old people and not young people?” Unz asked.

She said that younger people spend a lot of their time on the internet and that is very different from when she was younger. But she also acknowledged that when she was growing up, there weren’t people “trying to take over the country.”

Protesters said they hope for a unified country and said that Trump would not be in office forever. Many are holding out hopes for the midterm elections, where Democrats are leading in congressional races, according to recent polls. This comes as a Democrat is projected to flip a legislative district in Florida, which includes Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home.

While protesters shared more mainstream views on disliking Trump’s agenda, Yasmeen Laverty has a more radical view on how to improve the country.

“Civil dissolution is what we need. We need to separate red and blue states. Amend the Constitution,” she said.