No Kings protest draws 10,000 Syracuse supporters

On Saturday, organizers said an estimated 10,000 people took over Syracuse’s Erie Boulevard for the NO KINGS protest. Many came earlier than expected, coming in before the proposed 11 a.m. The event was organized by NO KINGS, CNY Solidarity, and its committee, Indivisible Onondaga County. 

Over the summer, the first national No Kings protests brought millions together in major cities and small towns, expressing distaste for President Donald Trump’s birthday party parade. 

A planned nationwide protest, many came together nationwide to advocate for freedom of speech, the demilitarization of American cities, immigrant freedoms and stopping major budget cuts, according to a press release by the organizers.

Local human rights activist and the event’s head marshal, Spike Giles organized a team of 20 volunteer marshals to facilitate the event. Those volunteering kept track of the event’s logistics, even contacting local Dewitt police to ensure participants’ safety. Onondaga County sheriffs acted as the event’s main security.

Stretching from Dewitt Community Church to Barnes & Noble, demonstrators carried signs addressing a range of issues, which they attributed to the Trump administration. They chanted “Hey hey, ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go,” and “Show me what democracy looks like,” to which others responded, “This is what democracy looks like.” 

Some dressed as dinosaurs, women from The Handmaid’s Tale, Founding Fathers and superheroes, while others brought instruments and pets. Flags, including the LGBTQ+, Palestinian, Ukrainian, Mexican and United States flags, were seen flying high among the crowd.

Signaling to the multitude of people representing a diverse range of racial and ethnic identities, protestor Michael Passarelli held up a sign that said “American patriots here from all parties.”

“I want people to know that there’s other parties out here besides just the Democratic Party. Maybe not advertised, but I’ve got Republican friends out here,”  Passarelli said. “We don’t hate America, we love America. We love each other, and that’s why we’re out here.” 

Cassidy Taylor and Aristyn Muldoon, both students at Onondaga Community College, were among the attendees who said the protest was intended to be peaceful and in support of human rights. 

“A lot of the things that Congress and the President are doing right now is to hurt people who are oppressed and marginalized, and the Constitution is constantly being violated,” Muldoon said. 

Taylor, who held a sign that read, “Imagine fearing diversity,” carried a copy of the United States Constitution, while Muldoon held a copy of the Federalist Papers. Both Taylor and Muldoon said that the principal message attendees had for President Trump was one of disapproval. 

“The main message he should get is that people aren’t going to tolerate his behavior,” Taylor said. 

Several people said that their communities and family members had been directly impacted by the actions of Trump’s government. One protestor said her son worked for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and lost his job when federal cuts began back in March.

Syracuse local Donna Wiehenstroer, who was holding a sign that read, “No more denials, release the Epstein files,” said her family members were experiencing fear and anxiety under the current Trump administration.

“My daughter works for the government, and she’s been furloughed for three weeks and [is] afraid that she’s not going to have a job to go back to,” Wiehenstroer said. “She has a wonderful job helping people, and my husband and I are retired, so I’m scared.”

Groups such as the New York State United Teachers and United University Professions were also seen attending the demonstration. Denise Mahns, a teacher representing NYSUT, said her students are experiencing fear due to an increase in immigration raids.

“The immigration enforcement has been very detrimental, I have students who are in this country perfectly legally and who are afraid,” Mahns said. “I have students whose families are immigrants and they are afraid, the rhetoric is very harmful.” In the last nine months, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has strengthened its presence across major cities, with masked agents detaining immigrants and citizens at work sites, schools, and hospitals.

Sabrina Fragoso, who had a Mexican flag on her back, said her father was an immigrant who went through the process to become a citizen, but still lives in fear.

“He went to classes to get his citizenship and went through all the process and it’s just scary that now it just doesn’t matter and they don’t care that he did it,” Fragoso said. 

Several other attendees spoke about experiencing fear and expressed disapproval of Trump’s handling of international affairs. Around 20 Pro-Palestine activists holding up dozens of signs advocating for the defunding of Israel’s military and banners saying, “Arms Embargo Now”. Last week, Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of Trump’s plan for Gaza which consists of a ceasefire and a hostage deal. 

Kirkville resident Milli, who requested anonymity due to safety concerns, joined several others in holding signs that read, “We cannot stop until Palestine is free,” and chanting, “Gaza, you make us proud.”

“I was just going to be beeping my horn like everyone in their cars, but I decided to not be afraid anymore and stand up for this poor excuse for the government, or the one that people elected,” Milli said. 

Protesters said they hoped the demonstration would positively impact the upcoming 2025 Syracuse local general election in November. Syracuse local Bill Burnett, held a poster that read “Impeach Putin’s Pussycat,” and said he hopes undecided voters are influenced by the high number of demonstrators. Syracuse local Richard Baier said he shared a similar sentiment. 

“This is where we start to make the push and we just keep moving and it’ll make a difference and it’s going to take a lot of resistance and a lot of effort by a lot of people,” said Baier. 

Syracuse University’s Young Democratic Socialists of America was one of the student organizations present at the demonstration. Co-chair Nova Starling, carried a backpack containing food, water, and medicine to offer attendees, and said the high turnout signaled the possibility of “actual action and change.” She also said that for many members of marginalized communities, protesting can be dangerous, which may prevent them from attending.

“No matter what, everyone out here, we all agree that all of our rights are under attack, and every single one of these smaller causes, immigrants rights, queer rights, women’s rights and minority rights, all of those bring us together to protest the fascism that this administration is perpetuating,” Starling said.