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Car horns, chants and cheers filled the air around the Williamsburg-James City Courthouse on Saturday night as thousands of people participated in the largest “No Kings” rally in the region.
Organized by Williamsburg JCC Indivisible, the event was one of roughly 2,000 held across the country to protest the actions and policies of the Trump administration. The event was the largest of the five held in Hampton Roads on Saturday – organizers estimated the attendance was roughly 4,000 and the attendees filled the sidewalks on either side of Monticello Avenue for blocks near the courthouse.
The rally also saw remarks from various speakers, including Democratic House of Delegates candidate Jessica Anderson and retired Army officer and former Congressional candidate Herb Jones.
“Today in Williamsburg, we are making history by taking part in the largest single day mobilization to date,” said Heather Meaney-Allen of Williamsburg JCC Indivisible. “Rejecting Trump’s authoritarianism, rejecting his billionaire first politics, and rejecting the militarization of our democracy.”
Meaney-Allen says the rally’s mission was to say “No Kings in America,” while also celebrating Flag Day and the 250th anniversary of the United States Army. On the turnout of the event, she said felt hopeful.
“That enough Americans will understand that we’re the only ones who can stop this,” she said. “It is we the people in the streets that are going to stop this.”
Cathy Pachaco of James City County said she showed up to protest on behalf of those who want to express their anger in public about the state of America but can’t.
“This isn’t the county that we all love and respect and are proud of,” Pachaco said. “I am a daughter of immigrants, and I was brought up to just love and be proud that we were raised here in America, and that I was born here. And, this is just not the country that I want to be proud of, and I want to talk about it.”
64-year-old Kelly Nolen of Williamsburg says she felt it was important to speak out on the current administration.
“And the way things are going, which is not what we voted for,” Nolen said.
Anthony Sibley of Yorktown said the past few years have been like going into a “very bad time machine,” in terms of what he believes is a growing sense of intolerance.
“I am 72 years old, and I never thought I’d see this again,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how you dress it up. You can put lipstick on a pig, it’s still a pig. And we are still dealing with a pig here.”
James W. Robinson, 757-799-0621, james.robinson@virginiamedia.com
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