“No Trump! No KKK! No fascist USA!”
That chant was heard from Littleton to Nashua on Saturday as thousands of Granite Staters took to the streets to participate in the nationwide “No Kings” rallies — a coordinated day of protest opposing what organizers call the growing authoritarianism of former President Donald Trump’s administration.
While participants waved signs on topics ranging from healthcare to tariffs to the federal government shutdown, the core message was a repeat of Democrats’ claim that President Donald Trump is a tyrant who is using his power to undermine democracy.
“I’m here because Trump is an evil man,” Rebecca from Rumney told NHJournal at the Concord rally. (Most attendees who spoke to NHJournal declined to give their full names.)
“I’m here because I’m a constitutionalist, and the Constitution is being trashed,” said Daniel Schroth of Pittsfield, a former selectman who ran unsuccessfully for the House on the Democratic ticket last year. “I have to stand up for it.”
Schroth mentioned the oath he took to defend the Constitution when he joined the U.S. military, as did NH-01 Democrat congressional candidate Maura Sullivan in her No Kings social media post.
“When I joined the Marines, I swore an oath to the Constitution. Not to a president, not to a political party, and certainly not to a king,” said Sullivan, a Marine veteran of Iraq who served in the Obama administration.
Chris Farrell, with the group 50501, one of the rally organizers, told the crowd he rejected the Trump administration’s claims that the event was a “Hate America” rally.
“It’s about history. It’s about remembering that this country was founded on rebellion against tyranny, our forefathers crossed oceans and spilled blood to make sure no man could crown himself above the law. They didn’t fight so that some day we trade in a king in red for a king in gold.”
(CREDIT: JEFFREY HASTINGS)
Still, it was hard to miss some of the hate expressed by the attendees, including multiple “86 47” signs, shorthand for “Get rid of Donald Trump” — some say violently. Republicans say the messaging is inappropriate given the two assassination attempts on Trump last year.
Other attendees had messages supporting Antifa, a domestic terrorism movement responsible for firebombings, attacks on police, and at least one death.
Some people who spoke to NHJournal had very specific policy issues on their mind.
Asked why she had come to the rally, Linda from Franklin, N.H. said, “I have a daughter who needs free healthcare and the right to get an abortion if she ever decides to. That’s why I’m here.”
Benji, who was at the Concord rally with his dad, said, “I’m here because I think that it’s high time that we build an actual democracy, like a workers’ democracy. We can’t live with this sham that is the two-party system. The billionaires have two parties, so we workers deserve at least one.”
There was a significant amount of socialist and communist sentiment at the rallies nationwide, which is hardly a surprise given that the Communist Party USA and the Democratic Socialists of America — along with George Soros’ Open Society Foundation — were sponsors of the events.
Republicans largely dismissed the event as progressive performance art.
“The irony of the message is clear for everyone,” said U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) “If President Trump was a king, the government would be open right now. If President Trump was a king, they would not have been able to engage in that free speech exercise on the Mall which was open because President Trump hasn’t closed it. In the last shutdown, in 2013, President Obama closed the National Mall, the national parks, and didn’t allow people to engage in all this. They needed a stunt. They needed a show.”
Stefany Shaheen attends a ‘No Kings’ rally on Oct. 18, 2025.
A few Republicans came to the Concord event to wave Trump flags and show the GOP colors.
“I’m just here to support my president,” said Walter from Warner, N.H. “I knew he was going to get a lot of grief from people. It seems like people are misinformed, because as I know, Trump is not a king, and he’s not doing anything horrendous.”
(CREDIT: JEFFREY HASTINGS)
“But they are free to their opinions, as I am to mine.”
