No Kings protests bring thousands to cities across CT

An estimated 10,000 people came to the state Capitol in Hartford on Saturday to call for opposition to President Donald Trump’s changes in federal policy, one of dozens of “No Kings” protests held across Connecticut.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told a crowd in Hartford that he would continue to “stand up for health care” and that Democrats would not “back down” and be “intimidated” or “bullied” by Republicans. 

U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-1st District, condemned the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Connecticut towns. 

“We do not consent to pulling mothers from their children in Newington and in Southington. We stood up and fight against them, because we’re Americans. Because this is the nation that we love,” Larson told the crowd in Hartford. 

The number of immigrants in the U.S. declined by 1.2 million between January and September of this year. In Connecticut, where ICE arrests have more than doubled from January through July of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, there have been reports of immigrants being detained at courthouses and car washes.

The “No Kings” protests, organized by a coalition of primarily liberal groups including the 50501 Movement, Indivisible and the ACLU, were set to take place in about 40 towns across Connecticut. These demonstrations follow similar “No Kings” protests in June, which drew thousands of protestors in response to a military parade organized in Washington D.C. 

According to the No Kings website, the protests are motivated by the increased actions from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement to detain and deport immigrants with irregular status, cuts to healthcare and education spending, the rolling back of environmental regulations and voting redistricting in states like Texas that are meant to favor Republican lawmakers and candidates.  

“The president thinks his rule is absolute. But in America, we don’t have kings and we won’t back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty,” the website reads.  

In New Haven, protestors filled the New Haven Green, carrying signs, wearing costumes and waving American flags.

Gayathri Vijayakumar, 46, who works for a sustainability company, said climate change is the biggest issue that drew her to protest.

“For me, it’s all about the sustainability of our environment. He set us so far back by slashing the budget that Biden had put in place,” she said. “It was going to be phenomenal, phenomenal for the efficiency of buildings. We’re so far behind as it is, this is undoing decades of progress.”

But it’s not her only concern.

“I ride the train with my passport now,” she said.

On the outskirts of the green, a group of women with umbrellas painted with words like “No Kings” and “Persist, Resist, Insist” stood in a line. Tina Santoni, 67, said she started workshops for women, teaching them to paint the umbrellas. They’ve grown to about 40 people.

“ I had one at the last No Kings March. But after that I started getting, making, creating workshops for people to come and make them. We’re all women,” she said, adding that a few weeks ago, she’d led a group of the women on a walk in downtown New Haven.

“We walk in silence. We let our umbrellas speak for us. We try to put messages on our umbrellas that we really feel strongly about,” she said.

Maisy Crews, 26, said that as a health care provider who works in addiction medicine, she was concerned about the ability of her patients to access the care and resources they needed. She also said she worried about the limits being placed on medical providers regarding abortions and transgender care.

Several people also talked about the division within the country,

“ Most people are using really controversial issues as a place to divide us, like trans issues and abortion and things like that,” said Victoria Atkin-Dahm, a Guilford resident and student at Southern Connecticut State University. “Their main goal is to divide us so that they can control us, in my opinion. And I think this is the time that we all need to gather and be together like this.”

Sam Meskill, 31, said his biggest concern was ICE detaining immigrants.

“Watching the videos on that is really disturbing,” he said.

Carmen Mahone, 77, of Branford said she disliked the anger and hatred that she saw, and the way that Trump treated those around him, referring to him as a “lunatic.” She also talked about the need for affordable health care.

“I’m retired and I got a pension plus Medicare. So I’m gifted, but the people that don’t — it’s unconscionable to see people just lose their lives because they can’t get a certain drug anymore,” she said.

Susan White, 75, of Southbury said she was concerned about benefits for retired people.

“We worked our whole lives so that we’d be safe at this point through Medicare and social security. And if he screws with that, there’s going to be a revolt of old people. And really, what do we have to lose at this point for standing up? Nothing.”

Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney, D-New Haven and Sen. Gary Winfield, D-New Haven, told the New Haven crowd that the state legislature needed to step up in light of the federal government’s actions. Looney said he wanted the state legislature to do more to address federal actions.

He said he wanted to see a law passed that would prohibit ICE agents in Connecticut from wearing masks and require them to have body cameras. He said the General Assembly planned to return to the Capitol in November to try and use state dollars to fill in places that the federal government had made cuts.

“I’m committed that we will maximize that to the extent we can,” said Looney.

Similar scenes played out across Connecticut.

In Westport, crowds gathered around Jesup Green and the Westport Library.

“We’re here for humanity, for our decency, and for Mother Earth,” said Maureen Maloney of Fairfield. “We’ve got to take care of her.”

“My passion started back during the Vietnam protests, and I’ve just kept going,” said Donna Kraisman. “It comes from loving our country. That’s where my passion comes from.”

Maloney, an immigrant from Ireland, said her motivation comes from seeing the country change over the years.

“I immigrated here 32 years ago,” she said. “I chose to come to America because of opportunity. I’ve worked hard all my life, but those chances are disappearing. That’s why I’m here.”

“I’m here because I believe in the principle. This is democracy,” said Bernard Perry, a 95-year-old Westport resident. “That’s what I was brought into when I was born.”

He said the health of democracy depends on those in power.

“It’s all about leadership and how that leadership views the Constitution,” Perry said. “Right now, the leadership has really thrown out the Constitution. That’s why we’re in this mess.”

David Brigg Jr. of Bridgeport said he has deep concerns about the state of the country and is particularly critical of the Supreme Court.

“With the Supreme Court backing Trump and giving him full immunity, he could do anything he wants,” he said.

But Brigg said he still encourages civic engagement, emphasizing the importance of voting and political participation.

Michael Greenberg, a 78-year-old Westport resident who said he once met Martin Luther King Jr., emphasized the importance of speaking up against threats to democracy.

But, he said, the younger generations can drive meaningful change and continue the fight for justice.

“It’s the young ones,” he said. “They’re holding the torch, and they’re the future, and that’s what we’re fighting for.”