Thousands rally in CT as part of national ‘No Kings’ protests. ‘This is what democracy looks like.’

With unified chants “this is what democracy look like” echoing throughout the grounds of the State Capitol in Hartford, thousands of people came out on Saturday and rallied with a clear message: There are no kings in America.

The Hartford rally, part of 50 organized by groups across Connecticut, was part of the larger “No Kings” movement nationwide. Organizers say it is a joyful celebration of democracy, America and its flag because what’s needed now.

The “No Kings” rally “is a peaceful national day of action and mass mobilization in response to the increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption of the Trump administration,” according to Indivisible, the organizer of the movement. Thousands of rallies were held across the United States and in a handful of other countries.

But while the topic of democracy was most discussed, many signs mentioned other political hot button issues like ICE, immigration, Elon Musk, Jeffrey Epstein, tariffs, January 6, and the ongoing government shutdown. The shutdown, which began on Oct. 1, has now become the third longest in U.S. history.

Tracy Johnson from Bethany said she came to Hartford to speak her mind on what she calls the current “hypocrisy” under the current administration. She said that while she has not protested much before this year, she now feels she has no choice. She said she blames the Republicans for the current shutdown.

“The shutdown and the propaganda Republicans are telling people has brought me out here, we need the government open,” Johnson said. “Democrats are fighting for health care. I have not protested before, but now I find myself protesting every Sunday in Hamden. I want my kids to have a fair and just country to live in. So if we’re not protesting, what are we even doing? Some people say it doesn’t really make a difference, but it makes me feel better. It reinvigorates me to at least say something.”

The event was co-hosted by Indivisible CT, Orange Indivisible and CT Shoreline Indivisible, along with 43 state organizations, and featured music, dancing, giant puppets, a bubble machine and a brass band circulating through the crowd, as well as speakers and voter registration.

Hartford resident Maris Dillman said this is her second “No Kings” protest. She said she is worried about the perceived erosion of democratic norms and values under the Trump administration. Among them, she said the administration’s refusal to recognize court orders and what she calls the “unjust” arrests of Trump’s perceived enemies like former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

“I’m afraid of our Constitutional rights being ripped from us, I’m concerned those freedoms are in jeopardy,” Dillman said. “This is a country we all love and have been fighting for. So that’s a big reason why I’m out here. It’s been great to see the turnout. It seems even bigger than last time.”

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, U.S. Rep. John B. Larson, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam, Bishop John Selders of Moral Monday, Connecticut teachers union leaders and immigrant advocates spoke during the rally.

“My friends in Washington are saying that people who attend these rallies hate America, but we love America,” Blumenthal said to large cheers. “What we hate is what Donald Trump is doing to America. They say that people who go to these rallies are causing trouble. I’m here to make trouble, good trouble.  Because this is what America does. America doesn’t stay quiet in the face of authoritarianism.”

John Shomarer, a U.S. Navy veteran who served from 2014 to 2022, said he is protesting against what he calls the rise of authoritarianism in America. The Navy veteran, who was stationed at Groton, said that he feels it’s his duty to speak out against what he calls the militarization in American cities. President Trump has so far sent in National Guard members into Washington D.C., Memphis, Los Angeles, and Portland, Oregon. The Republican administration has said that the troop deployments are necessary to protect federal agents and property against civil disobedience.

“I served my country to fight against fascism and dictatorship and I think our rights are being violated,” he said. “Going after people that don’t look a certain way or shipping people off to other countries without their due process rights, that’s not what I fought and served for. We took an oath to the Constitution, not to a single person. I love America, I jus’t don’t love what’s happening right now in the country.”

Willimantic resident Shane French, who also attended the protest, said his Freddy Krueger outfit represents the “nightmare” of the Trump administration. Several other attendees dressed up as inflatable animal characters to point out what they say is the absurdity of being labeled “insurrections” by the Trump administration.

The “No Kings” protests commit to nonviolence and de-escalation. A rally held earlier this year drew as many as 10,000 people to Hartford. Similar protests were held across the country also saw mostly peaceful demonstrations.

“A core principle behind all ‘No Kings’ events is a commitment to nonviolent action,” according to the organizers. “We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events.”