HOULTON, Maine — With messages aimed at preserving the nation’s democracy, nearly 200 protesters peacefully rallied in downtown Houlton on Saturday afternoon.
Joining more than 2,100 No Kings protests around the nation — including another one in Presque Isle — and in 19 other countries, protesters, some for the first time, said the Trump administration’s policies and recent actions had gone too far.
“I think that the fundamental underpinnings of our democracy are at risk,” said Kathryn Harnish of Houlton. “And it’s really important to let people know that people are going to stand up and protect our constitution and protect our republic against some of the pretty terrible things that are happening in our world.”
Co-sponsored by the American Civil Liberties Union, Indivisible and a coalition of labor, environmental and human rights organizations, the No Kings movement was the largest mass mobilization since President Donald Trump’s return to office, according to the ACLU.
As the protestors in Houlton shared signs, chants and messages — denouncing Trump, DOGE, recent immigration actions and what they deemed as authoritarianism — some passing cars honked and cheered out windows in support of the messages.
The core group of Houlton residents who have been organizing protest rallies at the Peace Pole in downtown Houlton for several years were joined by many newcomers, including some who were visiting family from New York and Pennsylvania, one man was from San Diego and young people and several dogs.
Several of the protesters first attended a No Kings rally in Presque Isle at 11 a.m. and then made the 45-mile trip south for the Houlton rally at 1 p.m.
Gabrielle LaPointe, 71, of Weston said, although she is a child of the 60s, this was her first ever protest because she believed it was important to stand up for the American people and to protest rights that are currently under assault.
Saturday’s upbeat crowd was nearly six times larger than the 30 or so people who attended another protest in May.
There was one counter-protestor in the crowd carrying a TRUMP 2024 sign, flanked on either side by No Kings signs and a large group chanting, “Hey, hey, ho, ho, MAGA has got to go.”
Still, those with different views were respectful of each other, and one woman in the crowd said they all chanted “America” together.
The Houlton rally was peaceful with Houlton Police Department officers assisting the protesters at crosswalks as they initially walked through the historic downtown.
Several organizers said they will be protesting next on July 5 for the Elbows Up! Rally, an international day of protest along the 5,525 miles of the Canada-U.S. border, with the exact location not determined yet.
