Leader-Herald
People stand at the corner of Front Street and Milton Avenue in Ballston Spa, Saturday, June 14, 2025, participating in a 'No Kings' rally.
People stand at the corner of Front Street and Milton Avenue in Ballston Spa, Saturday, June 14, 2025, participating in a 'No Kings' rally.
Demonstrators gather along Wolf St in Colonie to protest the Trump Administration.
A demonstrator holds a sign protesting President Donald Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill" at Colonie's "No Kings" protest.
Demonstrators line Wolf St during the "No Kings" protest Saturday.
A demonstrator holds a sign depicting President Donald Trump as a baby with a Hitler-esque mustache.
A woman holds a sign protesting President Donald Trump's election at Colonie's "No Kings" protest Saturday.
A demonstrator in an Uncle Sam hat protests at Colonie's "No Kings" demonstration Saturday.
Two demonstrator in Americana regalia wave a "defend democracy" sign at Colonie's "No Kings" protest.
A demonstrator drums along the sidewalk at Colonie's "No Kings" protest Saturday.
People stand along Milton Avenue in Ballston Spa, Saturday, June 14, 2025, participating in a 'No Kings' rally.
People stand at the corner of Front Street and Milton Avenue in Ballston Spa, Saturday, June 14, 2025, participating in a 'No Kings' rally.
People stand at the corner of Front Street and Milton Avenue in Ballston Spa, Saturday, June 14, 2025, participating in a 'No Kings' rally.
People stand along Milton Avenue in Ballston Spa, Saturday, June 14, 2025, participating in a 'No Kings' rally.
Connor, a Saratoga County teen, stands at the corner of Lake Avenue and Broadway with a Trump 2024 flag draped across his back, Saturday, June 14, 2025, prior to the 'No Kings' rally andthe annual Flag Day parade on Broadway.. He was there to show his support for Donald Trump.
Thousands of people marched on Broadway in Saratoga Springs, part of the Indivisible Movement Saturday, June 14, 2025, participating in a 'No Kings' rally to close out the annual Flag Day parade on Broadway.
People stand on the steps of Saratoga Springs City Hall, Saturday, June 14, 2025, participating in a 'No Kings' rally prior to the annual Flag Day parade on Broadway.
Protesters line the intersection of Church and Mohawk streets in Canajoharie for the No Kings rally Saturday, June 14, 2025.
Protesters line the intersection of Main and Mohawk streets in Canajoharie for the No Kings rally Saturday, June 14, 2025.
Protesters line the intersection of Church and Mohawk streets in Canajoharie for the No Kings rally Saturday, June 14, 2025.
Protesters line the intersection of Church and Mohawk streets in Canajoharie for the No Kings rally Saturday, June 14, 2025.
Wearing an orange jump suit, Bob Smith rallies with protesters at the intersection of Church and Mohawk streets in Canajoharie for the No Kings rally, Saturday.
Above and below: Protesters in the No Kings rally at Church and Mohawk streets in Canajoharie on Saturday.
Protesters line the intersection of Church and Mohawk streets in Canajoharie for the No Kings rally Saturday, June 14, 2025.
Protesters line the intersection of Church and Mohawk streets in Canajoharie for the No Kings rally Saturday, June 14, 2025.
A passing motorist supports protesters at the intersection of Main and Mohawk streets in Canajoharie for the No Kings rally Saturday, June 14, 2025.
Demonstrators line the street at Centennial Circle in downtown Glens Falls during Saturday's "No Kings" protest.
Demonstrators line the street at Centennial Circle in downtown Glens Falls during Saturday's "No Kings" protest.
Glens Falls police prepare to load a suspect into a police cruiser in connection with the alleged assault of a former Post-Star reporter during Saturday's "No Kings" protest.
Demonstrators line the street at Centennial Circle in downtown Glens Falls during Saturday's "No Kings" protest.
Demonstrators line the street at Centennial Circle in downtown Glens Falls during Saturday's "No Kings" protest.
Demonstrators hold their signs high in downtown Glens Falls during Saturday's "No Kings" protest.
Thousands of demonstrators gathered along Wolf Road in Colonie on Saturday as part of a nationwide “No Kings” protest of the administration of President Donald Trump.
Waving colorful flags and holding signs against Trump’s policies, the demonstrators in Colonie were among thousands to turn out at “No Kings” events around the Capital Region, in places including Saratoga Springs, Ballston Spa, Canajoharie, Guilderland, Troy, Glens Falls, Chatham and Catskill.
Critics of Trump’s presidency rallied in hundreds of cities nationwide for the protests Saturday, following several days of nationwide demonstrations against federal immigration raids, including in Los Angeles, where Trump deployed the National Guard and U.S. Marines against the wishes of California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The protests coincided with Washington D.C’s military parade, which was also held on the 79-year-old Trump’s birthday.
Colonie’s demonstration was relatively peaceful, with over 6,000 people lining the busy commercial corridor to the sounds of supportive honks from passing vehicles. There was a minor altercation between a demonstrator and a person driving a large truck with “Trump” on the side of it. Words were exchanged, but a de-escalator from Indivisible, a national organization committed to fighting against Trump, intervened to bring it to a peaceful resolution.
Richard Massimilla, 26, was one of the de-escalalors and is part of Troy’s Indivisible chapter. He said most situations between counterprotesters can be resolved by keeping the demonstrator away, and distracting parties by doing a chant.
“We’re just trying to keep people on the sidewalk,” he said. “We’re just trying to make sure no one’s in the street, that traffic isn’t obstructed, that no one is getting in the way of the police who are keeping us safe by getting in the shoulder. If anyone has a medical issue, if they get heat stroke, which isn’t likely on a day like today, we’ll go and give them a cup of water. If they fall down and get a scrape, we’ll go and patch them up, that kind of thing. If there’s any agitators, we’re well trained in making sure that nothing gets violent and keeping people away from them.”
Other protests weren’t so orderly. According to a Substack post by former Post-Star editor Ken Tingley, former Post-Star police and courts reporter Don Lehman was punched “below the belt” by a Trump supporter in the vicinity of a “No Kings” demonstration in Glens Falls. The Trump supporter was subsequently arrested, according to Tingley’s post on his “Front Page” Substack (kentingley.substack.com).
In Indian Lake in the Adirondacks, where around 100 people gathered, Johnstown resident Bill Kitchen, 72, said multiple passersby gave the demonstrators the middle finger. Kitchen tried to organize a demonstration in Johnstown, but it was too late to post to the “No Kings” website.
“We had a couple people come by giving us the finger,” Kitchen said. “We had one guy who kind of parked his car across the street with the tailpipes pointed towards us and just kept [revving] his engine.”
At the Colonie demonstration, demonstrators young and old showed their opposition to the Trump Administration in light of the military parade in Washington. Castleton residents Sophie Westcott and Anna Vigneffi, both 13, participated in the demonstration. Both called for more compassion in politics.
“I just think that [the demonstration] is a symbol that America could be getting better, since obviously it’s not a very good........
© The Leader Herald
