Monticello ‘No Kings’ protest draws hundreds

By Manor Ink Staff

Monticello, NY – On Saturday, Oct. 18, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., a second “No Kings” protest took place in the village, hosted by We Are One-Sullivan, Sullivan County’s Indivisible group. Peaceful, nonviolent protesters filled both sides of Broadway, from Jones Street to Jefferson Street, bringing their homemade signs, animated costumes, friends, family and pets to unite as one voice for democracy.

The Monticello protestors joined more than 7 million others in all 50 states to rally against what they see as the Trump administration’s abuses of power, with an emphasis on protecting constitutional rights and the First Amendment. In what was reported to be the largest single-day protest in US history, people amassed in an estimated 2,500 locations, from small rural towns to major cities, taking a stand against what they decried as the administration’s authoritarian overreaches.

In Monticello, with the sights and sounds of demonstrators beating drums, chanting, waving colorful signs and parading in costumes mingling with the lingering smells of tasty foods from nearby eateries, the county’s protest was a full-on sensory experience. The support from many horn-blowing vehicles making their way down Broadway increased the morale and spirit of those gathered for what was a communal event, one which both began and ended harmoniously.

Scenes at the protest

Photos by Gina Ballard | Manor Ink Mentor