By Daisy Levine and Aayushi Datta
Hundreds of people of all ages, many dressed in costumes and waving American flags, turned out Saturday at the Winchester Unitarian Society for the town’s No Kings protest.
“This is what democracy looks like!” they chanted.
The Oct. 18 rally drew more than 800 residents not only from Winchester, but nearby communities. No Kings protests took place in more than 2,700 communities across the United States for the second time this year. The first occurred in June, in response to criticisms that President Donald Trump has been using authoritarian rhetoric and tactics.
Indivisible Winchester’s (IndivisibleWIN) chief organizer Kim Whittaker said she wanted to emphasize that everyone loves America but protested out of concern.
“It just speaks to the level of concern and horror that people are feeling right now in what’s happening to our country,” said Whittaker, treasurer of Indivisible Winchester.
Ilene Lerner, 82, has been an activist since age 18. On Saturday, she made it to the demonstration despite her limited mobility — she couldn’t stand on her own — but speaking with Winchester News brought her to tears.
“It just does my heart good, because I’m so upset about what’s going on,” Lerner said, as she placed her hand over her heart.
Lerner, a second-generation American, said she’d be “horrified” if her grandparents were treated the way Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have handled the immigration crisis under the Trump administration.
“This is supposed to be a Christian country, and look what they’re doing to people,” she said. “All of us are immigrants. The only people who aren’t are the Native Americans.”
Standing between his two dads and his younger brother, 11-year-old Jasper Hamnvik said he is concerned about what has been happening across the country.
“I don’t want soldiers walking around on our streets, except on Halloween,” he said.
This article was originally published on October 20, 2025.