FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 18, 2025

South Coast No Kings Protests Quadruple in Size
Eight peaceful events drew kids and dogs, costumes and cowbells

 At least 4,000 people joined in No Kings rallies today across the South Coast of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, coming together in a joyful show of support for democracy, decency, and defense of vulnerable neighbors. In June, three South Coast No Kings protests – in New Bedford, Fall River, and Fairhaven  – drew more than 1,000 local residents.

Under blue skies, rally-goers from Tiverton to Mattapoisett chanted, danced, and waved signs that ranged from the silly to the serious. In Dartmouth, one protestor carried a sign emblazoned with a gray-haired Rosie the Riveter that said: “Grantifa: Grandmas Against Facism.” In Westport, another carried a sign that said: “No Courage, No Country.”

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Most of the eight South Coast events were picket protests held at busy intersections, with rally-goers earning car horn blasts and thumbs-up signs and waves from passing motorists. According to event organizers, the events were peaceful, with no injuries or incidents of violence reported. 

Craig Swallow, a co-leader of the Indivisible South Coast New England (ISCNE) chapter and a New Bedford resident, said the turnout far exceeded organizers’ expectations. 

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“The wave of South Coast democracy defenders is rising,” Swallow said. “People are banding together to support the people they care about – including immigrants, government workers, and members of the LGBTQ+ community – as well as issues from civil rights to fair elections to public health. So much is under attack by the Trump administration, and it was our day to come together, speak up, and fight back.”

No Kings is a peaceful grassroots movement supported by dozens of groups, from the American Civil Liberties Union to the League of Women Voters to Veterans for Peace. The first No Kings protests in June were organized in opposition to a military parade ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump. Those events drew an estimated 5 million people to 2,100 rallies in all 50 states and is cited as one of the largest protests in American history.

Organizers forecasted an even bigger turnout today. Over 2,650 No Kings events were planned in towns and cities of all sizes, as well as countries worldwide, including France, Germany, Italy and Sweden. Leaders of Indivisible, a national progressive movement and No Kings partner, predicted a massive turnout and possibly the largest single-day protest in United States history.

ISCNE members attending South Coast events report these crowd estimates:

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• Dartmouth – 400 people – Intersection of Rt. 6 and Faunce Corner Road

• Little Compton – 500 people – Little Compton Town Green, Commons Street

• Mattapoisett – 600 people – Corner of North Street and Route 6

• New Bedford Bridge Brigade – 200 people – 1350 Purchase Street

• New Bedford Buttonwood Rally  – 1,000 people – Buttonwood Park, Rockdale Avenue 

• Tiverton – 1,000 people – U.S. Post Office, 600 Main Road

• Westport – 900 people – Intersection of Main Road and Hixbridge Road

At this time, no estimates are available for a rally held in Fall River.

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Wendy Lawton, a South Dartmouth resident and ISCNE co-leader, said community advocates from around the region reported seeing scores of American flags flown at rallies, as well as signs in support of freedom, diversity, and fair and legal treatment of immigrants. 

Bullhorn chants, drums, cow bells and even kazoos lent music to the air. Some rally-goers came in costume, dressing as Lady Liberty or in Revolutionary War era tricorn hats. In a nod to the inflatable costumes worn by anti-Trump protestors in Portland, OR some donned inflatable suits to become a cat, clown, frog, and dinosaur. Because it’s the South Coast, an inflatable lobster, crab and shark could be seen in some crowds.

“What a sunny, successful day,” Lawton said. “Spirits were high and people felt a sense of community. In Dartmouth, I met people who’ve fought for decades for social justice. But I also met two people – a 21-year-old and a 70-year-old – who were attending their very first protest. So many different people are coming together to protect our basic freedoms and rebuild national unity. People want to come together to fix our country, not tear it down.”

Several local organizations came together to plan and promote the latest No Kings events, including: 50501, Democracy Unleashed, and Democratic town committees in Dartmouth, Mattapoisett, Rochester, Fairhaven, and Westport.

ISCNE is a nonpartisan group committed to nonviolent action. To get involved, visit dosomethingsc.org. For more information about the movement, visit Indivisible.org. 

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About Indivisible South Coast New England

Indivisible South Coast New England is a group of everyday people united in our mission to protect and strengthen democracy. Our commitment is non-partisan, grounded in the belief that unity is far more powerful than division. We honor the founding principles of our nation, including the essential system of coequal branches of government and the checks and balances they provide. Upholding the Constitution, the rule of law, and core democratic values is at the heart of everything we do.