Photo by Sarah Ann Figueroa ’28
MHC Alums at No Kings Day protest
By Sarah Ann Figueroa ’28
Staff Writer
On the chilly autumn morning of Oct. 18, students, faculty, alums and locals gathered in the Village Commons for No Kings Day to protest against corruption and authoritarianism in our government.
In our small corner of western Massachusetts, hundreds of individuals spanning across multiple generations congregated along either side of College Street at 11 a.m., commencing an hour of high-spirited protesting and community bonding. Lilly Glass ’27 described the event in an interview with Mount Holyoke News: “It’s not just a protest, it’s a celebration.” This sentiment perfectly embodied the energy of that day. From colorful and clever signs held high, to musicians who played their heartfelt tunes, to witty costumes that brought merriment all around, the atmosphere throughout the morning was full of love and unity.
Many call and response chants were sung up and down the street, such as: “Show me \what democracy looks like / This is what democracy looks like,” and “The people united / Will never be divided.” As cars drove by, they honked in support of the protest, inciting waves of cheers from the crowds. To keep people safe from the busy road, two community members dressed in neon sashes frequently escorted pedestrians across the crosswalk. The stretch of protesters ran from the U.S. Post Office on Hadley Street to the front gates of campus, with the fervor of the movement radiating all the way down.
The first No Kings Day was held earlier this year on June 14, when millions of Americans across the country rallied together to protest President Donald Trump’s military parade, held on the same day as his birthday. This protest was the culmination of the numerous unconstitutional legislative acts, policies and statements made by the Trump administration over the course of his two terms.
The No Kings website states, “His [Trump’s] administration is sending masked agents into our streets, terrorizing our communities. They are targeting immigrant families, profiling, arresting and detaining people without warrants. Threatening to overtake elections. Gutting healthcare, environmental protections, and education when families need them most … The president thinks his rule is absolute. But in America, we don’t have kings — and we won’t back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty.” On Saturday, Oct. 18, over 7 million Americans across all 50 states and beyond peacefully mobilized once more to exercise their First Amendment rights and reaffirm that power belongs to the people.
Mount Holyoke News interviewed many protesters, discussing their motivations for showing up to the event. Many expressed the urgency they felt in regards to the state of our country and its needs, such as Bryn Wickerd ’28, who said, “We're at a critical point in the descent into fascism, and people need to be united at this moment in order to show that we are not hopeless.”
Along the same line of thought, community member Stephanie Strand stated, “We’re in danger of losing democracy. It was unthinkable a decade ago. It won’t be my problem in twenty years, but it will be yours. Everyone who can take a stand should.”
Others shared their specific concerns for those under attack by the Trump administration. Lizzie Foster ’29, for instance, said, “It’s important to be here for women, for trans people, for immigrants; we’re all human and the [Trump] administration is acting like none of us are.”
Referencing the ICE raids happening across the country, Simone DiPirro ’29 said, “I’m here to show support for people who are being deported without any due process.”
Paramount to the overall message of No Kings, several protesters shared their views on the value of hope and solidarity in times like these. South Hadley resident Anne Cormier said, “I feel a bit helpless. [But] this is something I can do. This is important, to do things as a community. There’s strength in numbers.”
Visiting Assistant Professor of film media theater Li Cornfeld echoed this sentiment, stating, “I think it is super galvanizing to see different folks coming together, students and faculty and family members. It’s easy to feel really isolated.”
Lastly, among the crowd that morning was a group of women who had shown up to the protest dawning blue baseball caps with the embroidered words “Forged In Dissent” and the Mount Holyoke College logo. They were alums, taking a moment to step away from a conference and join the action on College St.
The Mount Holyoke News had the pleasure of interviewing former Trustee of the College and Vice President of the Mount Holyoke Group of Hartford, Ellen Cosgrove ’84, who had this to share with the Mount Holyoke community: “I just want students to know that there are legions of alums out there fighting for their rights … you guys have decades and decades ahead of you, and we really want you to live in the kind of world we were able to live in, or even better.”
The division between generations can often seem so great, and for that reason Cosgrove’s encouraging words are really powerful. The future these protests are fighting for is achievable, and the momentum that has brought us this far never died down.
The No Kings South Hadley event was one of many overwhelmingly successful, peaceful demonstrations that took place across the nation on Oct. 18. Due to the millions who have shown up for their communities throughout this period of intense polarization and political unrest, this will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the most significant movements of the 21st century. The story that will be told at the end of the day will be one of perseverance, where the love Americans have for their neighbors thrives in the face of prejudice and oppression. When it comes to our campus, home to one of the most politically active student bodies in the world, the efforts of the Mount Holyoke College student body will shape how that story unfolds.
Sofia Ramon ’27 contributed fact-checking.
Anna Goodman ’28 assisted with interviews and coverage.