Utica No Kings protesters rally on Broad Street

• Hundreds gathered in Utica on October 18 for the "No Kings Protest" against the Trump administration.
• The event was part of a national day of rallies organized by NOKINGS.org to oppose what it deems unconstitutional actions.
• Protesters stated their goal was to raise awareness and show opposition to the administration's policies.

Broad Street in Utica was a cacophony of cheers, shouts, honking, whistles, and drums by noon as hundreds gathered to raise opposition against the Trump administration.

The No Kings Protest in Utica on Oct. 18 could be heard from inside nearby buildings down the street as people made their voices known.

NOKINGS.org was a national day of rallies, protests, and marches on Oct. 18 to dissent against what the organization considers the unconstitutional actions of the Trump administration.  This included demonstrations at several locations within the Mohawk Valley.

It is the latest in a series of mass protests since President Donald Trump took office.

The first "No Kings Day" protests on June 14 were organized to coincide with Trump’s 79th birthday and Flag Day when there was a military parade in Washington, DC, in honor of the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary.

That day, there were protests in more than 1,800 communities to oppose what they saw as Trump's power grab. 

Local protests

Mona Perrotti, a resident of Clinton and a member of Indivisible Mohawk Valley, was one of the safety marshals helping direct large groups of people across the streets of Utica safely as they gathered in front of the Alexander Pirnie Federal Building on 10 Broad Street.

"I'm retired, but I was a registered nurse for about 45 years," Perrotti said. And this wasn't her first protest she's been a part of. She's actually one of the early members of Indivisible Mohawk Valley. "It was after the women's march in Washington, D.C. after the 2016 election. I was distressed over the possibilities that were before us for the newly elected president. I joined some early meetings and that became Indivisible Mohawk Valley."

And now, participating in the No Kings protest, Perrotti said she was there to help increase awareness.

"There's a community of millions out there that are standing out, using our voices and bodies to show how we feel about our values and the democracy we feel is being eroded by this government," she said.

Another participant of the No Kings protest, standing on the curb of Broad Street, was Carolyn McAleese, a person who's called Utica home for over 70 years. And in that time, she's worked as a customer service representative, says she's "semi-retired," and is the president of the Oneida County Democratic Women's Club.

"The Oneida County Democratic Women's Club are here [at the No King's protest] supporting people's rights and to make sure the [Trump] administration knows that all of us here are against the dissolution of our rights," McAleese said. "And all of us are here, using our right to free speech and assembly and raising our voices. We're not afraid to come out and join with our fellow patriots."

Many who were at the No Kings protest were people who have protested before, not just against the Trump administration, but in the past as well.

Ann Damiano has been living in Utica since 2017 and works at Utica University in administration and came out in support of the protest's message.

"I found out about the protest on social media," Damiano said. "I had wanted to be a part of the [No Kings] protest in June, but couldn't... I was used to live Buffalo, so I was part of the Love Canal Crisis protest."

The Love Canal Crisis centers around how, In the 40s and 50s, the Hooker Electrochemical Company dumped hazardous chemicals into the Erie Canal. When the land was sold, a school and home was built on the toxic land and discovered in the late 70s.

Damiano also said she frequently protested for women's rights.

So when asked what she hoped to accomplish being a part of the No King's protest, Damiano said it was to spread the word.

"There is a sizeable number of American citizens who do no support the policies of this administration and that we see the policies as the rise of fascism in this county and that we will resist it," Damiano said. "Because we shouldn't underestimate what is happening right now."