Voices of protest
More than 700 people attended the 'Hands Off/No Kings' rally in Beverly. Here's what some of them had to say.
The weekly Saturday morning protests in Beverly started on a cold Feb. 17 with about 20 people. Today, that number swelled to more than 700.
People lined both sides of Rantoul Street in front of the Post Office and Odell Veterans Memorial Park for the “Hands Off /No Kings” protest, part of a national movement in opposition to the Trump administration.
For an hour-and-a-half, the protesters held signs, chanted slogans and waved to honking drivers. The Beverly Beat asked some of them why they were there.
Nathaniel Coolidge, 87, Beverly
“I’m here because when my father and I took our oaths with our Navy commissions, it was to defend the Constitution and not any individual who thinks he or she deserves it more. I’m here in my father’s memory. To be honest with you I’m just very upset with the way this country is going.”
Emeline Walker, Danvers, with her dog Greta
“I’m a middle school teacher and it’s so important to me that our students see that they are welcome. I used to teach ESL. For our government to tell them that they are less than or don’t belong, it breaks my heart. I want to be part of the solution.”
Sophia Curreri and son, Thomas, Beverly
“I just believe that we need to be a better country. Trump is making us such a hateful, spiteful country. We need love, not hate.”
Asher D’Ippolito-Hacker, 12; Micah Bartley, 10; Silas Bartley, 13
Asher: I’m here because Donald Trump is doing stupid things that are obviously against the Constitution, and really if we don’t say something about it we’re not going to have a country to go back to in 20 years.”
Silas: “I’m here because I don’t like the way that he’s trying to exploit the Constitution and basically the people.”
Kirsten Alexander and Sadie Alexander
Kirsten: “We’re here to show that we need to be on the right side of history, and Massachusetts has always led that way.”
Sadie: “I really do love our country and I want it to be our country, not some fascist loser in the White House.”
Hope Watt-Bucci, Manchester-by-the-Sea
“I’m here because I’m a United States Army active duty veteran and today is the United States Army’s birthday, not his birthday. We’re here celebrating freedom. That’s why I served in the military, and it’s very important to me that we stand up and stand out.”
Thank you for covering this event and helping to spread the message.
Paul, So good to meet you today in front of the post office. This is another wonderful, straightforward example of your local reporting. Thank you for taking this on as your “retirement” job. Every town should be so lucky!