Berkshire County — It was 271 days on Saturday, October 18, since President Donald J. Trump took office, and 18 days since the federal government shutdown due to numerous and various issues.
Also on October 18 was the nationwide No Kings protest across the country, and all throughout Berkshire County.
According to the event’s official website, there were over 2,700 No Kings rallies in all 50 states and over seven million attendees.
Rallies were held all throughout Berkshire County, including in Pittsfield, Great Barrington, Dalton, North Adams, Stockbridge, West Stockbridge, Adams, and Lee.
In Pittsfield, as per event co-organizer Robin O’Herin, there were over, 3,000 protestors, including 3,000 in The Common at the height of the event, and over 1,000 people lining up on the street as the event went on.
“I knew it would be less than the first No Kings, because people are scared of all the rhetoric coming out of Washington, DC,” O’Herin wrote in an email to The Berkshire Edge after the rally. “But it was still a wonderful event.”
At the event itself, O’Herin said that the No Kings protests are necessary due to the current political climate in America.
“The people in power are abusing it,” she said. “The power lies within the people, and they have to get in the streets and make their voices heard. Trump is trying to dictate what newspapers and reporters can say. He’s telling educational institutions that if they pay him, they’ll get preferential treatment. They’re trying to tear down the Voting Rights Act right now. There’s a lot going on, so many things.”
O’Herin said that despite what is going on in America, she still has hope.
“I think that [the Trump Administration] is starting to panic, and I think that we are strong,” O’Herin said. “I think that the courts are winning consistently, and the more we make noise and get out there in peaceful protest and document it so that they can see it is peaceful. The tide is changing.”
Meanwhile, over at Park Square, a group of 10 people held a pro-Trump rally.
“We’re here just to support our President,” Pittsfield resident and Trump supporter Jim Fish said. “We’re not liking what’s going on with the government right now. But we’re trying to support the President and we’re trying to be peaceful about it. But a lot of people coming by are being real jerks.”
Fish said that he supports freedom of speech, even if he disagrees with the people at the No Kings rallies.
“I live over by the Common, so I was a little bit nervous on my way here because I had to cut through the Common, but nobody bothered me,” he said. “You know, I think it’s great that they’re exercising their freedom of speech. And I think, you know, everybody has their own opinion, so you know they’re more than welcome to have theirs. We’re just out here expressing ours. I think it’s important to support pretty much any President, as long as they’re doing a good job. And so far from what I’ve seen, especially with the ending of all the foreign wars, he’s doing a great job. Yes, he’s made mistakes, but he’s human, like the rest of us, but for the most part, he’s doing a good job. I hope everybody can find some middle ground and stop being so mean to each other and try to work together for the betterment of the country.”
In Great Barrington, a No Kings rally was held in front of Town Hall.
The front of Great Barrington Town Hall during the No Kings protest on October 18. Photo by J.L. Beretta.In a press release issued after the rally, event co-organizer Jonathan Perloe wrote that the crowd at Town Hall was estimated at more than 1,100 people.
“[This rally makes] it the largest of the rallies hosted by South County Resistance so far,” Perloe wrote. “The protest was co-organized with Left Field, the South County Indivisible chapter. Participants gathered peacefully and proudly to let President Trump and his MAGA allies know that the resistance movement to oppose his authoritarian regime is getting bigger and stronger and isn’t going away. The joy and determination of the crowd to protect our democracy and our fellow residents was palpable, as was the love of country. American flags were on display everywhere. People ask if rallies like this can make a difference. The answer is, absolutely. Mass mobilization gives people courage and hope. It lets them know they’re part of something big which gives them the resolve to speak out about the abuses of power we’re seeing everyday. And it shows them they aren’t powerless; it lets them know that change is possible.”
In Lee, protesters gathered in front of the Lee Library.
In Stockbridge, the No Kings rally was held at the Town Offices.
In North Adams, the No Kings rally was held at City Hall.
In Adams, the No Kings rally was held at the Town Common.
