Thousands of demonstrators gathered across the WAMC listening area over the weekend as part of the nationwide “No Kings” protests, organized in opposition to the Trump administration’s policies and in response to the president’s 79th birthday and a reported $45 million military parade in Washington, D.C.
While passions were high, law enforcement agencies largely reported peaceful gatherings, with no arrests in most areas. WAMC Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Jesse King reports that the events, held in towns like Newburgh, Kingston, Woodstock, and New Paltz, were marked by chants, speeches, and calls for unity, equality, and democracy.
Newburgh Protest Highlights Humanitarian Concerns
In Newburgh, a few hundred demonstrators marched in a nearly single-file line along Montgomery Street, hugging the sidewalks by the Hudson River waterfront. Protesters carried signs that read “Defend the Constitution,” “No Justice, No Peace,” and “If There’s Money for a Parade, There’s Money for Medicaid.”
Among them was Terry Demeo, a Newburgh resident who spoke out against what she sees as inhumane treatment of immigrants by federal agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“They’re leading with hate, they’re leading with divisiveness,” said Demeo. “The level of inhumanity that is around us — how do [Trump supporters] not see what’s going on? How do they accept it? We’re all freaking human beings.”
The peaceful tone of the Newburgh march was disrupted only briefly by a shouted outburst from a nearby apartment, but no confrontation followed. Protesters placed signs on a hill overlooking the waterfront and then quietly dispersed.
Regional Events Marked by Calm and Unity
According to Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa, multiple protests occurred across the county over the weekend in Kingston, Gardiner, New Paltz, and Woodstock, with no major disturbances.
“I think there was one individual in Kingston who tried to sit in the middle of Albany Avenue to try to stop traffic,” Figueroa noted. “But when he was asked to get up and leave, he did. So we had, to my knowledge, no incidents in any of the demonstrations this weekend.”
The Kingston protest alone saw an estimated 4,000 participants, making it one of the largest in the region.
One Incident in Warrensburg, NY
The only reported arrest across the broader region occurred in Warrensburg, in New York’s North Country. According to law enforcement, 32-year-old Catherine Benincasa, a protester from New Hampshire, allegedly struck and bit a Trump supporter during a confrontation. She is now facing misdemeanor charges of assault, menacing, and criminal possession of a weapon.
Despite this isolated incident, officials emphasized that the vast majority of the more than 2,000 “No Kings” protests nationwide remained orderly and peaceful.
National Backdrop Adds Tension
Some demonstrators expressed anxiety over potential retaliation and refrained from giving their full names when speaking to reporters. The protests come amid heightened tension between protest groups and government authorities.
President Trump recently deployed the National Guard and Marines to California in response to ICE protests and has characterized such events as “riots.” Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made headlines for suggesting that drivers had the right to hit protesters if they felt threatened—raising fears about protester safety nationwide.
Adding to the concern was a fatal shooting at a “No Kings” protest in Salt Lake City, Utah, earlier this month, where one person was killed amid gunfire.
Protesters Speak Out on a Range of Issues
Protesters came out for a wide range of reasons—from defending democratic institutions to opposing immigration crackdowns and budget cuts to social programs.
Steve Urbanowicz, who crossed the Hudson River from Beacon, said he felt compelled to protest what he called an abnormal and unstable political climate.
“This is not normal. This is not OK,” he said. “We don’t know what to expect anymore — this is day to day. Like our tariffs now, our economy is up and down. You have a retirement portfolio and you’re sweating it out. Who knows? That could all be gone.”
Others questioned the federal government’s priorities, particularly in regard to the expensive military parade coinciding with the president’s birthday.
“It’s a waste of money,” one protester said. “We always appreciate our military, but there’s no need for a parade.”
“I think it’s important for us to show that there are people who don’t believe in what’s going on,” said another. “And we’ll continue to march until we see change.”
A Message of Peaceful Resistance
From Newburgh to Kingston and beyond, the message of the “No Kings” movement was clear: defend democracy, oppose authoritarianism, and stand up for civil rights. Despite fears of violence and political backlash, most participants remained committed to peaceful resistance, hoping to inspire broader awareness and engagement.
Organizers and demonstrators alike say they plan to keep marching and pushing for change—using signs, voices, and solidarity as their tools of resistance.
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