Hundreds of protesters representing a hundred Massachusetts-based organizations gathered at the Parkman Bandstand in Boston Common at noon on Friday for what they described as a “stop the coup” rally.Protesters accused President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk of staging a government coup and making “attacks on immigrant, trans and marginalized communities.””The intent is to spread fear among immigrant communities,” organizer and INN Boston leader Michaela Caplan said. “The intent is cruelty. The intent is dehumanization. We are here to loudly reject this horrific agenda, along with the attacks on our trans siblings and the politicized targeting of diversity and inclusion across our society.”The rally was held on Valentine’s Day, as protesters said it was symbolic because “love is resistance.”Protesters, including members of groups ranging from the ACLU to the Sierra Club to Indivisible MA, and demanded that state and federal leaders “show moral courage and resist the Musk-Trump agenda.””We have somebody who’s effectively in power who’s not an elected official,” protestor Patrick Bukowski said, referring to Musk. “He needs to get out of our business and get out of our fiscal system.”However, voters across the U.S. do not seem to share many of these protesters’ concerns.Polls show Trump’s support has remained about the same since the election.”Things haven’t quite come down the road enough for these voters to understand the problem that they’ve caused,” protestor Mary Evans said.The rally was followed by a march, with protesters holding banners reading “Stop the Billionaire Coup,” “People Over Fascism,” and “Our Love is Resistance.” They also held placards reading “Love is Resistance” and “Love is Solidarity.”Protesters blocked some traffic, but they stuck to pedestrian streets and followed a police escort.Organizers said despite the hundred of groups that took part, there were no speeches by any Democratic elected leaders, from either the state or federal government.”We made the choice to center community voices, if they were here, we would welcome them,” organizer and Springfield Climate Justice Coalition member Naia Tenerowicz said.Speakers included leaders from the North American Indian Center of Boston, Homes for All, Brazilian Workers Center, TransResistance, Palestinian Youth Movement, IfNotNow, Cosecha, the UU Mass Action, INN Boston, Boston DSA and the Nehar Shalom Congregation.”We are proud to be here with organizations representing a massive swath of the Greater Boston community, standing together against the current administration’s attempts to illegally dismantle the federal government and divide our communities against each other,” Claire Karl Miller of UU Mass Action said.”While we are demanding that Democratic Party leadership on the state and federal level show moral courage and do everything in their power to stop the Trump-Musk agenda, we are also not waiting for our elected officials to save us.”
Hundreds of protesters representing a hundred Massachusetts-based organizations gathered at the Parkman Bandstand in Boston Common at noon on Friday for what they described as a “stop the coup” rally.
Protesters accused President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk of staging a government coup and making “attacks on immigrant, trans and marginalized communities.”
“The intent is to spread fear among immigrant communities,” organizer and INN Boston leader Michaela Caplan said. “The intent is cruelty. The intent is dehumanization. We are here to loudly reject this horrific agenda, along with the attacks on our trans siblings and the politicized targeting of diversity and inclusion across our society.”
The rally was held on Valentine’s Day, as protesters said it was symbolic because “love is resistance.”
Protesters, including members of groups ranging from the ACLU to the Sierra Club to Indivisible MA, and demanded that state and federal leaders “show moral courage and resist the Musk-Trump agenda.”
“We have somebody who’s effectively in power who’s not an elected official,” protestor Patrick Bukowski said, referring to Musk. “He needs to get out of our business and get out of our fiscal system.”
However, voters across the U.S. do not seem to share many of these protesters’ concerns.
Polls show Trump’s support has remained about the same since the election.
“Things haven’t quite come down the road enough for these voters to understand the problem that they’ve caused,” protestor Mary Evans said.
The rally was followed by a march, with protesters holding banners reading “Stop the Billionaire Coup,” “People Over Fascism,” and “Our Love is Resistance.” They also held placards reading “Love is Resistance” and “Love is Solidarity.”
Protesters blocked some traffic, but they stuck to pedestrian streets and followed a police escort.
Organizers said despite the hundred of groups that took part, there were no speeches by any Democratic elected leaders, from either the state or federal government.
“We made the choice to center community voices, if they were here, we would welcome them,” organizer and Springfield Climate Justice Coalition member Naia Tenerowicz said.
Speakers included leaders from the North American Indian Center of Boston, Homes for All, Brazilian Workers Center, TransResistance, Palestinian Youth Movement, IfNotNow, Cosecha, the UU Mass Action, INN Boston, Boston DSA and the Nehar Shalom Congregation.
“We are proud to be here with organizations representing a massive swath of the Greater Boston community, standing together against the current administration’s attempts to illegally dismantle the federal government and divide our communities against each other,” Claire Karl Miller of UU Mass Action said.
“While we are demanding that Democratic Party leadership on the state and federal level show moral courage and do everything in their power to stop the Trump-Musk agenda, we are also not waiting for our elected officials to save us.”