From one protester to 200: ‘No Kings’ rally draws large crowd in Amenia

AMENIA — More than 200 people gathered at Fountain Square on March 28 as part of the nationwide “No Kings” demonstrations, marking a sharp rise from what began months ago with a single protester.

The rally was part of a coordinated day of protests held across the country and around the world, including many in small towns and rural communities throughout the region. Organizers estimated more than eight million people participated globally.

Kim Travis of Amenia — who organized the rally at Fountain Square — said the demonstration reflected a dramatic shift from her early days protesting alone, when she faced threats while standing by herself.

“This started with just me, alone in June — day after day, getting threats,” Travis said. “To see it grow into more than 200 people today for this ‘No Kings’ rally in our little-bitty town of Amenia is incredible.”

She said the turnout reflected broader support across rural communities. There were several rallies in towns across Dutchess County and in neighboring Connecticut.

Travis described the mood of the Amenia crowd as both emotional and energizing.

“Our hearts are filled with joy — it’s just incredible that so many people turned out today,” she said.

She added that the message of the protest was rooted in democratic values.

“We want our country back, and we want democracy,” Travis said. “We the people serve no kings. That’s what the Constitution is all about.”

Protesters display an upside down American flag in Amenia on March 28, where more than 200 people gathered as part of the nationwide “No Kings” demonstrations.Photo by Aly Morrissey

Ellie Myers, a senior boarding student at Millbrook School who lives in Brooklyn, attended the Fountain Square protests and said she has been protesting since Donald Trump was first elected in 2016.

“Showing up is really important to me, and I’m grateful to be in a community where I can support others,” Myers said. “Right now, ICE is the biggest issue. I have friends and family who have been affected — hardworking immigrants who came here for freedom and haven’t found it. That’s heartbreaking. It goes against what ‘we the people’ is supposed to mean, and it’s painful to see, both in the news and in real life.”

Myers added that she witnessed ICE in the airports during recent travel back to school and it was “heartbreaking.”

Dutchess County Legislator Eric Alexander, who represents Amenia and surrounding communities, also attended the rally, noting it followed a unanimous county resolution opposing a proposed ICE facility in the Hudson Valley.

“That wasn’t just Democrats,” Alexander said. “That was the entire legislature unanimously saying no to ICE, and a lot of that came from the voice of the people — the people we represent.”

Alexander said the size of the rally stood out, noting its growth from a single protester to a dozen regular participants and ultimately more than 200 attendees.

“I see a great sense of community, and I see a great sense of optimism,” he said. “But I also see high frustration. People are very concerned, and I think that concern is only growing as we see more and more of what’s going on in our country.”

He said the country is in a war that hasn’t sufficiently been explained to the American people, dysfunction is rampant at airports, and prices of everything from gas to groceries are soaring.

“And we don’t see an end in sight — we don’t see a plan,” he said. “These are people standing out here today saying we, as citizens, deserve to have our voices heard and to try to get some things to change.”

Protesters at Fountain Square in Amenia on March 28.Photo by Aly Morrissey

Several other local protests took place in Dutchess County, including in Rhinebeck, Poughkeepsie and Beacon.

Meanwhile, similar demonstrations took place across the border in Connecticut.

In Salisbury, several hundred people gathered along Route 44, where organizers set up signs and encouraged participants to share messages. In Cornwall, organizers estimated more than 300 attendees at the intersection of Route 7 and Route 4. Meanwhile, in Kent, both sides of Main Street were lined with protesters, with turnout estimated at more than 250.

As the rallies wound down, organizers such as Travis said the protests would not stop.

“A lot of the surrounding small towns showed up, too, because we want to show the rest of the country that small towns can be strong, loud and resist just as much as anyone,” she said. “And we intend to, and we’re not stopping.”