On June 14, a vibrant scene unfolded in Copley Square, where Lady Gaga’s music resonated from speakers and protesters displayed signs reading, “No Kings But Yas Queen.” Despite the rainy weather, the energy was electric as people gathered to protest President Donald Trump and celebrate LGBTQ+ existence.
The gathering was part of the nationwide “No Kings” movement, which targeted recent mass deportations and attacks on transgender individuals under the Trump administration. The event saw Boston Pride unite with the city’s “No Kings” demonstration, merging celebration and protest into an impactful showing of solidarity.
Tens of thousands participated in the dual events of “No Kings Day” and the Pride march. Following these events, an estimated one million attendees filled Boston Common for a Pride Festival, where the celebration of LGBTQ+ love took center stage.
Spearheaded by Mass 50501 and the Indivisible Mass Coalition, the protest partnered with Boston Pride for the People. The parade initiated outside Trinity Church in Copley Square and marched towards Boston Common, leading to a festival that featured live music and vendor booths. Additionally, a 21+ block party took place at Boston City Hall, along with pop-up drag and music performances at spots such as Uncommon Stage and Summer Street Plaza throughout the city.
The day was marked not only by anger and frustration towards President Trump but also by an overwhelming sense of joy and hope at the various citywide celebrations and demonstrations.
Jeffrey Franchetti, a third-year Northeastern University student studying politics, philosophy, and economics, expressed his sentiments about the current political climate. “[The Trump administration] wants us to think that hope and resistance and protest are useless endeavors,” he remarked, highlighting the desire to instill fear and complacency.
As the lead outreach supervisor of the Educational Freedom Project (EFP), Franchetti organized a group of students from around Boston to attend, carrying signs that stated, “Trump is no king. Students are no pawns.”
Despite the overcast skies and their initial apprehensions about attending a protest, Franchetti and his peers were filled with laughter and enthusiasm. He added, “[Protest] means something if it’s scary. It feels as though I have found meaning.”
Neila St. Jean, a second-year civil engineering major at Northeastern, found solace and empowerment in having the ability to voice her opposition to Trump. The impact of recent changes at her university, particularly the termination of DEI-oriented programs at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, which resulted in her friend’s scholarship and internship being revoked, motivated her commitment to activism.
Reflecting on her future, St. Jean stated, “I know it’s very cliche, but I don’t want to think back and be like, ‘Well, what did I do?’”
The excitement of the younger generation was met by equally passionate supporters from older generations, including Gen X and Baby Boomers. Sean Sullivan, a retired civil engineer aged 64, voiced his concerns about what he perceives as attacks on U.S. democracy and fundamental rights under President Trump.
He reinforced his position by stating, “I stand for everything in the Declaration of Independence,” while his wife, Sharon Sullivan, a 58-year-old architecture designer, humorously shared that she stumbled upon Sean reading the Declaration the night before.
Sharon held a sign proclaiming, “Boston knows something about standing up to kings, even self-appointed ones!!!” As a mother of a gay son, she found the intersection of the “No Kings Day” protest with Boston Pride particularly meaningful, stating, “I stand for humanity. We all got here the same way.”
Despite their fears regarding the Trump administration’s actions against LGBTQ+ communities and constitutional rights, the Sullivans exemplified the spirit of positivity that permeated throughout Copley Square and the surrounding areas.
As Sharon concluded, “What is protesting if not dancing and celebrating joy?”
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