Thousands of Central New Yorkers gathered in Syracuse on Saturday for the nationwide ‘No Kings’ protest. The peaceful demonstration stretched nearly three-quarters of a mile along Solar Street, just outside Destiny USA, with crowds overflowing onto Hiawatha Boulevard.
As the nearly three hour event wrapped up, organizers estimated the group at over 7,000 people, nearly doubling the turnout of the Apr. 5th “HandsOff!” protest.
Steve Simon, a co-coordinator for the protest, explained that there is a pivotal point when the numbers begin to make an impact toward change.
“There’s a scientific goal of 3.5% of the population being actively engaged,” Simon said. “That pressure can be enough to get our representatives to see the light and change through the representative process of government.”
If organizers are correct, more than 5% of Syracuse’s population showed up, well over Simon’s goal.
United States Congressman John Mannion, who represents Syracuse and Greater Central New York, walked amongst the crowd with an American flag and megaphone, leading chants.
“The vast majority did not vote for this, did not vote for political violence, did not vote for breaking the rule of law,” Mannion said, “and it will result eventually in his removal, and the Republicans should already have stood up and stopped the madness.”
Mannion said several Republicans at the rally told him they felt betrayed by recent events.
“I talked to so many people today who voted for this administration and did not vote for these actions. This is not what they voted for. This is not what people want,” Mannion said.
Phyllis DeJohn, a Syracuse native and lifelong Republican, held a handmade sign: “Former Republican.”
“I am a former Republican, for 45 years,” DeJohn said. “But I just can't stand the Congress and him. They're just going along with them. They don't have any backbone.”
Active-duty military and veterans spanned the crowd as well.
Lisa and Matt, a military couple who asked that we withold their last name for fear of retribution, attended the protest together. Between the two of them, they've served more than a quarter of a century in the military.
“Donald Trump and his administration – with Congress’s support – are cutting VA benefits,” Lisa said. “He’s betrayed our country, he’s betrayed our trust, and he’s betrayed the military.”
Nearby, another veteran holds a placard reading, "This veteran serves the Constitution. Not a king." Hers is next to Medicaid recipient Mark Mophett's sign reading, “If there's money for a parade, there's money for Medicaid,” referencing the impending multimillion-dollar parade that would soon follow the rallies. President Donald Trump had spent some $45 million for a military pageant commemorating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. It also happened to be Trump's 79th birthday.
“As a veteran I am very much opposed to the dog and pony show he's got going on in D.C.,” Mophett said, “that's North Korea stuff, that’s Russia, that’s not America.”
Stephen Thorley, a retired Syracuse University professor, said he showed up because he, too, could not square how the Trump administration could afford such a relatively rare extravagance in the face of on-going DOGE cuts.
“Using our tax dollars, millions and millions of our tax dollars to have a parade when we need money for Medicaid, we need money for education, we need money for healthcare," he mused aloud, then added, "“Democracy is not a spectator sport. If we don't stand up and resist, they'll just take everything, and that's what they're in the process of doing.”
The White House has claimed the parade an appropriate celebration honoring the Army's 250th Anniversary and a success for showing the U.S. military's preparedness and recruitment opportunities.
