The crowds were chanting up Erie Boulevard from Kinne to Genesee Street.
“Show me what America looks like, this is what America looks like!”
It stretched more than a mile in front of Shoppingtown Mall, dwarfing the No Kings rally outside Destiny Mall four months earlier in June. The participants spanned generations, from eight to 80 years of age.
“It's crazy that we have to be here to say No Kings,” said Dave Broustack, a local lawyer, who noted that quite literally, “this is what democracy looks like. This is what America looks like.”
He brought along his eight-year-old son with him.
“The reason why I have come here is because in 1776, when America made a declaration document to get England to not rule us, [that] saved our butts,” he said standing next to his dad. “Now we're starting it again. So, we are going to do more protests and protests until we get Donald Trump out of America.”
Everywhere you looked there were children with their parents. Some were compelled by their parents; others came out to support friends and neighbors who’ve been marginalized by the president.
“I just, I don't like him,” said 13-year-old Stella Smith, “He's making my friends live in fear because many of them are trans, so they're constantly afraid. And I want to support my friends because I care about them.”
Protestors represented just about every race, ethnicity, and gender.
“We're supporting every type of person,” 10-year-old Levi Recore declared, “no matter what their skin color, what they are. We are supporting them.
Eight-year-old Joseph Deloya held his father’s hand as he answered the question, why are you here?
“To protect the people and free them from capture,” he said thoughtfully, then his father whispered, “from tyranny,” spurring the boy to add, “from tyranny.”
Each moment standing alongside the gathering masses created teaching moments for parents. For some, like Carolyn Panzarella, the magnitude of their collective efforts welled up inside.
“I want to teach them to be kind people,” Panzarella said, I just think it's really important for us to spread love and kindness and help others and lift people up even if they don't have the same experiences as us.”
Just a day before the rally, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson denounced the protests nationwide, calling them “Hate America Rallies.”
“We refer to it by its more accurate description, the Hate America Rally,” Johnson said. “And I’m not sure how anybody can refute that.”
But Central New York Congressman John Mannion, who walked with the crowd carrying an American flag, pushed back.
“These people are proud Americans,” he said. “They’re patriots. They understand the Constitution. Speaker Johnson is trying to discredit them with lies about who they are. He doesn’t want to face reality.”
A few counter-protesters appeared along the sidewalks. One of them, John Greenburg, wore a shirt reading “I ♥ white people.”
“Just a bunch of idiots protesting,” he said. “They have nothing intelligent to say.”
When asked why Greenburg called the crowd idiots, he said, “I asked them a question about why Trump is a fascist. They can't give me one clean answer.”
Still, most demonstrators focused on unity and hope. Underscoring that they came in peace, many demonstrators dressed in bright colorful costumes to deflate rhetoric claiming protestors are angry un-Americans.
“I wanted to show that we’re joyful, pro-democracy people,” said Lucinda Coffin as she stood in a unicorn. “We’re not dangerous or paid agitators. We’re here because we love America.”
That same message echoed from Seneca Falls to Binghamton, with more than 20 “No Kings” rallies across Central New York.
At every one, the message of compassion rang out in chants, songs, and solidarity. Syracuse resident Dolores Perry said the movement’s strength comes from compassion.
“We’ve got to keep our hearts filled with love,” Syracuse resident Dolores Perry reminded everyone. “So many people are full of hate – but love conquers all.”
