CBS NEWS
By Victoria D, Riley Rourke, Samantha Chaney, Logan Hall
October 18, 2025,
CBS Boston
Massachusetts State Police Col. Geoffrey Noble said the State Police have been working with Boston Police and had a security plan in effect to ensure the rallies remained peaceful.
No arrests were made at the protest, police confirmed.
Officials speak at "No Kings" protest
Mayor Michelle Wu, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Senator Ed Markey were some of the speakers at the event.
"We stand here today to tell the Trump administration that when it comes to our freedoms, when it comes to our families, Boston doesn't back down," Wu said. "Boston will keep fighting back to keep moving forward."
"We are where democracy was started, right here on the Boston Common," Markey said.
"Thousands of people protesting for what they believe in. That is deeply American. That is patriotism," Warren said.
Wu called on protesters to "build up their community in any way that you can."
Protest remains peaceful
Protesters gathered in inflatable costumes, including unicorns, lobsters, and frogs, while carrying signs on the Boston Common.
"Everyone here is about America and making America be the country we know it is," Sean Cauffman said.
"I think people are here because we love America. I think people are having fun," protester John Anderson said.
"It's very important to speak the truth we believe. But we're not doing it with hate, we're doing it with love," Ryan Maroney said, dressed in a horse costume.
State Police were ready for large crowds
"What law enforcement is looking for is, they're looking for the non-peaceful protesters, the agitators," said security expert Todd McGhee. "And both agencies have been training and [are] equipped to surgically remove those agitators to allow the peaceful protesters to continue their assembly."
The rally began at noon on Boston Common, with crowds of people gathering even before it began.
"I am confident that we will have an appropriate security measure out there to ensure that that is a peaceful thing," said Noble. "I can't speak to any specifics as far as our tactical response capabilities but what I can ensure is that, as we always have, as we have continued to do so here in the Commonwealth, the Mass State Police, Boston Police Department and all the various stakeholders, we have a layered security plan and we will be prepared to deal with whatever that we have to."
What is the "No Kings" protest?
Similar rallies were held nationwide to protest against President Donald Trump and his policies, in particular, federal agents arresting immigrants. Among the groups that partnered with No Kings were the ACLU, Veterans for Peace, Planned Parenthood, the National Organization for Women, and Greenpeace.
The White House has dismissed the 'No Kings' protests, with President Trump downplaying the upcoming protests before a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
"They have their day coming up. I hear very few people are going to be there, by the way," Mr. Trump said. "But they have their day coming up, and they want to have their day in the sun."
Previous rallies were held nationwide back in June, including here in Boston, which happened to coincide with the city's pride parade. No Kings said the rallies in June totaled millions of people.
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