“No Kings” protest returns to Wareham, draws over 700 participants
Protestors lined the street at the Saturday, March 28 "No Kings" protest. Photos by Grace Roche
Many cars passing the protestors on Route 6 honked in support. 
Wareham residents Jane Golden, left, and Kim Nashawaty pose in their inflatable costumes. 
Mary Stanton holds up her sign. 
One protestor dressed as Lady Liberty. 
Protestors young and old took to the streets. 
Many protestors held handmade signs. 
One protestor simply asks for peace. 
Maeve the dog attended the protest with her owner Alan Hesse.
A group of counterprotesters held a demonstration in support of President Donald Trump. 
Signs call for Trump's removal and a congressional response to current policy. 
Protestors oppose Trump's presidency and call for peace. 
Protestors gathered outside of Town Hall.
Protestors lined the street at the Saturday, March 28 "No Kings" protest. Photos by Grace Roche
Many cars passing the protestors on Route 6 honked in support.
Wareham residents Jane Golden, left, and Kim Nashawaty pose in their inflatable costumes.
Mary Stanton holds up her sign.
One protestor dressed as Lady Liberty.
Protestors young and old took to the streets.
Many protestors held handmade signs.
One protestor simply asks for peace.
Maeve the dog attended the protest with her owner Alan Hesse.
A group of counterprotesters held a demonstration in support of President Donald Trump.
Signs call for Trump's removal and a congressional response to current policy.
Protestors oppose Trump's presidency and call for peace.
Protestors gathered outside of Town Hall.
Over 700 people, many holding handmade signs, wearing costumes or joined by their dogs, gathered Saturday, March 28 to protest against President Donald Trump.
Residents of Wareham and the surrounding towns lined the sidewalk of Route 6 from Wareham Plaza to Town Hall as part of a national “No Kings” protest.
This marks the second such protest in Wareham, which were both organized by Wareham for Law and Democracy as part of Indivisible's "No Kings" nationwide demonstrations.
Residents Nancy Rice and Kathy Pappalardo both attended the protest as Wareham for Law and Democracy volunteers. Pappalardo is a founder of the group that began early last year, and Rice has been with the group almost as long.
“We believe in checks and balances, not where one party or one leader makes all the rules, blatantly breaks the rules and gets away with it,” Pappalardo said. “It is totally wrong, and it's against the constitution.”
They both believe Trump’s policies and behavior as president are unconstitutional, and are concerned about losing their rights, especially as women.
Mary Stanton, a longtime Wareham resident, said protests such as this one are important ways to enact change.
She pointed to Trump’s construction on the east wing of the White House while waging war in Iran as a reason to protest, just one issue among many she opposes as there’s “nothing I like about him (Trump).”
“It's important to let our presence be known, to show other people they have a lot of support, because it can feel overwhelming,” Stanton said.
Showing solidarity with fellow protesters also brought Alan Hesse and his dog Maeve to the demonstration.
Hesse said it was reassuring to see people gather to protest the same things he finds concerning, and said it’s an important way to remind other protesters they are not alone.
“I don't like the direction the country has been going under the leadership of Donald Trump,” he said. “I think our American values are at risk, as well as our democracy, and it's important for me to show up.”
A group of about 25 counter-protestors stood near the police memorial with signs of their own, showing their support for President Donald Trump and his policies.
One of them, Carrie Snidarich of Onset, said she supports the president’s immigration crackdowns and tariffs. She said people “really suffered” during Joe Biden’s presidency and she wants to “take our country back.”
“We have to bring back the roots of America, or we're just gonna lose America to Islam,” Snidarich said.
She criticized the “No Kings” protest and claimed a paid protester harassed the pro-Trump group. Wareham for Law and Democracy organizers denied anyone who attended was paid to be there and criticized the counterprotesters of using a free lunch to attract attendees.
“We are not paid protesters,” Pappalardo said. “They're serving pizza to get people to go there. We're here because we believe in standing up for our rights and what is happening in this country.”
