It was the third nationwide “No Kings” rally held in opposition to the Trump administration since President Donald Trump took office for a second term last year.

With signs showing outrage at various headlines and policy enactments—a war in Iran, constant raids by Immigration & Customs Enforcement, the Epstein files, an overthrow in Venezuela, a threat against Greenland, a jet from Qatar, to name a few—it’s estimated that about 1,200 people turned out to show out on the Newton Centre Green Saturday.

There were people dressed as colonial revolutionaries. There were dogs. There was a dance number to “War (What is it Good For?)” by Edwin Starr. There was even a guy dressed as a tall, creepy robot entertaining the kids.

With cold and allergy season here, Rev. Eric Jackson of Eliot Church, who also writes a column for The Newton Beacon, delivered a powerful sermon about mucus.

It was a creative, albeit icky, metaphor for the current federal government and political climate.

“I’m out here today because our nation is congested and filled with mucus, filled with the mucus of cruelty and greed, filled with the mucus of hatred, filled with the mucus when federal agents are sent upon our cities to kill American citizens and our migrant siblings, filled with the mucus of our children and our people being sent to fight an unjust war in Iran, filled with the mucus of our trans and same-gender-loving siblings being marginalized in our society today, filled with the mucus of our elections trying to be taken over when we know the power belongs to the people,” Jackson preached. “And I’m out here today because all of these actions that we are seeing go against everything that my faith teaches me. I am out here today because that is what I believe Jesus would do, show up.”

The remedy for that congestion, Jackson said, is justice and community power.

“History shows us what happens when ordinary people decide they will not leave the blockage in place,” he continued. “They move it, and when they move it, something better takes place.”

Sidney On, a Newton North High School student and LGBTQ+ rights and women’s advocate, spoke about the relief they feel seeing members of their community standing up for civil rights alongside them over the past year.

“Teenagers, especially now, we have to be smart,” On said. “We have to pay attention to what is going on right now, because the people running this world might burn it down before we even get a chance to lead it ourselves.”

Immigrant rights activist Martha Durkee-Neuman, Newton’s organizer for LUCE, talked about how her organization, with help from the community at large, can help protect immigrants and their allies during ICE crackdowns.

“Show me what democracy looks like!” she yelled gleefully into the microphone.

“This is what democracy looks like!” the crowd cheered back.

Saturday’s “No Kings” protest is estimated to have had about 8 million attendees at about 3,000 rallies nationwide, the most highly attended of the “No Kings” protests so far.

PHOTOS

Rev. Eric Jackson of Eliot Church speaks at Newton’s “No Kings” rally in Newton Centre on March 28, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

It’s estimated that about 1,200 people attended Newton’s “No Kings” rally in Newton Centre on March 28, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

A man in a robot costume entertains crowds at Newton’s “No Kings” rally in Newton Centre on March 28, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

A man in a robot costume entertains kids at Newton’s “No Kings” rally in Newton Centre on March 28, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

City Councilor Martha Bixby, left, and State Rep. Amy Sangiolo, right, attend Newton’s “No Kings” rally in Newton Centre on March 28, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Karen Bray of Newton Indivisible leads a dance performance at Newton’s “No Kings” rally in Newton Centre on March 28, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Karen Bray of Newton Indivisible leads a dance performance at Newton’s at Newton’s “No Kings” rally in Newton Centre on March 28, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Members of Newton Indivisible dance at Newton’s “No Kings” rally in Newton Centre on March 28, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

It’s estimated that about 1,200 people attended Newton’s “No Kings” rally in Newton Centre on March 28, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Sidney On, student at Newton North High School, speaks at Newton’s “No Kings” rally in Newton Centre on March 28, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Martha Durkee-Neuman, Newton immigrant rights activist, speaks at Newton’s “No Kings” rally in Newton Centre on March 28, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

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