Over 1,000 Queens residents attended Saturday’s No Kings protest, which brought together elected leaders, artists and residents of all ages for a peaceful protest against the Trump Administration and its harsh treatment of immigrants, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and civilian populations in nations he’s waged wars in across the world.
Attendees gathered at MacDonald Park in Forest Hills wielding colorful signs that read protest slogans such as “No Ice” and “Resist,” as well as signs supporting the transgender community, criticizing wars in Gaza and Iran, and demanding for Trump’s immediate removal from office.
The protest, organized by grassroots coalition Queens Says No Kings, was part of a nationwide movement with over 3,300 planned events amassing 8 million participants this past Saturday alone.
Protesters marched down Queens Boulevard on Saturday during the No Kings protest.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Before the march kicked off, brief remarks were made by Assembly candidate Brian Romero, congressional candidate Chuck Park, Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr., who spoke in support of immigrant communities being targeted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers at the behest of Trump.
Romero — a proud son of Colombian immigrants and a Queens native — said he sees firsthand the fear on residents’ faces while petitioning and knocking on doors for his campaign.
“Our neighbors are increasingly afraid of ICE coming to our blocks,” Romero said. “Or tech oligarchs who are trying to run people out of their jobs, and the billionaire class that continues to exploit workers while they get wealthier and wealthier.”
However, he said the antidote to fear is hope, which is exactly what the No Kings protest provided the community with on Saturday.
Congressional candidate Chuck Park spoke before the march criticizing Trump for waging illegal wars from Venezuela to Iran.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Park, the son of Korean immigrants and as well as a Queens native, criticized Trump for launching illegal wars from Venezuela to Iran.
While looking into the crowd, Park said he noticed residents of all different ethnic backgrounds — Afghani, Pakistani, Ashkenazi, Polish, Columbian, Chinese, German, Jamaican and Bengali, just to name a few — all of whom he said built this nation.
“We are here today because so many of our leaders in Congress have failed to fight back and stop this,” Park asserted. “We demand that you stop funding deportations and wars and start funding childcare and healthcare.”
“We march today for our neighbors of all faiths, all religions, all backgrounds and all immigration statuses that speak a plethora of languages that make Queens so special,” added González-Rojas. “We march today because we are fed up with the corruption, with the abuse of power, and the attacks on our communities.”
Protesters then lined up to march down Queens Boulevard, exiting the park and walking over a mile to Queens Borough Hall in Kew Gardens.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. welcomed protesters to the steps of Queens Borough Hall in Kew Gardens, asserting that Queens would never bow to a king.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
They were welcomed on the stairs by Richards, who delivered a few more remarks in support of democracy and communities being targeted by the Trump Administration.
“There might be counties in New York City named Kings and Queens — but those are titles no leader will ever hold in the United States of America,” Richards said. “Queens will never bow to a dictator… Let’s show them that Donald Trump doesn’t define what America is and what we stand for, because we define what we stand for.”
Additional speakers included U.S. Rep. Grace Meng; Assemblymember Catalina Cruz; Jessica Rosario, Queens lead of Hands Off NYC; and Dustin Schwartz, a member of the Queens branch organizing committee of the Democratic Socialists of America.
Protesters held their signs up high as they marched down Queens Boulevard during the No Kings protest.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Meng, the first and only Asian American member of Congress from New York State, said each and every member of the community that showed up at the protest was standing in the way of Trump, whom she called a “wannabe dictator.”
She said the most painful stories she hears as a congresswoman are from elders in immigrant communities, who are often the first ones in their families to take a chance on building a new life in the U.S.
“They tell me that this isn’t the country they first came to — this is not the America they recognize,” Meng recounted. “And so we have to make sure that we continue to speak up against this corruption… [Trump] is not fighting for you. He is not working for you. He is working for his billionaire friends so they can have a better quality of life, and we will not allow that.”
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, left, said immigrants in her district tell her they no longer recognize the America they first immigrated to.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Cruz, who was the first Filipino elected to any level of government in New York, said the community she represents sees the federal government overstep its power with cruel policy enactments every single day.
“We gather together because we know democracy will only die if we stay silent,” Cruz said. “I want you to reach out to all your local representatives and tell them that they have your support to pass the New York For All Act.”
Rosario recalled growing up on the streets of Queens, she said, interacting with neighbors and kids all over her community every day and watching firsthand how everyone looked out for each other.
She said she was raised by the community and all those who work in it, such as the Dominican and Yemeni deli owners, the workers at Foodtown on the corner of Hillside Avenue and Francis Lewis Boulevard, and the owners of Gaby’s Pizza in Hollis.
“At Hands Off, we prepare folks to protect themselves and their neighbors,” Rosario said. “But the broader goal is to connect neighborhoods so you know who’s on your block. There’s a lot of mutual aid and resource sharing, and that’s what keeps us safe.”
As protesters marched down Queens Boulevard, they shouted into megaphones and blew whistles as they led the crowd in chants.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
According to Schwartz, who grew up in Forest Hills and began regularly organizing through the DSA around 2024 when Trump was re-elected into office, the election of Mayor Zohran Mamdani helped show everyone what uniting and uplifting the community truly looks like.
“We showed a fascist and his enablers that a better world is possible,” Schwartz said. “That nobody is illegal, that tax money should be spent not on bombs, but on public health care, housing education, child care and mass transit — and that billionaires should pay their fair share so that we can all live with dignity.”
Musicians also performed during the demonstration including Disterbenz, led by singer-songwriter Gabrielle Sterbenz, who performed “No Kings,” an original tune written by Linda Brewton, as well as the Curtis Watts Trio featuring Jennifer Giardina and Vinny Mongeluzo, who performed Buffalo Springfield’s protest classic “For What It’s Worth.”
At the end of the program, several faith leaders including Imam Muhammad Shahidullah, Reverend Jeff Courter of the First Presbyterian Church of Forest Hills, Rabbi Irwin Goldenberg of Temple Beth Israel of York PA, justice advocate Elder Louis D. Rodriguez, and Buddhist practitioner Rikki Asher.
“I think if Jesus was here, he’d be here with you,” Courter said. “But you don’t have to be religious to understand that war is bad and kings bring war.”
“American fascists need to read the whole Bible, as well,” Goldenberg added. “No kings who think that they can do anything they want. The people united shall never be defeated.”
Shahidullah said as a Muslim and Queens resident, he wants no hate or fear in Queens. At a time where people of all faiths are celebrating Eid, Passover and Easter, it is time for peace in the community.
“We are asking and seeking peace from you,” he said. “We want peace, we want justice, and no kings in Queens.”
After Asher led the crowd in a Buddhist chant wishing attendees happiness, health, safety and peace, Rodriguez took to the podium and ended the program with words of love and goodwill.
“Before you leave here today, I want you to turn to one another — somebody that you don’t know — and let them know that you love them for the God that is present within them,” he said. “As faith leaders, we will be here every march that you will be in, walk beside you, and love all of you. Not because we have to, but because it’s ordained by God. There’s a genuine goodwill that we love you all.”
One protester said her dog, Charlie Girl, would make a better president than Donald Trump.Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud
Photo by Ramy Mahmoud