On Saturday morning, June 14, 2025, across Vermont and New Hampshire (and the entire nation), more than 100 local and area communities were hosting a “No Kings” demonstration protesting most or all of President Donald Trump‘s 163 Executive Orders. 44 Memoranda, 63 Proclamations, and hundreds of Executive Directives he has issued to date since his first day in office on January 20.
But the subject of “No Kings,” which was aimed directly at President Trump, was only a part of the day’s national celebrations or protests, depending upon how you view what President Trump has accomplished since he took over the reins of the federal government.
Saturday’s events consisted of several parts. People were either celebrating or protesting. June 14 is America’s Flag Day, and the holiday is also shared with the date of President Trump’s birthday. Local protest events I visited on June 14, however, did not feature any birthday cake.
As the American Revolution, which began in 1775, raged around us at that time, Congress passed the American Flag Resolution in 1777. In 1949, President Harry Truman proposed June 14 as our National Flag Day. Notably, President Trump was born on Flag Day, June 14, 1946, for some, a double-header.
And added to that busy day of June 14, 2025, the US Army celebrated its 250th Anniversary. To celebrate that, there was a massive parade in DC on Saturday evening June 14, 2025, with a two-hour military parade to honor the Army’s founding.
With all those actions slated for a June 14, 2025, review throughout the nation, several hundred protestors assembled at the Newbury Common to show strong opposition for President Trump’s government programs.
There was criticism shown on the way the president and many of his cabinet members are managing and operating various parts of the government. This was verified by the huge turnout of protesters throughout the nation for last Saturday’s demonstrations, mostly voicing the same theme. For our local area neighbors protesting that day, the comments and signs were similar.
In Newbury, hundreds of protesters lined both sides of Route 5 and as traffic cruised by, car and truck horns blared. Drivers passing through knew many of the locals who lined the street. I did not hear any anger, but I did hear a lot of horns beeping. The demonstration lasted a couple of hours and there was no violence.
A sample of a few of those hundreds of signs: “Hands off our Democracy!,” “Unite and Resist,” “Justice for all,” “This is what democracy look like,” Rejecting Kings Since 1776” and “Alexa, Change The President.”
The event was co-facilitated by Cathy Kidder of West Newbury. She told me she was working with the organization Third Act and people from East Corinth. Third Act is a grass roots organization that promotes actions on climate control and democracy at the local, statewide and national levels. She said the demonstration was a mutual effort. It was early on in the protest, and I asked her about safety of participants should a problem arise.
She said there were six event marshals on site along with EMT’s, and she felt confident, as I did, there would be no trouble there during the program. She said she has been constantly on the move, “getting the gist of the crowd and traffic so we can know what is happening.”
She noted that there was a megaphone available, as well, so she could communicate with people. She also told me that police had been notified, although early on in the program when I was there, I did not see any in the area.
Cathy Kidder, is no stranger to organizing all types of programs in her community over the years, such as the West Newbury Turkey Dinner, the Summer Festival, kids programs and concerts. She said she was hoping “folks from the other side” would make an appearance. “We are all losing so much. I am not sure if they are here, but they are certainly welcome,” she said.
She said she was pleased with the turnout and the non-violent atmosphere. It was low key and fun.
Prior to the Newbury demonstration, I visited the site of another protest action just when the crowd was beginning to form, this one in Orford that took place on the Samuel Morey Memorial Bridge over the Connecticut River. Haverhill friends who were there two hours later reported that 350 people, all with signs and flags, came and stood on the bridge until the noon deadline arrived.
The rains, expected for the 14th straight Saturday in a row, held off and everyone was pleased not to have to stand in the rain. I saw many American flags, large and small at both demonstrations, reminding me that even with all the protest signage, it was also Flag Day.
I saw no mention of President Trump’s 79th birthday, nor the US Army’s 250th anniversary.

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