Carrie Jones

Oct 18, 2025

HANCOCK COUNTY—Hundreds of local protestors gathered on sidewalks, parking lots, and marched down streets in Hancock County on Saturday to denounce the presidency of Donald Trump and multiple acts of his administration, part of a daylong nationwide effort called No Kings Day.

There were well over 40 rallies throughout Maine and an estimated 2,000 rallies in all states. Demonstrations were scheduled for Ellsworth, Bucksport, Deer Isle, Castine, Penobscot, Southwest Harbor, Blue Hill, and Stonington.

In Bar Harbor, protestors walked down sidewalks in downtown proper, some holding a chain of signs.

In Ellsworth they gathered in the parking lot in front of Ellsworth City Hall where Noel Paul Stookey (from Peter, Paul, and Mary) began the gathering with a song. Big Moose played as well. Music was a theme at many of the rallies.

In Blue Hill, approximately 200 lined the sidewalks. In Machias, they lined a bridge. In Southwest Harbor, at an event organized by the Southwest Harbor Standers, hundreds stood just off (or on) the sidewalks as a health fair happened in the Pemetic School behind them and tents set up for the end of the MDI Marathon, which runs tomorrow, filled the parking lot. Police officers and organizers made sure that crosswalks were used and people stayed safe from cars in the tight space.

The official count from organizers in Southwest Harbor was 750. The crowd began to gather before 11 and by noon they were often three-deep lining the sidewalks in the peaceful protest. There were cheers as cars honked their horns driving through, a dancing inflatable Donald Trump, a giant eagle, numerous flags as well as a quiet but steady police presence in the town of approximately 1,800. They laughed at dancing inflatable costumes and took photos of each other with their phones.

The sidewalks of downtown Southwest Harbor filled with people gathering. They hugged. They warned each other to not step into the roadway.

“I’m a mother,” one woman said. “I worry about people getting hurt.”

Dogs barked. Children giggled. Some people stood. Some danced. Some chanted. Peacemakers in yellow t-shirts mostly focused on making sure that nobody stepped into the roadway and that all crossing of the street occurred at designated crosswalks. Vehicles passed by, many honking their support. Occasionally, a middle finger was lofted. One photographer was asked if she was working for ICE. She was not.

According to its purpose statement, “Southwest Harbor Standers (SWStanders) is a non-violent, kind, welcoming community on the west side of MDI. Meeting weekly on Saturdays from 11-12 am, a tidy hour, to greet passers-by with signs and flags messaging for regime change by promoting legal immigration, due process, securing healthcare, science, climate change, partnering with all nations, and above all respecting all human rights.”

One woman explained that the flowers in her backpack were a homage to a famous photo of a protestor during the Vietnam era. A photographer captured George Harris, putting a flower into a rifle barrel of a soldier.

Another protestor explained that her necklace of paperclips was a symbol of her Scandinavian ancestry. During World War II, Norwegians wore paper clips on their lapels. It was symbol of both defiance and unity against the Nazi occupation.

“We were so pleased with the turn out and the gentle, joyous crowd today. We had 775 and it seemed like more,” said Kate Russell Henry, organizer of SWStanders. “We were mostly local folks as well as meeting new visiting friends and marathoners. The SWStanders, as we are called, meet every Saturday with a good crowd of 35-40 people. We have wanted to keep the organization simple, small and friendly. So when we were facing the idea that we would get bigger today, I had to reach out for guidance and learn how to involve a tribe of volunteer peacekeepers, partners, medics, PR, counters, designers, photo, and site planners. Indivisible, is a nationwide group of small and large organizations with town events with similar purposes as ours. They gave us the tools and training to keep us safe, and non violent. To be listed as an indivisible group, they needed to know we were organizing to be safe. The only way to do this is non violently. We are not dangerous and certainly showed today we love America and democracy.”

The safety team for the event was 26 volunteers, a task that Russell Henry used to do alone.

“We got further help from the SW Harbor police, Chief John Hall and Officer Rick Graham and the SWH/Tremont ambulance service on standby. We couldn’t have done it without their tips and the police showing up to keep an eye out,” she said.

A counter-protestor in Southwest Harbor also arrived early and had a yellow sign about Trump derangement syndrome and Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist who was murdered in September during an event at a Utah college campus. President Trump and others have called the rallies “Hate America” rallies. Many of the signs in Southwest Harbor countered that messaging.

No King is a coalition of a broad group of over 150 organizations. Many of those are labor unions, human rights and environmental organizations and political advocacy groups. There have been two “No Kings” rallies. There was also another nationwide demonstration earlier this year that wasn’t officially under that banner.

---

Photos and video: Carrie Jones/Shaun Farrar Bar Harbor Story unless otherwise specified. More photos are available at our Facebook page.

---

HELP SUPPORT THE BAR HARBOR STORY

Together, We’ve Built Something Special

Carrie Jones and Shaun Farrar

Sep 28

Read full story

When we started The Bar Harbor Story, we didn’t know if anyone would read it.
But you showed up. You shared. You sent tips. Now—over 400,000 views every month later—it’s clear: people here care about their community and each other.

We’ve kept everything free because news should never be out of reach, but every one of our stories take time to write, and your support keeps The Bar Harbor Story going.

If you value our work, please consider a paid subscription, a founding membership, or a sponsorship.

It truly helps us cover one more meeting, tell one more story, shine one more light.

Even $5 a month makes a difference. Click here to become a one-time supporter now.

Thank you so much for being here.

Founding member information can be found here.

Have questions about sponsorships? Just send Shaun an email at sfarrar86@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you.