'This Is What Democracy Looks Like': Crowds Turn Out For 'No Kings' Rallies Across Long Island Saturday

NORTH FORK, NY — Despite chilly temperatures, once again, across Long Island, crowds took to the streets Saturday for "No Kings" protests.

Carrying signs that read: "Resist Evil," "No Kings, No Fascists, No Tyrants, No Hate," "Resist Like It's 1938," and more, scores spoke out all across Long Island against the authoritarianism they believe is festering in the United States under President Donald Trump.

"Masked secret police terrorizing our communities. An illegal, catastrophic war putting us in danger and driving up our costs. Attacks on our freedom of speech, our civil rights, our freedom to vote," No Kings organizers said on their website. "Costs pushing families to the brink. Trump wants to rule over us as a tyrant. But this is America, and power belongs to the people — not to wannabe kings or their billionaire cronies. On March 28th, we show up together, and we say, loud and clear: No Kings."

On the North Fork, some said the largest crowd they'd ever seen at a rally in the village turned out at Mitchell Park in Greenport, waving signs and gathering in solidarity for the event, marked by speakers, poetry, and song.

Sarah Burnes of Orient, organizer of the No Kings III event in Greenport, spoke to the crowd.

"I"m so thrilled to see all of you here," she said. "Democracy is government by the people, for the people. Not for the enrichment of one man."

The crowd cheered. "We do not yet have electoral power, but we do have people power," she said. "This is what democracy looks like."

One poem, "Undocumented Dreams," was written by a teen who felt unsafe reading her work in public.

Tricia Martinez, a youth connect crisis counselor at OLA of Eastern Long Island also spoke. "Thank you for sending a clear message that we do not have a king," she said. Of OLA, she added: "We are not going anywhere."

Residents, she added, should feel safe taking their kids to school or heading to the ferry in the morning to go to work. She urged the Southold town board to pass OLA's new "East End Public Safety and Accountability" legislation, aimed at ransparency, oversight,accountability, and safety.

She thanked all present for "choosing community over hierarchy."

New York State Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni also spoke. "Empathy is a strength. Kindness is a strength. Diversity is a strength."

He added: "About 120 years ago my family came over from Italy. We didn't come to New York; we came to Greenport. That whole immigrant diversity mentality was drilled into me growing up. And I can't wait to vote for the children of OLA for the New York State Assembly or the United States Congress."

He recited the words of Thomas Jefferson, against kings. "We rallied around them in 1776 and now we're here today to push back against tyranny, against kings."

Creating the Constitution wasn't easy, Schiavoni said. "We argued with each other on a lot of things," but together, the people remained steadfast, he said. "We are working for a more perfect union. And we are out here today to create a more perfect union — as stated in the Constitution."

He also quoted Margaret Mead, who said: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

But, Schiavoni said: "We have a small group of people in Washington that are working to change our country .That's why we are here, to push back. Because in our Constitution it establishes three branches — checks and balances. It's fundamental to us."

Government calls for compromise, he said. "So today, I'm calling on the United States Congress to push back against tyranny like the First Amendment requires you to do. We hired them to do a job — they should do the job."

He then led the crowd in a chant: "This is what democracy look like," and added, "The power in the United States is with the people."

Elected officials including Greenport Village Mayor Kevin Steussi and Southold Town Councilman Brian Mealy also attended — as did faith leaders and many others who spoke with conviction about joining together for change.

Greenport High School student Faith Welch also read an original poem. Living, she said, "In a country that tells young people that we are the future. A country that asks us to grow up amidst the fear and turmoil it puts us through. It doesn't make sense. We are growing up watching families being torn apart on our screens. We are desensitized. We are growing up hearing the names of those that we will never meet but whose lives matter just as much as ours. We were taught that this country stands for life, liberty and justice for all . But justice that costs innocent lives is not justice."

Welch also joined other students to lead a march in Riverhead later that day.

Tammy Leffler of Mattituck, who lost her federal position during DOGE cuts, also delivered an address.

She lost her position February 13, 2025 at 8:42 p.m., she said. "Because I was a probationary employee, I was fired, or DOGE'd, after only 10 weeks on the job," she said. "It was a gut punch. I was in mourning, grieving the life I worked so hard to build for myself."

She added: "Grief gave way to fury. Fury at the cavalier way in which my dream and so many others was destroyed by an unelected billionaire and his muskrat millions."

Her job was to audit how federal funds were spent, "to ensure against waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer funds," she said.

The firings, she said, were called "performance based. Federal judges called it what it was — a lie. This was never about efficiency. If it were, DOGE would have started with the Pentagon, which as failed eight consecutive audits and is the only federal agency to never pass one. Even if Congress handed it a record $1 trillion budget for 2026 and even if they request $200 billion more for an illegal and unnecessary war."

She added:" They're disappearing people. Silencing dissent. Punishing those who don't fall in line. Making it harder to vote. Are we going to stand by and let Trump and his minions do this?"

"No!" the crowd shouted.

"They don't own the flag. They don't own the Constitution. We, the people, do," Leffler said.

Kathryn Casey Quigley, the Southold Town Democratic committee chair who is running for Suffolk County Democratic chairman, spoke to the crowd, "the biggest I've seen in Greenport yet" at a rally, she said.

"This matters so much," she said. "We matter. "

A pep talk was needed, she said. "We are being lied to. We are here to remind each other" of what can be done, together.

She told the crowd: "We believe. We believe in empathy and inclusiveness. We believe in affordable health care for everyone. We believe love is love. We believe in taxing the rich and reigning in oligarchs. We will not give up. We believe."

Those gathered then joined in a march, filling the streets of Greenport as they shared their message: "This is what democracy looks like."