On Saturday, a crowd is expected to gather at the intersection of Common and Concord streets in front of the Unitarian Church in Belmont Center, with participants holding signs protesting the state of the nation.
It will be Belmont’s version of the national No Kings rallies planned in cities nationally, including Boston.
“It is important for all of us in all our communities to stand up for what we think is right and the dangers of having Donald Trump as president,” said Belmont rally organizer Nora Huvelle.
According to thehill.com, organizers of the No King movement are planning rallies and protests in more than 1,500 cities nationally. The protests come as President Donald Trump plans a military parade in Washington, D.C. to mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army.
As the big cities gear up for thousands of protesters, Huelle emphasized the importance of local involvement, which brings the concerns close to home.
“There are some people who don’t have the energy or the interest in being surrounded by thousands of people,” she said. “This gives them a chance to gather.”
According to actionnetwork.org, the Boston protest, which coincides with Boston Pride, will start with a parade from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by a festival on the Boston Common.
Events similar to the Belmont rally are planned in Waltham, Lexington, Winchester, Newton, and Brookline, among other towns.
“I thought it was important we do this in Belmont, also,” said Huvelle.
Belmont’s rally begins at 9:30 a.m. and runs until noon, giving those interested a chance to head into Boston.
Huvelle said she has talked with Belmont police about the event and said the department’s only concern was about traffic disruption. According to Chief James MacIsaac, the department has no special plans beyond ensuring enough officers are working to handle the anticipated crowd.
