BANGOR, Maine — Protesters in Bangor took to Broadway Park on Saturday for a “No Kings” rally—joining voices with the thousands gathered in southern Maine and across the country against what they say is a dangerous concentration of power.
“This is we the people rising up,” Marianne Larson, one of the rally organizers with Indivisible Bangor, said. “We don’t like what’s happening in the country. This is our democracy, and we’re going to defend it.”
About 200 people gathered on Stillwater Avenue near the Bangor Mall Thursday evening to rally against the Trump administration in honor of the late congressman and civil rights activist John Lewis. Credit: Linda Coan O’Kresik / BDN
About 200 people gathered on Stillwater Avenue near the Bangor Mall Thursday evening to rally against the Trump administration in honor of the late congressman and civil rights activist John Lewis.
The event was the latest in a series of nationwide protests broadly opposing President Donald Trump’s policies, with “Good Trouble Lives On” events planned in more than 1,500 locations across all 50 states, according to The Guardian.
More than 20 Maine communities participated in Thursday’s protests. The Bangor event was organized by Indivisible Bangor, a progressive advocacy group that formed after the 2016 election to oppose Trump’s agenda. Indivisible has thousands of chapters across the country.
The protest aimed to embody Lewis’s appeal for Americans to get into “good trouble, necessary trouble,” in pursuit of social justice, according to organizer Mary Ann Larson.
“People are waking up,” Larson said, noting she was especially concerned about the recently passed budget reconciliation bill and what it will mean for rural Maine hospitals and people who rely on food stamps funded by the federal government.
BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – As protests cried out across the country on Saturday, hundreds gathered at Waterfront Park in Bangor to join in the No Kings movement.
The No Kings Day of Action was a series of protests in all 50 states organized by the social movement organization Indivisible.
June 14th was chosen as the nationwide day of action as it coincides not only with flag day and the Army’s 250th birthday, but also with President Trump’s birthday and military parade.
Organizers say that No Kings was in part meant to draw attention away from the parade, defying what some have perceived as a show of power, as they aimed to show the power of communities across the country.
“I feel, and I think we all feel, our country is at a tipping point. And we the people must stand up and speak out”, said Indivisible Bangor founding member Melissa Berky.
One organizer estimated that 1,000 protesters attended the demonstration in Bangor.
They were met with speeches by community leaders such as Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey, and president of Maine Veterans for Peace Adam Toothaker.
Other topics discussed included support for Medicare and Medicaid, advocating for social services such as the post office, and the right to due process for all Americans.
Protestors gathered in the Bangor Waterfront Park as park of the “No Kings” demonstrations taking part across the country on Saturday. Credit: Kasey Turman / BDN
Bangor was one of more than 30 communities in Maine to protest against the Trump administration on Saturday as part of the nationwide “No Kings” movement.
The protests coincide with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday and a Washington, D.C., military parade to celebrate the Army’s 250th anniversary that is set to take place Saturday evening. Demonstrations were planned in all 50 states and multiple other countries.
More than 1,000 attended the Bangor rally, according to organizers, while the Portland crowd had thousands of attendees, according to the Portland Press Herald.
In Bangor, protestors held up signs with pictures of Trump wearing a crown, words speaking out against budget cuts and the numbers “8647,” a message meaning Trump should be removed from office.
Speakers ranging from leaders of local organizations to state Rep. Laurie Osher, D-Orono, took the stage just after noon at the Bangor Waterfront Park to kick off the event.
Adam Toothaker, president of Veterans for Peace Maine, spoke out against Saturday’s military parade and the deployment of Marines to Los Angeles following immigration protests. Toothaker also compared recent missile strikes on Iran to actions leading up to the Iraq Invasion, which took place in 2003 to remove weapons of mass destruction from Iraq despite no such weapons being found.
Toothaker went on to say the power Trump has was built up through past administrations and will continue to build if citizens don’t take a stand.
“[Politicians] just keep building and building and pulling that power closer and closer until we will end up eventually with a king if we do not stop it,” Toothaker said.
Multiple speakers after Toothaker said they wanted funding cuts to stop and for America to stop supporting Israel in the Israel-Hamas war.
Multiple demonstrators on Saturday in Bangor had signs depicting President Donald Trump as a king. Credit: Kasey Turman / BDN Credit: Kasey Turman / BDN
Demonstrators said they came to the protest because of how Trump has “dismantled” America’s democracy and shown “indecency and a lack of compassion” for many Americans.
Fewer than five counter protestors stood behind the stage while the event went on.
While some protestors carried signs against Trump or other politicians, Peter Sachs, a 24-year-old Bangor resident, simply carried an American flag. He brought the flag to show that America can still be what it once was as long as people promote rights and freedom for everyone, he said.
“Values of freedom, not what the Republicans peddle, but true freedom is an American value associated with the flag, associated with my country,” Sachs said. “It’s patriotism that brings me out here to make a better country for myself and for those who come after me.”
Sachs said he hopes the event is the start of a change in the country.
Bunny Falkie and Bethany Kuczmarski, both Bangor residents in their 20s, said they came to the protest to show support for the “injustices” going on across the country. The end goal of the event should be to elect more representative politicians in the future who listen to the people, both Falkie and Kuczmarski said.
Kuczmarski said it was “unfortunate” that the event had to happen, but is “cautiously optimistic” for a future where events like this don’t have to be held.
“I would like to have faith in the American people for picking the right person to go into office next,” Kuczmarski said. “I think we really failed this last election, but there’s potential.”
Protesters marched downtown following the speeches.
Update: This story has been updated with a different crowd estimation provided by organizers.
Organizers in dozens of Maine communities held ‘No Kings’ protests Saturday. The rallies were planned to coincide with Saturday’s military parade in Washington, D.C. in honor of the Army’s 250th birthday, which was also Flag Day and President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.
The protests also come on the heels of the Trump administration deploying the National Guard and Marines to quell protests of ICE deportations in Los Angeles.
Jerry Campbell and his sister Leah Campbell said they came out to the Portland protest to show solidarity with immigrants. Their parents emigrated to the U.S. from Canada and were green card holders. Leah Campbell served in the Peace Corps, and Jerry Campbell served in the Navy. He said as a veteran, he’s disturbed to see the military deployed this way.
“The way they’re using the military now as a Gestapo state — it shouldn’t be that way. We have plenty of police for policing,” he said.
U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree speaks to a crowd of ‘No Kings’ protestors at a rally in Lincoln Park in Portland on June 14, 2025.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine’s 1st District spoke at the Portland protest, after stopping at several protests throughout southern Maine that morning. In her remarks, Pingree called President Trump a “lawless man” and the thousands of assembled protesters a “crowd of patriots.”
“In 1776, we had a Declaration of Independence,” she said. “And some of the reasons we did that is because King George, the king and dictator, was cutting off trade with all parts of the world, was taxing us without consent, was depriving people of a jury trial and transplanting people beyond the seas to be tried for pretend offenses. Does that sound like El Salvador? Guantanamo?”
Pingree implored the crowd to make their voices heard by voting in the midterm elections next year.
‘No Kings’ protestors rally in Lincoln Park in Portland on June 14, 2025.
The Portland protest, which drew thousands, was peaceful, even celebratory at times. Thousands of people flooded the streets around Lincoln Park in downtown Portland, causing police to briefly close off portions of Congress, Pearl, and Federal streets. Attendees chanted, waved signs and sang songs, including “America the Beautiful.”
But two Portland protesters were arrested after a scuffle between a small group of protesters and police on the corner of Congress Street and Franklin Avenue.
“All were encouraged to leave the area or they would be arrested for obstructing a public way,” Portland police said in a statement, adding that one woman was arrested for throwing a water bottle at officers and a man was arrested for blowing his airhorn in an officer’s ear.
Portland police pushed back protesters after crowds began to disperse from Lincoln Park in Portland. A Press Herald photographer who was taking photos in the street was shoved by an officer.
Protests elsewhere in the state appeared to be peaceful. In Augusta, about 3,000 people gathered at the State House and later marched across the Memorial Bridge.
Molly White, an organizer with Maine Resist, said many were drawn to the protest after seeing the Trump administration’s actions hit close to home.
“I think people think that in Maine it’s not going to happen to their neighbors, and now they’re seeing it happen to their neighbors,” said White, “and it’s disappointing that it takes a teenager getting taken out of school or a father of you know, a pregnant woman who has no other means to support herself … it’s sad that it took that, but I think people are finally waking up that these are our community members.”
Rallygoers outside the State House in Augusta on Saturday, June 14, 2025.
Jen Wolfe, a combat veteran, said that protesting is her way of continuing to fight for her country. She said those who serve should be fighting against the administration as well.
“If you are a veteran, you took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, period, end of subject, and that oath never dies,” Wolfe said.
A small group of counterprotesters peacefully demonstrated, with someheckling the crowd. Protest peacekeepers and Augusta police monitored the interactions, and no violence broke out.
1 of 8
‘No Kings’ protestors walk to a rally in Lincoln Park in Portland on June 14, 2025.
Esta Pratt-Kielley / Maine Public
2 of 8
‘No Kings’ protestors rally in Lincoln Park in Portland on June 14, 2025.
Esta Pratt-Kielley / Maine Public
3 of 8
‘No Kings’ protestors rally in Lincoln Park in Portland on June 14, 2025.
Esta Pratt-Kielley / Maine Public
4 of 8
‘No Kings’ protestors rally in Lincoln Park in Portland on June 14, 2025.
Esta Pratt-Kielley / Maine Public
5 of 8
‘No Kings’ protestors rally in Lincoln Park in Portland on June 14, 2025.
Esta Pratt-Kielley / Maine Public
6 of 8
‘No Kings’ protestors rally in Lincoln Park in Portland on June 14, 2025.
Esta Pratt-Kielley / Maine Public
7 of 8
‘No Kings’ protestors rally in Lincoln Park in Portland on June 14, 2025.
Esta Pratt-Kielley / Maine Public
8 of 8
‘No Kings’ protestors rally in Lincoln Park in Portland on June 14, 2025.
Esta Pratt-Kielley / Maine Public
Protests also took place across the state, from Presque Isle to York. Turnout ranged from a few dozen to hundreds.
And in Freeport and Bangor, the Maine Republican Party held two events in support of the president’s birthday, the military anniversary, and Flag Day. Former Republican Gov. Paul LePage was slated to speak at the Bangor event in the evening.
In Portland, Megan Donahue walked through the crowd wearing an eight foot inflatable unicorn costume. With her was friend Lib Jameson, dressed as the unicorn’s security guard. The pair said they wanted to inject some fun and light into a time when many are feeling despair.
Megan Donahue wears an eight foot inflatable unicorn costume in Portland on Saturday, June 14, 2025. With her was friend Lib Jameson, dressed as the unicorn’s security guard. The pair said they wanted to inject some fun and light into a time when many are feeling despair.
“‘No Kings’ means that we need to be treated fairly honestly, openly and without prejudice. For all people,” said Jameson.
“We have to uphold democracy,” Donahue added.
Donahue said it was only her second protest — she can get uneasy in crowds. But, she said, wearing the costume helps her turn up for her community.
“I am really scared about what’s happening in our government. I also believe that kids should have a reason to smile, and people have been smiling, so I appreciate that people have been laughing and smiling [at the costume]. For me, the unicorn is a symbol of happiness. It brightens any dark day,” she said.
Nearly 200 people rallied outside Bangor’s Federal Building in a protest organized by Indivisible Bangor, opposing recent actions by President Trump, Elon Musk, and the DOGE organization, particularly in light of Trump’s clashes with Governor Janet Mills and his meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. Protesters called on Maine’s congressional representatives to more forcefully resist Trump’s executive orders and funding cuts, praising Mills and Senator Angus King for their courage while criticizing Rep. Jared Golden and Sen. Susan Collins for their perceived inaction. Speakers emphasized the urgency of defending democracy, with many pledging continued activism across Maine’s counties.
Nearly 400 people gathered at the Bangor Public Library for an “empty chair” town hall organized by Indivisible: Bangor and partner groups, calling attention to Rep. Jared Golden’s absence and urging him to oppose the Trump administration’s policies. Speakers, including State Rep. Sean Faircloth and organizer Megan Smith, criticized tax breaks for billionaires and advocated for more progressive tax legislation in Maine, such as surcharges on millionaires and luxury home sales. The event reflected growing grassroots momentum, with chants of “tax the rich” and calls for political accountability, symbolizing a resurgence of civic engagement in response to a challenging political climate.
On a rainy Saturday, Indivisible Bangor organized a peaceful protest outside the Bangor Federal Building, urging Maine’s Congressional delegation to take stronger action against the Trump Administration. Community leaders—including Bangor City Council Chair Cara Pelletier, State Rep. Sean Faircloth, and Wabanaki Two-Spirit Alliance Secretary Adrian Sockalexis—spoke on issues such as protecting constitutional rights, opposing intimidation, and promoting due process. Reverend Dr. Malcolm Himschoot emphasized the connection between faith and social justice, advocating for diversity, equity, and human rights. After the speeches, protesters marched through the area and reconvened at the federal building to continue their demonstration.
