‘No Kings’ protesters urge people to vote early

There have been No Kings protests outside of Town Hall every Saturday for over a year and a half. But this protest carried a different tune than previous ones.

This protest fell on Saturday, Oct. 17, the first day of early voting in Wareham. Instead of just speaking out against President Donald Trump, protesters sent a different message: Vote early in the midterms.

“You can’t complain if you don’t vote,” said Maria, who declined to give her last name, a nurse from Marion who volunteered at the rally.

Over 200 people gathered outside of the early voting location at Town Hall despite the cold, overcast weather. Some held signs with graphics explaining the ballot questions people will vote on in the booth, or urging people to go to the polls like their lives depended on it. 

Immigration lawyer Manfred Wiegandt, one of the leaders of Wareham Law and Democracy, which helped organize the protest, said volunteers had to keep partisan signs away from the polling place. Those holding signs only promoting voting could stand directly out front of Town Hall, while others had to stand farther down the sidewalk or across the street.

But that didn’t stop people from bringing witty signs that have become typical of No Kings protests. Some called Trump a dictator and a felon. One bore a drawing of former Vice President Kamala Harris and read that if she was elected, “we’d be at brunch right now.” Kevin Brogioli held a balloon depicting Trump as a baby.

Jane Golden dressed in an inflatable pig costume, which she said represented Trump. Her daughter Kimberly wore a rodent costume, symbolizing what she said was Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s love of eating roadkill.

Wiegandt said that organizers have no control over what people bring. “They don’t just come to promote voting,” he said.

Ed Stapleton held a sign his wife Diane made that said “I need to be able to tell my grandchildren I did not stay silent.” He said he started protesting last year because he didn’t want history to repeat itself, drawing a comparison between Trump and Adolf Hitler.

“I’m so sorry for all that’s going on in the world,” Jane Golden said. “I’m so tired of the lies.”

This protest was smaller than other major rallies. Wiegandt said that there have been up to 840 people at No Kings protests in Wareham. 

Jane Golden said she thought people didn’t want to interfere with the voting.

But even a smaller crowd was able to elicit dozens of honks from supporters driving down Marion Road. Many rally goers said the response they get is usually positive, but not always. “We get a finger now and then,” Ed Stapleton said.

Maria said that they tell attendees not to feed into any negative responses they get. “Just wave,” she said.

Some tried to spread positivity through their outfits, like 18-year-old Jordan Johnson, who wore a dinosaur costume. He said it was intended to bring levity to protests similar to how ICE protesters in Portland, Oregon wore frog costumes to keep the air positive. Johnson said people ask him for photos every time he wears the costume.

A handful of pro-Trump counter protesters stationed in front of the Wareham Police memorial accused the No Kings protesters of violating their civil rights by placing what they thought was either feces or rotted meat where they put their signs, one of which read “Abort Healey Full Term 2026.” 

This happened four times, with the most recent happening last week, a woman named Sue, who declined to give her last name, said.

They said that Maryanne Kirkbride of Wareham Law and Democracy cleaned it up when she found out.

Gerry Cardillo, holding a Trump flag, said that someone had put a nail in the tire of his truck, which bore a John Gaskey campaign sign on its door. He said he also received a threatening anonymous letter from someone for his political views. With the letter, the sender attached a photo of him holding an “I support ICE” sign.

Cardillo said he will continue protesting in support of Trump. “I’m no quitter,” he said.

Sue said she doesn’t believe in democracy. She said the United States uses a constitutional republic instead of a democratic form of government. “The founding fathers hated democracy because it’s a mob rule,” she said. “That’s what the Democratic Party is: mob rule.”

The No Kings protesters will continue to happen every Saturday as well, even after the midterms are over, Wiegandt said.

“If you show up and show your face, that encourages people to not be desperate,” Wiegandt said.