“The people united will never be defeated! No Peace! No Justice!”
These words thundered from megaphones as Connecticut protesters organized around local courthouses, town halls, and the state’s capitol building. They wanted to be heard and they weren’t alone.
Unrest swept the nation June 14 as more than 4 million protesters in all 50 states rallied against the current presidential administration in what was called a “No Kings” protest. The state of Connecticut was no exception.
Connecticut’s population is majority Democratic when it votes. However, it consists of mostly an older crowd with 54 percent of its population being over the age of 35. This contrasts to states such as California, one of the bluest states in the nation, where more than 60 percent of its population is made up of younger generations. This, paired with the party affiliation age demographic, made it surprising how many protesters there were.
Much of the crowd in these protests consisted of older folk, but there were younger protestors, as well. As one of the smallest states in the country, with a population of only 3.6 million, Connecticut was still brimming with activity on “No Kings” day.
The “No Kings” protests were attended by people who believe President Trump, thus far, has been king-like in his second term. On the protest signs, many referenced the actions of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE and the rise in government detainments. Since the beginning of his 2025 term, President Trump has cracked down on immigrants and reinforced border policies.
The majority of the Connecticut protesters gathered outside the state capitol in Hartford, with other gatherings in smaller towns, such as Torrington and Glastonbury. Some of the smaller protests started earlier in the day, allowing larger gatherings to happen later, in places such as Hartford.
The protest in Glastonbury was held in front of the town hall and occupied about 150-200 yards of sidewalk space on each side of the road.
One of the younger protestors, Dan, sported a sign that read, “Make America Chaotic Good Again.” The sign to him meant “doing the right thing the wrong way. That’s how this country began; with a revolution!”
Dan said he felt the country was nearing a turning point and the protests would help nudge it in the right direction.
Other protesters had more personal reasons for their attendance.
“My husband was a disabled veteran,” said Evelyn Mills. “I don’t like how they are being treated right now!”
It wasn’t just people opposed to Trump’s policies who came out to Glastonbury. During the protest, two locals advocating for Trump appeared; one was a young man sporting a MAGA hat and holding his phone out to record himself. The other rode up and down the street in a motorcycle blaring an airhorn flying flags that read “Trump won!”
The protester’s response? Ignoring them. A few called out with boos as the protesters continued to peacefully wave their flags and posters.
One attendee, Lisa, expressed a strong dislike for the president.
“I think that people gotta rally around a common enemy,” she said. “The whole reason why America was founded was to give the underdogs a chance at freedom.”
While Glastonbury had its smaller local protest, Hartford was booming with activity. Upon reaching the proximity of the capitol, horns and chants echoed around the city’s towers. Despite the chaotic commotion heard from a block away, the protest was peaceful.
Officers barricaded the parking lot on the south side of the capitol building while protesters stood on the steps of the court building. Thousands lined the streets, with some positioned on the steps of the Connecticut Museum of History, and right outside the capital entrance.
No violence ever broke out. While the police guarded the building, the protesters of Connecticut guarded their values.
–July 3, 2025–
