Why People Joined No Kings Rallies Across Northeast PA and Catskills

More than seven million people participated in No Kings rallies on Oct. 18 across the country, according to national organizers. Thousands took to the streets in the Catskills and northeast Pennsylvania – including Honesdale, Monticello, Middletown, Goshen, and Newburgh – to push back against the current Trump administration.

The No Kings rallies took place as the federal government entered its fourth week of a government shutdown.

Radio Catskill asked attendees at the rallies what brought them to the No Kings rallies and what issues were top of mind. Here’s what they said.

Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and readability.

Mindy Poon, Rock Hill

“I’m marching and standing up for everybody who can’t. My husband’s an immigrant. My children are first generation on their father’s side. I’m standing for them and for all the disenfranchised and underrepresented folks because I can.

I hope that we can see that we’re not alone and not isolated. There are so many like-minded people that we do have a voice.”

Honesdale Mayor Derek Williams, Honesdale

“It’s important for people to feel safe in their community and they can have their words matter. I feel like it’s important for people to have safe spaces where they can be among other people that care about the same things as them, and Honesdale is a good place for something like that.

In Pennsylvania, we’re starting to see the impacts of the federal budget filtering into the state budget shut down. In November, we’re looking at SNAP benefits not being a thing anymore for folks, and that is a serious concern for us here in Honesdale and Wayne County. Our food pantries are already stretched. They’re doing the best they can, and we’re expecting an influx of new people who might need that aid.”

Michelle Glick, Manhattan

“We should be putting money back into the American citizens and reinvestment into our communities, reinvestment into the people that are struggling. Instead, [Trump] is making more people struggle. That’s not what we do here. We’re supposed to be supporting one another. I’m not a religious person, but I know religion tells people we’re supposed to love thy neighbor.

That’s why I’m here, because I love thy neighbor. I love my Black and brown neighbors, and I want to support all of them.”

Lorraine West, Monticello

“I’m out here for all the people, all our kids who are growing up. We have to protect their democracy, and it’s not fair. He’s cutting my food stamps. I live in senior housing. Sooner or later, I don’t know where I’m going to be in the next two years.

People are getting tired. Most of these people probably voted for Trump. They regret it today. I know who I voted for, and it wasn’t Trump. He said what he was going to do, and he’s doing it.”

Image: Attendees line Broadway in Monticello for the Oct. 18 No Kings Rally (Photo Credit: Kimberly Izar)