At some 50 different events around Vermont, thousands of people turned out on Saturday to decry the actions of President Donald Trump as part of the national No Kings protests. One of the biggest gatherings was at the Statehouse in Montpelier, where U.S. Sen. Peter Welch (D–Vt.) fired up the m assive crowd with a speech that excoriated Trump on several fronts, particularly his authoritarian actions and the war with Iran, which he said is now costing $2 billion per day. “Billions for health care, maybe. Billions for another oil war in the Middle East, NO!” Welch said. Welch left the crowd with message of hope, noting that choosing love over hate and pushing back against injustice was having a positive effect. “I say to you today, carry on! We have been making progress! Kristi Noem is GONE!” Welch said in one of the loudest applause lines of the event, referring to the former Homeland Security secretary. State Sen. Kesha Ram-Hinsdale (D-Chittenden Southeast) also praised the crowd for standing up for what’s right, citing the protesters who showed courage during a recent raid involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in South Burlington. “They were not safe, but they were not alone,” she said. Marchers in Burlington Credit: Daria Bishop Credit: Daria Bishop Credit: Daria Bishop Credit: Daria Bishop Credit: Daria Bishop Credit: Daria Bishop Marchers in Burlington Credit: Daria Bishop The view from the steps of the Vermont Statehouse Credit: Kevin McCallum Credit: Kevin McCallum Protesters at the Vermont Statehouse Credit: Kevin McCallum On the Statehouse lawn Credit: Alice Dodge Credit: Kevin McCallum Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) speaking at the Statehouse Credit: Alice Dodge People gathering to March from Roosevelt Park in Burlington’s Old North End Credit: Matthew Roy A cyclist wore this vest in Burlington Credit: Matthew Roy Meg Wallace brought a two-sided sign to Roosevelt Park in Burlington Credit: Matthew Roy Meg Wallace in Battery Park, Burlington, showing one side of her sign Credit: Matthew Roy A unicorn joined Winooski’s protest Credit: Eva Sollberger At the Winooski traffic circle Credit: Eva Sollberger Credit: Eva Sollberger Credit: Eva Sollberger Credit: Eva Sollberger Credit: Eva Sollberger Credit: Eva Sollberger Credit: Eva Sollberger Credit: Eva Sollberger Protesters in Shelburne Credit: Ken Picard Credit: Ken Picard Protesters turned out in Williston as well Credit: Steve Mease Credit: Steve Mease Credit: Steve Mease About 300 people gathered around the Winooski Rotary with creative signs and flags. Many cars honked as they circled the group. A person in an inflated unicorn suit held a sign that said “I am more believable than anything this administration says” on one side and “Even glitter can’t fix this mess” on the other. A mom carried a child in a backpack decorated with signs that said, “Elmo Loves Every1” and a quote from James Baldwin. Marykate Rowan from Winooski said she was there because “it’s one of the very few things I can do, rather than just rant and rave while reading the newspaper or watching the news. It’s just a visible way to join with neighbors and friends and try to unite in the craziness that’s going on.” In Burlington, huge crowds gathered in different parts of the city before marching downtown. Hundreds departed Roosevelt Park in Burlington’s Old North End as someone blared “Know Your Rights” by the Clash. Among them was Meg Wallace, who has been chalking protest messages on Burlington sidewalks. The artist sported a sign with messages on two sides: “Regime Change Begins at Home” and “Flush the Turd Reich.” The post Slideshow: Vermonters Rally to Trumpet ‘No Kings’ appeared first on Seven Days. ...read more read less