Around 128 members of the Charleston community came to Morton Park in heavy rain on Saturday to participate in the No Kings Day protests.  

The protest occurred opposing the actions of President Donald Trump in the wake of the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord, which are considered the start of the American Revolution on April 19, 1775.  

Michael Watts, who represents District 3 on the Coles County Board, waved the first navy jack, which was adopted by the U.S Navy in the 1970s and is based off an alleged design flow by the Continental Navy in 1775.   

The flag contains the 13 red and white strips of the American Flag, a rattlesnake and the phase “Don’t tread on me,” similar to that of the more well-known Gadsden Flag.  

“It’s different than the Gadsden flag. That’s the flag that the MAGA [make America great again] people have adopted,” Watts said.   

The deportation of undocumented immigrants, particularly the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia who was ordered to be brought back by the Supreme Court after being mistakenly deported, was a point of contention with protestors.    

Several signs with the slogan “Bring Kilmar Abrego Garica Home” were present at the protest.  

“The current regime is just snatching people off the street and shipping them off without any type of due process,” said protester Wynette Noll. “Our constitution says that everyone gets due process.”  

Gallery • 5 Photos

Jason Coulombe

Senior music major Joseph Tucker (Left) and President of Students for Socialism EIU Jason Farias, a senior history education major, play the drums at the No Kings Day protests in Morton Park on Saturday.

President of EIU Students for Socialism Jason Farias, a senior history education major, and senior music major Joseph Tucker played the drums at the protest.   

“It helps emphasize our message and what we want to deliver,” Tucker said.   

“Drums and music, they always elevate the energy,” Farias said. “Musicians and artists have always participated in freedom struggles historically, and that’s why we’re here. We’re here to lend our talents and our skills and just lift everybody’s spirts.”  

There was concern about the actions of the Department of Government Efficiency and head Elon Musk with some signs reading, “F(Elon)y” and “Deport Musk” alongside chants of “Down with DOGE, up with democracy.”  

“We didn’t elect Elon Musk, and I certainly didn’t give him permission to destroy our institutions,” protestor Amy Lynch said.  

Biweekly protests as part of the 50501 movement spurred many protestors to come out.  

“We’re here to be part of the movement to show people that we’re not just going to let this happen. We’re going to come out in the streets and fight,” Farias said.  

This was echoed by Aydin Tariq, a Mattoon High School senior, who gave a speech in the Morton Park pavilion after the protest.  

“As someone who believes deeply in the power of young people, I know that our movement can stand together; this energy can stand together,” Tariq said. “We’re not asking for a seat at the table anymore; we’re building a whole new damn table, so let us stand today as a declaration. We will not be silenced, we will not be pushed aside and we will not stop until justice comes to all of us.”  

This weekend also marked the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s midnight ride, which Coles County Democrats Chairman Mac White invoked in a speech his speech after the protest.   

“We are the lanterns in this darkness,” White said. “We are holding up a light to this administration and what they’re doing.” 

Jason Coulombe can be reached at 581-2812 or at jmcoulombe@eiu.edu.