Approximately 180,000 people gathered at the Boston Common for the third “No Kings” protest Saturday, voicing opposition to what organizers called President Donald Trump’s authoritarian, king-like actions.

Millions of people attended “No Kings” protests across the country. Over 160 were held in towns across Massachusetts — the second most in the nation, only after California, Boston.com reported.

The Boston protest was organized by local advocacy groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, Indivisible Mass Coalition and Mass 50501.

Speakers, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Attorney General Andrea Campbell and Gov. Maura Healey, emphasized the importance of keeping Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers out of Massachusetts and continuing to show displeasure with the Trump administration by voting and protesting.

“I want to stop Donald Trump in his tracks right this minute, but we save our democracy through our elections,” Warren said. “That is where the real power lies.”

Healey called on attendees to build community with one another and use their platforms to speak out.

“This is Massachusetts, and 251 years ago, we got the whole show started, remember?” Healey said. “So we know something about democracy. We know something about freedom.”

Kathy O’Donnell, 72, attended both previous “No Kings” protests in Boston. She said she hopes the demonstrations will have a national impact.

“I just noticed that there are demonstrations in states that you never would think would have demonstrations,” O’Donnell said. “It feels like the country is all together on this, and the more people that come, the better.

Attendees wrote messages “pledging” more ways they plan to protest on a large mural in the Common entitled “We the Powerful.”

“The goal, especially for this ‘No Kings’ protest, is that people will leave here today and do something else,” said Via Luino, a volunteer with Mass 50501 who helped organize the mural. “So that’s why we’re having people pledge on this mural … to keep the momentum going.”

LUCE, a Massachusetts immigrant justice network and ICE-hotline service, tabled at the protest and distributed information for attendees.

Albert Lee, a member of LUCE, said the organization is also working to “get ICE out of our courthouses and out of the state.”

Vivian WuWong, interim executive director of the Chinese Progressive Association in Boston, attended the protest along with over 50 CPAB members to support immigrant rights.

“We [immigrants] are a part of this society and we want to be counted,” Wong said. “We need leaders who recognize that … and bring our society together instead of divide people.”

Local social justice and political organizations promoted their causes at the protest.

Hessann Farooqi, executive director of the Boston Climate Action Network and an event speaker, said he hoped to call attention to the environmental harm done by the Trump administration, including higher energy bills, rollbacks of clean energy investments and corporate-driven air pollution.

“Climate action and action on any issue happens when regular people organize and mobilize and build a long-term political consensus,” Farooqi said in an interview with The Daily Free Press. “That’s exactly what we need to do everywhere.”

Erik Berg, president of the Boston Teachers’ Union, said members of his union attended the protest to “stand up and fight back against a rising tide of authoritarianism.”

“We know that when working people are a part of a movement that resists authoritarianism…our country is stronger,” Berg added.

The protest was headlined by The Dropkick Murphys, a punk band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts, who dedicated their song, ‘First Class Loser,’ to Trump.

“This [song] was written long before Donald Trump came down the escalator, but man, oh man does it fit him to a tee,” lead singer Ken Casey said before performing the song.

Some demonstrators wore costumes as an additional layer of protest.

Josephine Eagle, a member of the Burlington-based anti-ICE coalition No Fear Street Theater, dressed in a 38-pound Marie Antoinette costume.

Eagle, who asked to be referred to by her stage name due to fear of doxxing, said she chose the costume due to the “obvious parallels” between the French Revolution and the current “tone deaf, extravagant administration who does not understand the plight of the middle class [or] of those in poverty.”

“The current administration is exacerbating the wealth gap in this country with everything that they do,” Eagle added.

Retired siblings Chris Walsh and Kathleen Walsh came from Middleborough, Mass. with handmade props and signs.

Chris Walsh carried tea crates with the words, “Royal T,” inscribed on them. He said the crates echoed the “No Kings” sentiment of the 1773 Boston Tea Party.

Kathleen Walsh said she attended a past “No Kings” protest, but “needed to be convinced” to come to the third one.

“Nothing changed after that one,” Kathleen Walsh said. “I’m old … and I’m sad things haven’t changed for the young people.”

Additional speakers, including Sen. Ed Markey, Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Milford teen leader Marcelo Gomes de Silva, emphasized the power of community organizing and change.

Silva, who was detained by ICE in May 2025, said the current administration fosters fear in local communities.

“Freedom isn’t just words on paper, it’s whether people actually feel safe enough to live their lives and freedom means we question power, we don’t worship it,” Silva said. “We stand for justice, not for power. And under God, there are no kings.”