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FAIRHAVEN — At the intersection of Main Street and Route 6, just steps from Fairhaven High School, about 400 people gathered on Saturday afternoon to voice growing concern over what they describe as the slow dismantling of American democracy.
The protest was organized by the Fairhaven Democratic Town Committee and was part of a coordinated national day of action led by 50501 — a decentralized activist network whose name stands for “50 protests, 50 states, one day.” The group has become a visible presence at rallies across the country, including previous events like “Not My President’s Day” and the global “Hands Off” demonstrations.
“Our goal is to mobilize Americans of all parties, of all faiths, of all genders to combat the coup that we are under,” said Nancy Becker, a volunteer with the Mass 50501 movement.
“The turnout has been pretty amazing,” said Ann Richard, chair of the Fairhaven Democratic Town Committee. “I am so proud. This is what democracy looks like.”
Protesters came from across the South Coast and beyond, holding signs, chanting, and lining the roadside as cars passed. Some honked in support; a few waved Trump flags. Others pulled over to read signs held along the curb, including one that read: “Now you’ve pissed off Grandma!”
Donna Gagnon, who carried that sign, said she was there for her two granddaughters. “I was protesting back in the ’70s for women’s rights on reproductive health. Now I am doing it again for my granddaughters.”
Lynne Israelson Mason, dressed in a handmade fox costume with an orange-painted face, said the idea for her outfit came to her earlier in the week, after she saw a hungry fox crossing the road just outside of Fairhaven. The image stuck with her. “It’s like a fox has raided the henhouse,” she said, drawing a pointed parallel to President Donald Trump in the White House. “But who is watching the fox?”
Other protesters brought a touch of satire. Mike Pol, of Wareham, walked with a plush penguin strapped to his back in a child carrier. “It’s because of the taxes that were imposed on the island that has only penguins on it,” he said. Then, more serious: “We really feel we are at risk of losing our democracy, of losing our country.”
Saturday’s event followed earlier protests in the area. On April 5, dozens of South Coast residents boarded a morning commuter train from New Bedford to Boston Common, while hundreds more gathered near the Dartmouth Mall — part of the nationwide “Hands Off” mobilization.
A blog called We (the People) Dissent, run by activist and author K. Starling, has been tracking protest activity across the country. According to its data, more than 50 demonstrations took place in Massachusetts alone on Saturday.
Jody Church, a retired schoolteacher from Rochester, stood by the roadside holding a poster from the 1973 film “Hitler: The Last Ten Days.” Her choice of prop was deliberate. “I don’t want my grandchildren to go through what my grandparents went through,” she said.
Tapping her chest, she spoke about the United States as a diverse nation — one that stands for freedom and must remain committed to it. “The Constitution of America is not something you can mess with.”
Email Eleonora Bianchi at ebianchi@newbedfordlight.org
Democrats are really having a hard time accepting that President Trump won the election. I hope healing will come soon for them. Fairhaven actually has 3 precincts that were majority Trump voters. The other 3 precincts were a close tie- Nearly 50% of Fairhaven voters, voted for Trump. There were 4,781 voters for Harris and 4,605 voters for Trump -So nearly 50% of Fairhaven voters are for Trump policies. Rallies won’t matter much with Trump supporters. But hey, knock yourself out….be free…
Perhaps those locals who voted for Trump now wish they hadn’t! Thank you for covering this, NBL, as other outlets have not.
No one who voted for Trump is regretting it. On the contrary, those fools that voted for biden were betrayed by their own party and ousted him in a coup and replaced him with the word salad queen who didn’t even get 1 vote in the primaries. How’s that for “democracy”? LOL!
I agree with you 💯
And why are you ‘Anonymous?’ Others seem proud to sign their names.
Cindy Locker
Your Rightist powerlust is clear. You evade the issues for political power. Trump must be impeached for attacking divided govt, deporting people w/o due process, and prosecuted for treason during our indirect war w/Russia.
I don’t think anyone at this protest is disputing that he won. The results are pretty clear, and unlike the alt-right/reality crowd of Jan 6ers, the left seems to have accepted it.
Focusing on this narrative lets you ignore what the protest was really about – the hollowing out of our democratic institutions and public services to appease the egos of Trump and Elon.
amen!
Accepted it? Hahahaha! As for hollowing out democratic institutions, we call it stopping waste, fraud and abuse of the taxpayers’ money. It’s insane to see democrats attacking Trump and Musk for exposing govt corruption instead of being mad at the crooked politicians stealing our money. That’s some Koolaid drinking right there.
These rallies and protests are not questioning the fact that Trump won the election at all. If administration policies are illegal or unpopular of course we will voice our opinions. That is called participation in our government and is just as important as voting.
Anonymous ….Trumps a convicted crook who breaks ALL laws and violates the constitution and courts on a daily basis. With good ol Pete texting his wife and brother in law on war plans AGAIN leading to a total lack of security for our country. Plus getting rid of meals on wheels, Cutting social security office loacations..phone lines, head start programs etc.. Question for you Trumpers..Why do billionaires get to pay zero taxes? Why does the bottom 95% of the population have to foot the bill? If we taxed the billionaires like the rest of the world does NONE of this utter nonsense would have to take place.. none of it!
IRS data for 2022 show that the top 1% of filers paid 40.4% of income- tax revenue, for the entire country. The top 10% shouldered 72% of the revenue burden. The bottom half of filers, combined, paid 3%, and that’s an overstatement because it doesn’t account for “refundable” credits. Look it up on http://www.IRS.gov
IRS data …Tesla (Musk)paid zero income tax on sales of 11 billion of sales over 3 years As I said in the original post most billionaires pay zero taxes and that is the issue. Bezos paid zero federal income taxes in both 2007 and 2011. From 2006 to 2018, when Bezos’ wealth increased by $127 billion, he reported a total of $6.5 billion in income. He paid $1.4 billion in personal federal taxes, a true tax rate of 1.1%. so as I pointed out the need to be taxed at 45% like the rest of the planet does and none of this would be necessary . I don’t even want to get into the current proposed tax breaks currently in play for these individuals.. Look it all up…
So paying $1.4 billion in taxes is not enough? What govt services does he get that you don’t? How many employees does he employ that also pay taxes? Your mind has been polluted with democrat talking points and the politics of envy.
Tell me that you watch the fake news without telling me you watch the fake news.
Billionaires and upper income earners pay most of the taxes. Here, educate yourself so you don’t continue to post misinformation.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tax-irs-income-taxes-who-pays-the-most-and-least/
https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/federal/summary-latest-federal-income-tax-data-2023-update/
How much income tax do the top earners pay?
Most of the government’s federal income tax revenue comes from the nation’s top income earners. In 2021, the top 5% of earners — people with incomes $252,840 and above — collectively paid over $1.4 trillion in income taxes, or about 66% of the national total. If you include the top 10% — everyone who made at least $169,800 — that figure rises to $1.7 trillion, or 76% of the total.
The top 50% of earners contributed 97.7% of federal income tax revenue.
Thomas, google is your friend. I await your apology and correction.
That’s exactly what we are doing, being free. This is something the orange dude does not like . If we don’t fight, freedom is something you won’t have soon. Hope you’re still feeling good about all the winning- it has only take the orange guy 3 months to make the whole world (except Russia) hate our guts. Also, wondering if you will still be feeling so giddy in a few months when he’s tanked the economy and no one can figure out how to get their Social Security or Medicare .
Does this make them election deniers?
THANK YOU, New Bedford Light, for covering this event, unlike the other local major news outlet, and the two Fox affiliated television outlets in our area. Thanks also to the Fairhaven Democratic Town Committee for sponsoring this event. Many of us are grateful for the opportunity you both have provided us to make our voices hear.
As another pissed-off Grandma who marched in the 70’s I was pleased to see many more young people actively participating in the protest this time. Also heartening, there were more encouraging horn-honks and fewer Trump flags driving by.
While reading this article on Easter Sunday and seeing the many protest signs about the ways in which people are suffering from this administration’s actions, I was reminded of the words of Jesus: “Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me”. A great many of the signs I saw denounced the illegal and inhumane way in which migrants are being snatched off the street and deported without having the due process rights granted by law to all US residents. In Pope Francis’ traditional Urbi et Orbi message, which was read out on his behalf today, Francis lamented the “contempt … stirred up at times towards the vulnerable, the marginalized, and migrants”. Living in the New Bedford area, and thanks to the New Bedford Light, we are especially aware of this issue. This administration is in violation of court orders to stop illegal deportation of migrants without due process, and of a unanimous Supreme Court order to return a migrant who was wrongfully deported to El Salvador without being given due process rights. If this can be done to them, it can also be done to any of us. This issue is being discussed in many congressional town halls where citizens can ask questions about what their elected legislators are doing to solve this and other problems. In contrast to President Trump, former president Jimmy Carter treasured not only the US Constitution but also the Sermon on the Mount. He lived it both professionally and personally. He would have especially preached this Beatitude: “ Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” In her April 17, 2025 town hall meeting in Bluebell, Pennsylvania, Rep. Madeline Dean said that she carried both a copy of the US Constitution and a copy of the Beatitudes in her pocket as guides to how she should legislate and live. Maybe we should all send a copy of both the US Constitution and the Beatitudes to members of this administration, and especially to those members in Congress who have been enabling this president and his staff and appointees to abuse power. Refusing to carry out court orders is an impeachable offense.
A summary and video of Rep Dean’s town hall meeting at the Montco Cultural Center in Bluebell Pennsylvania on April 17, 2025 can had at this url:
https://whyy.org/articles/madeleine-dean-town-hall-trump-response-democracy/
I am hoping that people who don’t have time to immediately see the video will bookmark it for later and read the summary. The first half includes information on how citizens can help protect and defend our democracy. The second half is a question and answer session from constituents.
If emojiis were allowed, I would include a big heart emojii to the staff at the New Bedford Light and to the members of the Fairhaven Democratic Town Committee for providing opportunities for members of our community to be heard.
Amen!
Dear Content Moderator,
If my previous comment about this article and is accepted, and if it is possible for you to add to it, would you kindly add the following correction:
The video link only has the summary and short video comment . The full video and transcript is :
https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/rep-madeleine-dean-hosts-town-hall-in-blue-bell-pennsylvania/658677
Thank you.
And this changed what?
So happy to see our community joining in the fight to preserve our democracy from King Trump. The American Revolution started in Massachusetts 250 years ago. Let the revolt against the tyrant, who has violated his oath to uphold the Constitution so many times, begin here as well.
Pope Framcis advocated for asylum seekers and migrants until his dying day. In his letter to the American Bishops on February 10, 2025, he stated the following:
““The family of Nazareth in exile, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, emigrants in Egypt and refugees there to escape the wrath of an ungodly king, are the model, the example and the consolation of emigrants and pilgrims of every age and country, of all refugees of every condition who, beset by persecution or necessity, are forced to leave their homeland, beloved family and dear friends for foreign lands.” [2]…
3. Likewise, Jesus Christ, loving everyone with a universal love, educates us in the permanent recognition of the dignity of every human being, without exception….”
I confess that I only recently read this letter on the occasion of the death of our beloved Pope Francis.
Those who would like to read his letter can find it at this link:
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/letters/2025/documents/20250210-lettera-vescovi-usa.html
Comments about US migration policy from the papal letter to the American Bishops on February 10, 2025
““The family of Nazareth in exile, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, emigrants in Egypt and refugees there to escape the wrath of an ungodly king, are the model, the example and the consolation of emigrants and pilgrims of every age and country, of all refugees of every condition who, beset by persecution or necessity, are forced to leave their homeland, beloved family and dear friends for foreign lands.” [2]…
3. Likewise, Jesus Christ, loving everyone with a universal love, educates us in the permanent recognition of the dignity of every human being, without exception….”
I confess that I only recently read this letter on the occasion of the death of our beloved Pope Francis.
Those who would like to read his letter can find it at this link:
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/letters/2025/documents/20250210-lettera-vescovi-usa.html
If you actually listen to the people interviewed on YouTube, only 1 individual provided anything close to specifically stating why he was were protesting. Let’s see I heard:
-this is what democracy looks like (compared to what)?
-I am disenfranchised to see everything going (such as)?
-the President doesn’t belong there (why?)
-I hate what they’re doing to federal employees? (What specifically? Making them go back to work in the office?)
-our National Parks are suffering? Really? Proof?
-We are under a coup? What does that mean actually? Trump was elected.
– I can’t believe this is happening? What actually?
-Trump thinks he is a king? Explain that?
-my freedoms are being taking away? (Which ones exactly?)
The only individual who actually had something specific to say was he didn’t like the way the way ICE conducted raids and there is a lack of due process within the immigration system as enforcement is carried out.
My take away is most of these people protesting actually don’t know why or can’t articulate why specifically they were protesting, and whoever interviewed them failed to follow up asking specifics?
If you stopped watching Fox (a company sued and prosecuted for lying about the elections) and sensationalist hate mongers and started reading real news, you would know the answers to most of these questions. It is your responsibility to investigate, not somebody else’s job to explain things to you. MAGA members are spoon fed lies and propaganda by the current administration and want others to disprove the lies? They are endless. Critical thinking takes a little effort and is your responsibility. However, a kind soul has given you the answers to your questions. However, my suspicion is that you don’t really care about the facts.
That’s about every protest by democrats. Same old democrat talking points. Some are there just to get out of the house and the rest are rent a mob.
They don’t even realize that they’re own governor has we the citizen taxpayers under a state of emergency, according to representative Carbral this state is real trouble shortly with there out of control spending
Saturday in the twilight zone…. If you actually listen to the people interviewed on YouTube, only 1 individual provided anything close to specifically stating why he was were protesting. Let’s see I heard:
-this is what democracy looks like (compared to what)? North Korea
-I am disenfranchised to see everything going (such as)? Answer-All our FORMER allies are abandoning the US
-the President doesn’t belong there (why?) He is a convicted criminal/Rapist (34 counts)
-I hate what they’re doing to federal employees? (What specifically? Making them go back to work in the office?) Answer-Fired 250,000 of them illegally
-our National Parks are suffering? Really? Proof? Answer-Selling our national parks to logging owners and firing staff that brings in 1 billion a year.
-We are under a coup? What does that mean actually? Trump was elected. Answer-Not listening to any courts and violating every law on the books.
– I can’t believe this is happening? What actually? Answer-A lying criminal is in charge of our country.
-Trump thinks he is a king? Explain that? Answer-Does not care about the rule of law or the truth.
-my freedoms are being taking away? (Which ones exactly?)Answer- No due process and ANYONE can be now sent to a concentration camp.
The only individual who actually had something specific to say was he didn’t like the way the way ICE conducted raids and there is a lack of due process within the immigration system as enforcement is carried out. Answer-75-90% of the people sent to the death camp have ZERO criminal records. Plus no due process.