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NEW BEDFORD – Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Buttonwood Park on Saturday afternoon to protest what they described as escalating threats of authoritarian overreach against workers’ rights, democratic institutions, and the American middle class.
The “Power to the People Rally,” held Saturday, was organized by a coalition of grassroots groups, as a lead-up to Labor Day. It was framed as both a tribute to the labor movement’s legacy and a warning about what organizers see as constitutional erosion.
“I think we just see an administration that does not represent the working class,” said Craig Swallow, co-leader of Indivisible South Coast New England, one of the groups behind the event. “We see billionaires and millionaires who are running the government who don’t understand the struggles that workers are going through every day. We rally together for this cause, which is that we, as a working class, need to stand up and fight for our right to exist and to recognize that these oligarchs do not belong being in charge of our government.”
The protest was one of more than 240 held on Saturday across the country, and the first in a series scheduled to take place through Labor Day week, running until Sept. 5. In total, more than 1,400 demonstrations are planned, according to “We (the People) Dissent,” a blog run by activist and author K. Starling that tracks protest activity nationwide. The site listed this week’s rallies under the banner “Workers Over Billionaires.”
“We want to highlight that we’re all being impacted by what is happening at the federal level. We all contribute to the American economy,” said V.A. Lopes, another co-leader of Indivisible SCNE. Protesting, she said, is just one way to push back. “Show up to your local elections, show up to city board meetings or town council meetings and speak up,” she said. “Have your voice heard.”
In a news release announcing the New Bedford protest, organizers said the middle class is defined not by income or job title but by anyone who contributes to the U.S. economy, including those in manufacturing, education, healthcare, services, and other sectors. “Today, all who labor to keep our communities, businesses, and public institutions running are part of this vital group, and all are at risk as protections for workers and the middle class are systematically threatened.”
Community leaders voiced concerns over what they described as an authoritarian agenda within the current administration, pointing in particular to reported plans to circumvent congressional oversight and extend federal occupation beyond the nation’s capital. They warned that such actions could expand government control to other major cities, undermining local governance and civil liberties.
Protesters from a range of professions echoed those concerns, underscoring the rally’s broad coalition.
Regina McIntyre, a former federal employee of 28 years, is now retired. But the recent cuts to the federal workforce leave her uneasy.
“It pains me because what is happening is that the institutional knowledge that is in each and every one of these agencies is being ripped away,” said McIntyre. “I am here because I don’t like what is happening to our country now. I just don’t.”
Curtis Mendes held a sign that read “Wake up this is a coup.” He last protested more than 50 years ago as a high school student opposing the Vietnam War. Now, he says he’s back because he sees the threat coming from within the government.
“The path that this country is on — I am concerned for my children and grandchildren,” said Mendes. “Their future should be one where health care is a given, education is a given. When you live in one of the richest countries in the world, and instead of money being used to educate the young people and maintain the health of the populous, the money goes to billionaires, there is a deep problem.”
The rally was supported by a wide-ranging coalition of local and regional organizations, including Mass 50501, the Fairhaven and Westport Democratic Town Committees, Mujeres Victoriosas de New Bedford, Democracy Unleashed, the Rochester Democratic Committee, the New Bedford Coalition to Save Our Schools, the Greater Southeastern Massachusetts Labor Council (AFL-CIO), and the PACE Food Bank.
Roxanne Mather, program coordinator for Mujeres Victoriosas in New Bedford, said workers’ rights have taken on particular urgency for the city’s immigrant community. “We are seeing more and more immigrants being discriminated against in the workplace in addition to what they’re going through with ICE,” she said. “Immigrant workers feed America. We want people in this country and in the city of New Bedford to remember that and to support all immigrant workers.”
Since President Donald Trump took office in January, the Greater New Bedford area has seen a wave of demonstrations in step with national and international protest movements. On April 5, dozens of residents traveled to Boston for a “Hands Off” rally while hundreds gathered locally in Dartmouth.
On April 19, the Fairhaven Democratic Town Committee organized another demonstration, part of a coordinated national day of action led by the 50501 Movement.
Most recently, on June 14, more than a thousand people turned out in New Bedford and Fairhaven for a joint rally under the banner “No Kings.”
Saturday’s rally remained peaceful, with speeches, community resources, and a food drive to support the PACE Food Bank.
Demonstrators raised particular concern for future generations, seeing the damage inflicted by the current administration as deep and potentially lasting.
“We need to show our young people that you just don’t sit and accept it,” said Mendes. “It’s okay and it’s right to question things and to question authority. That’s another part of being out here, is to let the younger generation realize that you have a voice and you need to use it.”
Email Eleonora Bianchi at ebianchi@newbedfordlight.org.
Just more far left liberal nonsense, the protesters should be upset with the far left liberal governor Maura Healey who has used millions of our state tax dollars putting Illegals before Veterans, Seniors, Families, Children, and hard working Massachusetts residents. Joe Biden did the same and was destroying our nation and that is why President Trump was elected in an overwhelming victory (winning all seven swing states). Many New Bedford residents support President Trump and feel they’re much better off today with him in office.
Sorry Jeff, I myself disagree. The veterans are having services taken away, families are struggling to pay bills that keep increasing, children receiving meals at school has been taken away. We all are loosing medical benefits or benefits of some sort. So no we are not better off since Trump took office. I agree on the illegal clamp down but not the way it’s being done. I agree they need to stop the green theme throughout the country, stop it from being shoved down our throats. Finances are having more families live pay check to pay check. Our Military have been mocked by the current administration. Our Military are being used in situations we should not be involved in. I remember when Trump said Military were suckers and losers. I remember when January 6th happen. It was not peaceful. I have followed you comments on the city and support most of your comments, you remark on the far left, you my friend are the far right. You need to self check.
Reflect you’re welcome to your opinion, but winning every swing state was huge and it tanked any hope that Harris had. I don’t know how you can judge President Trump in just eight short months, when he was handed a complete mess ? He has already done more than Sleepy Joe did in four years and you just can’t blame the Feds for all our woes, the governor of this state is a major part of the problem. If you think I am far to right, so be it. There is no need to check myself, I stand by my comments, and I do feel as a country we are much better off today.
Anyone can win by foolery. Problem is when things head the way he don’t like, he alters or changes the rules, that is a person who needs mental help. The worst is the republicans are letting him do it. If one goes against him he gets rid of them, that is the sign of a dictator. I myself don’t care for Healey. Baker was the best. Keep supporting the way you are and when you crash and burn I will be saying, told you so.
Fortunately, Trump did win, and the tax cuts passed in 2017 will not be returning to the higher rates previously paid by the actual middle class, the group that pays the largest percentage of taxes each year while the number of middle class tax payers gets lower each year.
You protestors should save some energy, you’re going to need it in five to ten years as AI continues to evolve, and be refined, and improved each year. The White and Blue collar job losses will be staggering, and the lowest paying jobs will be much harder to come by with 40-50% more people will be applying, and competing for them.
If you’re not happy with how the federal government is running today, you’re clearly a Trump hater, and that’s easy to see here in MA as the state government is far more inefficient, with more taxes, and fees, with higher percentage increases each year for everything from property taxes, water & sewage fees, real estate taxes, auto insurance rates, property insurance rates, health insurance rate increases with higher copays and deductibles, grocery prices, etc. those are just a few of the things you can’t go without. It seems like you have much more to protest with the Massachusetts Democrats than the DC Republicans, and you have a better chance at changing things on Beacon Hill than you do with the federal government, but you’re free to protest against whoever you want.
Feel free to live with the degrading life and finances we are currently living, due to your choice. When you crash and burn, I’ll be ok, because nothing was given to me. Daddy didn’t pass me down an empire. I’ve worked for everything I have. Starting out as a real, real, real worker at McDonald’s. We are all paying for the sins of others. The far right. By the way I can’t stand the far left either. If your going to sink, don’t bring us all down with you.
In case all of you Biden/Harris voters, aka, liberal socialist Democrats forgot, President Trump was elected by the American people, he won the electoral collage, and he won the popular vote.
I’d really like to hear from the protesters how Trump is bypassing Congress? We all know that Massachusetts was the first state to change the lines so it’s impossible for the tax & spend Democrats can never lose the majority of state representatives, and they can’t lose the majority of state senators, but none of you seem to have any problem with that.
It seems like you had no problem with the 25-30 people who were nominated, and appointed based on race, gender, religion, and sexual preference as opposed to qualifications, experience, or ability to run the nation for four years while Biden slept through 90% of it, and Harris laughed through 90% of it. I hope you enjoy your protests as much as I enjoy CBP keeping the border sealed as tight as possible, and ICE tracking down, and deporting the 10-15 million illegal immigrants that Biden invited to live in Massachusetts, and the other Democrat controlled states that wasted Billions of federal and state tax dollars to provide them with free housing, food, clothing, healthcare, dental, and vision care, transportation, and to educate the children they brought with them, and the additional children they had while living here illegally.
How is that fair to anyone who works for everything they have while paying taxes on everything Democrats can come up with, and much worse now that so much of the taxes we pay on everything are now being wasted to support the needs of people who entered America illegally, where were you protestors when millions of people entered America illegally, including the criminals, the gang members, the people sexually assaulting women including many under 18 years old, the drug traffickers, and drug dealers, are you alright with that, and not protesting those problems?
To the commenters: You are mistaken to think that this new administration cares about you or any of us. There only agenda is to take us over and eliminate all who do not align with their views. And if you think taxes were bad before, and they were, they’re about to hit you harder now with the new tariffs (taxes) on everything coming in from other countries. It’s starting already. Open your eyes. Take a real look at what’s really happening here in our country, not what the administration wants you to believe.
Your comments seem to imply that everything negative began with Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025, and everything was going well in the previous four years, I don’t understand how you can feel that way. As Jeff mentioned above, Trump has been in office for this second term for only 8 months (It’s actually closer to 7 months) with many more positive changes than anything negative for most, if not all Americans from the middle class down. Just to name a few obvious changes that begin in 2026, or on different dates between 2026 and 2028,
1. The tax cuts of 2017 that were set to expire in 2026 are now permanent.
2. Just as he did in his first term, Trump is calling out Europe, and other NATO member countries that still haven’t been spending the required minimum of 2.0% of their GDP on defense spending, and he rightfully said the US will pull out of NATO if they don’t, and as a result most nations like Germany, Poland, Norway, Finland, are spending the 2.0% or more, and others who were spending little to nothing on defense are now spending the minimum, or more to make up for the years they spent nothing on defense, and there are still some members not spending the minimum. I’m sure if anyone reads this, they’ll say this is irrelevant to how America is run, and how it doesn’t affect them, but it does, specially the people who constantly complain, and say “Healthcare is a right they’re entitled to” and others stating “Europe has free healthcare for all, America should too”, that’s a lie EU, and England residents pay higher taxes to cover that cost, look it up, and while there, look at the wait time to see a specialist for a problem that’s not life threatening. Many Canadian residents come to America to see a doctor or have surgery.
3. How many tax payer dollars were spent by Biden in weapons and cash for the war with Russia, and how many times did he meet with Putin, Zelinsky, and other leaders to end the war in three years? 0 with Putin, and a couple with Zelinsky if he came to America, Biden couldn’t because he can’t even answer questions from the media, his people pulled him away out of fear for what he might say.
I’m looking forward to a lot more positive changes, hopefully you’ll see and read about them too.
That’s because President Biden was mending bridges with all the other countries T screwed over when he was previously in office.
I agree, but you and I both know DT said I want your vote and that’s it. That’s exactly what he’s done, lived up to his word, that’ll all he wanted. So when their family or friends are deported I don’t want to hear it, but come here legally. When your finances are lost and crash I don’t want to hear it. When your parents are stripped from medicare, I don’t want to hear it. When veterans, the people we should make sure have everything they need, don’t, I will listen because we need to fight to make sure they lose nothing. When a family member is abused or bullied, I will remind you who you voted for. We all are suffering, we are all loosing, because of those that were delusional and got us in this mess. But I will say one thing, he said exactly what he was going to do! Now we are all paying for it. Yes, illegals had to be dealt with but in a humane way. Yes, going green should not make Americans have to pay more for current resources because of the cost of going green. Let’s face it, unless your rich you are not seeing lower anything!
No one is questioning the election results. They are questioning the way in which the present administration is now governing. Our leaders pledge to uphold and defend the Constitution when they take office or jobs in government agencies. This is important because the Constitution is the foundation and framework on which our democratic republic was founded. The founders did not want to give too much power to one ruler, because they had suffered at the hands of the King of England. They decided to set up checks and balances in our government so that no one branch could take control. The branches would check each other and have to work together. It has worked for 250 years. Until now, presidents of both parties who exceeded their authority were checked by Congress. Nixon’s own party threatened to impeach him unless he resigned. When FDR tried to pack the Supreme Court, he was opposed and had to back down..etc.
In response to your request, I offer the following examples of how the President is bypassing Congress:
Congress has Article 1 power to tax and spend. Congress enacts a budget to run the government. That means that Congress has the power to allocate funds for grants, etc, and the power to cancel those funds, not the President. He has been illegally using “rescission” to claw back funds already appropriated by Congress
Congress has Article 1 power to regulate tariffs and trade. They can not hand over that power to the President and he does not have authority to illegally cancel existing trade treaties passed by Congress and set up new tariffs of his own choosing. A federal appeals court has just ruled that he has exceeded his authority and that most of his tariffs are not authorized
Congress has authority over the agencies it has established. It has enacted a Civil Service Program whereby employees must qualify for positions and where they can only be removed for cause, IE poor-performance of duties, violation of oath of office, etc, and not because of their political views. The president has allowed Musk’s DOGE group,(no security clearances, etc. no knowledge of the agencies they were auditing, etc.) to dismiss without cause great numbers of experienced employees in agencies such as FEMA, NIH, CDC, EPA, etc. This is a violation of the Congressional Civil Service Act. These people had no due process hearing and were fired or harassed into quitting without cause.
The President has allowed DOGE to gain access to databases of our private information. Congress has enacted privacy acts for our health and other data in the Social Security databases. No one knows how DOGE might have uploaded or shared this information with others (tech companies who would profit?? other governments?? One of the DOGE hacks had previous association with hackers in Soviet block countries and was fired.)
Congress has the Article 1 power of oversight of the executive branch. Under this power, Congress is authorized to visit penal institutions without notice to determine what the living conditions are. The President has been obstructing members of Congress from doing this oversight, and has now required a 7 day notice.
There are many more examples. Congress is not only being bypassed, it is being intimidated by threats on the families of members who disagree with the President. Congress is supposed to be a check on the President. When he publicly criticizes his opponents, some of his more ardent followers take this as license to threaten those legislators and others. Fearing for the safety of their families legislators either stay silent or choose not to run for office again. That is too bad, because we need their voices, just as we need the voices of dissent in any opposition party. There was a time when each party was composed of both liberals and conservatives. This allowed them to work across the aisle to reach agreement.
People object to the current presidential abuses of power because they expect their leaders to follow the law and uphold their oath to protect and defend the Constitution.
You also say:” It seems like you had no problem with the 25-30 people who were nominated, and appointed based on race, gender, religion, and sexual preference as opposed to qualifications, experience, “ What evidence do you have that those 25-30 people were NOT qualified?? Do you think those characteristics made them unqualified??
Peace be with you.
Jane,
Don’t waste your time trying to explain how the US government operates, I’m very familiar with it, and I don’t need a history lesson either.
Congress isn’t being bypassed, every President has the ability to enact executive orders, on Biden’s first day in office, he signed multiple executive orders that reversed many of Trump’s executive orders/policies regardless of how well they worked for America, like the remain in Mexico order that stopped illegal immigrants from entering America until their asylum claims were reviewed. Biden also allowed 10-15 million illegal aliens into America, including gang members, murderers, rapists, and many more who had been previously been deported one or more times before. Biden not only bypassed Congress with that action, he completely ignored US immigration laws that were passed decades ago.
One example of Biden’s nominations or appointing people based on race was his first Supreme Court nominee, a Black female, when she wasn’t approved due to some controversial actions/statements she made in the past. When Biden was asked by the press who he was considering, he didn’t mention a name, or say something like, “you’ll know soon enough”, he simply stated it will be a black female, and that’s how America got Katanji Brown Jackson, a completely far left liberal Justice who doesn’t vote/rule based on the constitution, but on her political preference. Just look at the SCOTUS rulings since she’s been there, and the number of times she’s dissented, and when her reasons are published, it’s always based on her liberal views, and never based on Constitutional law.
Please don’t waste your time replying, I won’t be back here again to read news, or comment because just as Jeff has pointed out, the news here is the far left liberal version, and I can’t be bothered with any of it.
Good luck to you all.
It matters whether the executive orders are constitutional or not. I know that other presidents have issued executive orders, but most of those now being issued by this president are unconstitutional. That is what concerns people. I am sorry that you have decided to abandon this news source because it is important for readers to understand what you are thinking and to discuss issues with you. I hope you will change your mind. (My lengthy explanations are mostly for any young people who might not have sufficiently learned about the checks and balances in our government. School reforms have increased emphasis on reading and math, but also decreased emphasis on the humanities and civics. We need to rebalance the curriculum.) Please reconsider your decision. Peace be with you.
Schools also have the problem of dealing with today’s polarized news/opinion sources and with technology that has taken an increasing amount of their students’ time and attention. Schools need all the help and resources they can get to teach not only reading and math but also our rights and responsibilities as citizens. (Inter-disciplnary units and courses which include civics, and the humanities, etc. Maybe this is already being done and could be expanded.)
While hundreds of Americans still follow the lessons of our forefathers in Boston in the 1700s and step out for their country, the same Biden/illegals comments here just recycle the same old tropes.
Shelter eligibility: Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for state family shelter under Massachusetts law.
Election results: Trump did not win “overwhelmingly.” Roughly a third of the electorate voted for him; in Massachusetts, far fewer. The 2024 election is long over, and democracy is an everyday event, not a one-time scoreboard.
Desperation in tone: The increasingly heated claims—about “millions” invited here or “overwhelming victories”—say more about fear than fact.
Tick tock while we watch the clock.
America is taken back every single day by the people who vote, protest, organize, and uphold the democratic process
You should check your numbers and leave the source where you found that “Roughly a third of the electorate voted for Trump” No need to view MA, everyone knows that 60% of the registered voters on Massachusetts are Democrats who would vote for a dog if it was a Democrat, and that applies to a US President, MA Governor, US Senators, US House Reps, State Senators and State Representatives regardless of how useless they are, Markey and Warren, Healy, and the MA AG are all proof of that.
I have no doubt that if a self declared Socialist like Mamdani was running for Governor of MA, with the promises/lies of a cap on apartment rent prices, free college tuition for all, free healthcare for all without telling anyone how to find it, they’d vote for him anyway.
So move if you don’t like MA. A Republican approved our maps. And yes, about 32% of eligible voters chose DT, one of the closest races in history, he won by 1.5 percent or so. The majority of us don’t want a dictator. If you don’t see that is where this going, you are not listening
At least a dig is loyal! It would have my vote! Male or female, black, white or brown,!
How bout on Labor Day we celebrate American workers and reward them with a day off work. Thank you American workers.
One way to hurt the tangerine Mussolini is if nobody works at his golf courses or Mar-a-Lago. Let the grass grow and lock out whatever other services are being provided by immigrants and other service providers.
And he’ll be just fine. Why not just put a whoopie cushion under his chair. The left is great at throwing the jabs, nonsensical as they may be.
Those who live in glass houses, shouldn’t throw rocks.
Thank you, Jane Constant for laying out perfectly what this administration has done to undermine our rights guaranteed in the Constitution and how at every turn, Trump has violated his oath by bypassing the Constitution to reek revenge on those who oppose him. As to Tax Payer, Hitler was voted in and look what he did to Europe. The Supreme Court, packed by Trump, is the real reason we are in this mess. The 14th Amendment is very clear. Any one who incites an insurrection cannot run or hold office. He is ridding the country of crime by releasing those who overran the Capitol, rioting in the name of overturning a fair and reasonable election. Where was he then, when he stood by. He did not consider that the mob was looking to lynch his vice president and the leaders of Congress. He is our lawlessness and he needs to be removed from office. As for the Christians who support him, go back to your bibles and see the true message of Jesus Christ. Read the Beatitudes and listen to the parables of how Jesus treated those who opposed him. He didn’t dine with the rich and famous. He dined with the tax collector. He didn’t cast away the masses who followed Him, he gave them bread and fish to eat. He reiterated over and over again, the need to care for the widows and the orphans. Not once, did Jesus advocate for the rich and powerful. More than once, He stated that you should love your neighbor as yourself. He also stated, love your enemies. LOVE not retribution was his message and this administration has only sown HATE and VENGENCE. If you are truly Christian, you cannot stand by and allow this HATRED and RETRIBUTION to continue.
It’s seems like every other week they’re at Buttonwood. Can’t they go somewhere else? There’s lots of other places in this city.
Glad you noticed, shows they are proving something!
To the editor of this comment section: Why don’t you give Tax Payer and Jane Constant their own column? All you do is give Tax Payer tons of space to spew rhetoric and Jane retorts. The Light is so non committal in its reporting because it wants to “both sides” everything to death as our country is on the verge of collapsing. You have not covered protests or how are government is waging war on its citizens adequately or well. You started this newspaper to fill a vacuum and report real news, but I see a lot of tender footing around subjects like Wind and the demonstrations, and very little about the fascism that is overtaking our country. You guys need to get some balls when you write and do more actual reporting instead of just typing.
Merri, I believe the Light is doing a valuable service to the community by giving US the opportunity to express our opinions. In previous articles, I have denounced the use of Gestapo tactics by ICE, and the lack of due process, etc. I have also listed the ways in which this President is acting in an authoritarian manner, and how he admires and seeks to emulate Putin an other dictators. Direct responses to my posts were usually from Trump supporters who said I was exaggerating. The President has become even more extreme since then, so maybe there can be more discussion about his authoritarian actions. Have to see my dentist now, but will be back, and looking forward to your input. Peace be with you.
The courts are having to deal with all the law suits caused by illegal presidential orders because the ruling party in our Congress is not asserting its Article 1 powers.
No Kings is partnering with Indivisible to hold a NATIONAL NO KINGS 2 RALLY on OCTOBER 18, 2025. Those interested in more information can link to:
https://www.nokings.org/?SQF_SOURCE=indivisible
We need to show up and raise consciousness so people will get out and vote in 2026 to change the leadership in Congress and restore the checks on this President’s authoritarian agenda.
Peace be with you.
The courts are packed do the crimes of the past administration!
Thank you to New Bedford Light, we’re a country made up of many different political views, and you let everyone provide their opinion, Thanks Again.
Let’s see just when these illegals entered, unless it was 2020 thru 2024, it’s not under the Biden administration. Yes many did come in during the Biden admin n but many have been here for at least 5-9 years, guess who was in office 2016-2020. You don’t have to guess, it’s a fact! Trump was! Find out how many illegals entered each yr and see how many years republicans were in office. They are all to blame!