News

"No Kings" protest in deep-red Pulaski County draws crowd of 175

WUKY | By Clay Wallace

Published June 15, 2025 at 3:36 PM EDT

A protestor waves an American flag with SOS written across it.

As concurrent demonstrations took place nationwide, Somerset residents gathered around the Public Square Fountain. Protestors share their reasons for showing up.

I'm here because America does not tolerate dictators, kings, or tyrants. We have not since 1776. I'm here because Trump and his party are trying to pass bills that are hurtful to the poor, the disabled - the folks in America who need it the most - and they are taking money away from these folks and giving it to the rich. That is going against all that Jesus taught in the New Testament. I think we need less Trump and more Jesus.

Don Whitehead, Somerset, KY

Protest at Somerset Public Square. View from across the street of a crowd showing signs to passing cars. Visible signs include slogans like "FIGHT IGNORANCE NOT IMMIGRANTS" "NO KINGS IN AMERICA" and "IMMIGRANTS DON'T SCARE ME, BUT THE FASCISTS IN POWER DO" — No Kings protest at Somerset Public Square.

I'm an unpaid protestor. I hate Trump for free. As the days go on, it's getting worse and worse. Whether you're Democrat, Independent, or Republican, people are starting to come out and say 'It's not about what party you're in; it's about what's right.' I can vote either way I want to, right? But I choose to be kinder to people, and I think our job is to help people out, not to put them down and terrorize them or take money away from meal programs for underprivileged kids. What kind of people are when we do stuff like that? It's just un-American, as far as I'm concerned.

Marty Hussher, Monticello, KY

Protest at Somerset Public Square. Two people sit on a low brick wall holding a banner reading "WE ARE A PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT JOIN US" — No Kings protest at Somerset Public Square.

I want to be publicly present and on the record that what's happening in terms of legislation and the way we are activating and invigorating one another against each other is just not healthy and not good for building community, not about loving your neighbor. I just want to be out and present and say there's another way of doing this life.

The Rev. Chris Brannock, Priest In Charge of Saint Patrick's Episcopal Church, Somerset, KY

Protest at Somerset Public Square. Close-up of person holding a sign reading "NO HUMAN IS ILLEGAL" — No Kings protest at Somerset Public Square.

Hands off our social security! We paid for that, and we deserve that, and it's so easy with the stroke of a pen to take that away from us. We're here as a community standing up to prevent that.

Gary Alexander, Nancy, KY

Protest at Somerset Public Square. View from behind the crowd of the street. — No Kings protest at Somerset Public Square.

Anne Frank wrote about this in her diary. There's people that are being ripped out of their homes and taken away from their families. The similarities to Nazi Germany are amazing. It's crazy to think that people might have to start hiding their neighbors.

Melissa Spurgeon, Somerset, KY

Somerset is in Pulaski County, where Trump won 82 percent of the vote in 2024. Multiple residents said it was the first anti-Trump protest in the county. One counterprotestor paced up and down South Main Street wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat and carrying a flag. They declined a request for interview.