Lower Hudson Valley protests: 'If we aren't the melting pot, anymore... what are we?'

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Lower Hudson Valley protests: 'If we aren't the melting pot, anymore... what are we?'
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Watch thousands of pro-immigration New Yorkers protest in Manhattan.
Thousands of New Yorkers protested against ICE policies during a rally and march in Manhattan June 10, 2025.
The Lower Hudson Valley was the site of multiple protests Saturday, June 14, part of a reported 2,000 such demonstrations nationwide, following days of protest in Los Angeles and New York City.
A national coalition of progressive organizations called for the protests on June 14, which coincides with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday and his unusual military parade in D.C. on the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary.
The protests were held in response to the military spectacle in D.C.
But the shorthand title for the protests, "No Kings," carries a further condemnation of Trump administration actions. Some include the use of National Guard and military troops to quell protests in Los Angeles over immigration sweeps; the executive branch's failure to comply with federal court rulings; and Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" that critics say favors wealthy Americans and adds to the federal deficit.
≽ See a schedule and map of protests in Westchester and Rockland counties here.
Watch live: See video of June 14 No Kings protests from across the United States
In Nanuet, people lined all the sidewalks along the intersection of Route 59 and Middletown Road known as the "Four Corners." It's been the sight of various demonstrations going back at least 50 years. In recent months, demonstrators rally most Saturdays between noon and 2 p.m. carrying signs blasting Trump, erstwhile DOGE engineer Elon Musk and the region's congressman, U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, a Republican whose 17th District includes all of Rockland and Putnam counties, and parts of Westchester and Dutchess.
Lynn O'Brien of Suffern, 86, had protested at the Four Corners in 2003 as the Iraq War brewed. She'd marched in Baltimore during the late 1960s for civil rights and against the Vietnam War. She said she was there again Saturday, June 14, because "we're in danger in this country."
"People don't know what to do," O'Brien said.
By 11:30 a.m., more than 100 protesters had gathered on the southwest corner at the intersection of Route 59 and Middletown Road, and a dozen more across the street for the protest that started at noon.
Clarkstown police and protest organizers were having a calm and detailed discussion about perimeters.
Vehicles honked frequently in the heavily-traveled corridor, earning appreciative cheers from the crowd.
With well over 1,000 protesters present by noon, Clarkstown police could be seen putting up more orange barriers as a buffer between the roadway and sidewalk on Route 58.
Ciara Sweeney, of Pearl River, made hand-painted posters with a caricature of president Trump behind bars and the words "IMMIGRANTS ARE NOT CRIMINALS BUT THE PRESIDENT IS." She and her mother turned out for the day's demonstration to counter the military parade in D.C. "just to show there are protests everywhere. People think people have given up," Sweeney explained. "That's not true."
Sweeney said it was important to show up in the suburbs, too. "Don't count out Rockland County," the 20-year-old said.
Penelope Tseteskos, 21, came out because she wants "all civil rights for everyone, that's what America's made of." The Pearl River resident carried one of Sweeney's painted signs.
Xavier Malta of Spring Valley is a military veteran from the Cold War era. He served in Southeast Asia from 1975-79.
"This is not what I served for," he said. "I believe in Democracy, I believe in our country ad our flag and I'm a patriot, but this is not a Democracy where we're going."
Ayden Knapp, 19, of Park Ridge, New Jersey was concerned about the kind of immigration crackdowns seen in Los Angeles. Immigration was part of American tradition and culture, he said, "If we aren't the melting pot anymore, then what are we?"
About half of the day's 1,000 expected protesters had arrived just before 11 a.m. at the Mount Kisco station protest spot, many dressed in clown or king costumes.
The sounds of Aretha Franklin's "Respect" could be heard filtering through a nearby sound system's speakers. Chants of "No kings! No clowns! Don't be fascist! Let's run the fascists out of our town!" echoed among the crowd.
Organizers could be seen in yellow vests directing demonstrators to appropriate places to stand, as crowds engaged with each other in the lively, almost festive atmosphere. Despite overcast skies, and rain in the forecast, the weather seemed to be holding out.
A nun, Sister Rosemarie Milazzo, of the Maryknoll Sisters in Ossining, 93, was spotted carrying a sign that says "Let Freedom Ring, Not A King."
"It's simple, I don't want a king running my country," she told reporters. "And I want to be a little more hospitable to refugees and immigrants, I'm a daughter of an immigrant."
A Peekskill couple were among the younger demonstrators in the crowd, most of whom were over the age of 60, and overwhelmingly white. Thirty-five-year-old tech worker Michael Trapani, carrying a full sized American Flag on a pole over his shoulder, said he and his wife Stephanie, 38, were at the Mount Kisco protest because "we're moving towards authoritarianism, and we're trying to prevent that from happening."
Stephanie, a nurse, remarked that the government was "single-handedly dismantling our health care system."
"This is America. We were founded by overthrowing tyranny," Michael said. "Being here is the most American thing we could possibly do."
Betty Marotta, 75, a retired RN from Holmes in Dutchess donned a jester's costume for the occasion.
"Trump's a clown. He's just a clown," she said. "He thinks he is king and doesn't follow the rule of law."
At 12:36 p.m., protest organizers in Mount Kisco announced the Minnesota shootings of two Democratic lawmakers and their spouses to loud gasps and cries of 'fascists!'
A moment of silence came after, followed by a chorus of protesters singing Bob Dylan's "Blowing in the Wind." Many people were in tears.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were shot and killed, and State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were shot and wounded in 'targeted shootings' in Brooklyn Park and Champlin, two neighboring suburban cities 10 to 20 miles outside Minneapolis. Police were searching for at least one suspect alleged to have impersonated a law enforcement officer while carrying out the attack.
Alan Levy of Peekskill, one of the event organizers, choked up addressing the crowd, only getting out '…May their memories be a blessing.
"This is the next step we're all worried about. That people will take the words of this administration and use them as a cudgel to kill, murder, maim," Levy said. "It's what no one here wants to see."
The day after protesting escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, New Yorkers once again hit the streets for another day of demonstration.
Mayor Eric Adams said in a post to the social media platform X that the city's 34,000-plus members of the New York City Police Department would be present Saturday to "protect everyone involved — whether peacefully protesting or going about your day."
"To those who seek to peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights tomorrow, we are ready to help you do that," New York City Police Department commissioner Jessica Tisch posted to social media Friday. "To those who intend to commit crimes, incite violence, or attack our cops, you will be met with the full strength of the greatest police department in the world."
Celebrities like Susan Sarandon and Mark Ruffalo joined protesters in the street, as thousands made their way from Bryant Park down 5th Avenue. The demonstration was slated to end at 4 p.m.
The day of protest coincided with day one of early voting in the Big Apple's much-anticipated mayoral primary. Front and center is the contest on the Democratic ballot, which pits 11 candidates against each other— including frontrunners former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, city comptroller Brad Lander and others.
Contributing: lohud's Alexandra Rivera and Ashley Catherine Fontones; USA TODAY.
(This story was updated with new information.)