AUGUSTA — More than 100 Mainers gathered Saturday on the wind-chilled grounds of the State House to protest Donald Trump’s second presidential term just days before it is set to begin.

Protestors held signs that read “SMASH THE PATRIARCHY,” “Orange Lies Matter,” “Trump: Liar, Criminal, Traitor” and other anti-Trump slogans. Others held issue-specific signs, many of which referenced climate change and the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade and subsequent efforts to restrict abortion access across the country.

The gathering was one of more than 300 protests planned Saturday in six countries by People’s March, a group of nonprofit advocacy organizations, in light of the Trump’s second inauguration Monday. The largest of the protests Saturday was scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., and similar events were planned in Portland, Boston and Portsmouth.

Women’s March, which has led large anti-Trump and women’s rights protests at the State House before, organized the logistics of the hundreds of demonstrations. Sponsors included the Sierra Club, Ben & Jerry’s, Planned Parenthood and several other women’s reproductive advocacy groups.

The People’s March website said the day of protest was aimed at starting a movement to “confront Trumpism, drawing on past successes and effective strategies against autocrats.”

Molly White, the primary organizer of Saturday’s event in Augusta, said it was an opportunity to start a local movement.

Advertisement

Hannah Furst of Vassalboro speaks Saturday to attendees of the People’s March while holding a sign that reads “well behaved women rarely make history” at the Maine State House in Augusta. The rally is one of many throughout the nation and Washington, D.C., called to protest the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on Monday. Anna Chadwick/Morning Sentinel

“I wish we could all go to D.C., but because we can’t, we’ve just got to start local,” White said. “I think that’s the best place to do it, is to start here.”

White said the event came together over the course of the past week, when she realized the Augusta-based branch of Women’s March was no longer functional. She said she jumped in and organized the logistics of the event, even though she had never done so before and hadn’t been able to attend past demonstrations put on by Women’s March.

White’s protest permit application submitted to Capitol Police suggested the group expected 75 attendees, but about 130 showed up Saturday.

“Everyone just started to come out of the woodwork, a lot of organizations I didn’t know existed,” she said. “That’s amazing, because now I know where to spend my time, where to put my dollars.”

After White gave a speech to kick off the event — in which she spoke about her conservative upbringing in Aroostook County and voting for Barack Obama in her first presidential election in 2008 — several others took to the megaphone.

Kimmy Hunt of Smithfield listens to a speaker Saturday while attending the People’s March. She wore a “be visible” pin while advocating for action and justice during the march at the Maine State House in Augusta. The rally is one of many throughout the nation and Washington, D.C., to protest the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on Monday. Anna Chadwick/Morning Sentinel

One attendee, Kimmy Hunt, said she was at a similar demonstration protesting Trump’s inauguration in 2017 at the State House, when the parking lot to the campus was full and lines wrapped around the building.

Advertisement

Hunt spoke about her own experience with abortion and women’s rights, and then read dozens of quotes about women from Trump, soon-to-be Vice President JD Vance and billionaire Elon Musk — including Vance’s quote about “childless cat ladies” and several of Trump’s dubious comments about his wife and his daughter.

“This man has no morals,” Hunt said to affirming cheers from the crowd. “No morals.”

Other speakers touted their own organizations, including Grandmothers for Reproductive Rights and Indivisible. In the back of the crowd, a representative from Planned Parenthood handed out information pamphlets and volunteer sign-up sheets.

Trump is scheduled to be sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts for his second term inside the U.S. Capitol rotunda on Monday at noon. He joins Grover Cleveland (22nd and 24th) as the only two presidents to serve nonconsecutive terms. Trump was the 45th president, and will become the 47th on Monday.

Comments are not available on this story.