Thousands Rally at Capitol for 50501 ‘No Kings’ Day

by Karla Ciaglo CTNewsJunkie

HARTFORD, CT — The so-called “No Kings Day” rally in support of federal workers drew a crowd to the south lawn of the Connecticut State Capitol Saturday. The event was part of a nationwide protest movement known as “50501.” The decentralized campaign has held previous demonstrations and, according to organizers, more than 700 rallies were planned across all 50 states on Saturday.

While local groups brought a range of priorities — from immigrant justice and climate action to labor rights and economic fairness — some common threads were opposition to recent Trump-era executive orders, the influence of Elon Musk’s cryptocurrency ventures, civil rights rollbacks, climate concerns, and proposals to reduce or eliminate core safety net programs like Medicaid.

Protesters rally at the State Capitol on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Credit: Karla Ciaglo / CTNewsJunkie

Many demonstrators also called on the administration to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident whose deportation and due process rights have been the subject of nationwide debate. 

The 50501 crowd lined both sides of Capitol Avenue with intermittent chants of “This is what democracy looks like,” “Hands off,” “Bring Kilmar Home” and eventually “Where’s Congress?” — a nod to the absence of lawmakers and elected officials from the event.

Just steps away in Bushnell Park, members of the Local 217 – Unite Here — a union representing hospitality workers — held a simultaneous rally focused on economic justice and labor protections. Union members used the gathering to publicly raise the possibility of a strike.

Union protesters rally in Bushnell Park on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Credit: Karla Ciaglo / CTNewsJunkie

A banner reading “Workers Beating Billionaires” served as a backdrop for speakers addressing working conditions in the hospitality and healthcare sectors.

Natasha Forrester, a licensed practical nurse, spoke about the challenges facing staff in Connecticut’s nursing homes, emphasizing that the strike discussions go beyond compensation.

“At the end of each shift, we leave not just exhausted—but demoralized,” Forrester said. “This isn’t about saving for vacations or buying something nice. We do this to pay rent, keep the lights on, and feed our families.”

She called for unemployment insurance for striking workers.

“If we are brave enough to stand up for our residents, the state should stand with us,” she said.

Protesters rally at the State Capitol on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Credit: Karla Ciaglo / CTNewsJunkie

The union crowd later joined the 50501 rally. Capitol police estimated the combined groups at the higher end of 3,000. The statewide protests also included rallies in New Haven, Middletown, Waterbury and a handful of other communities.

The latest rally, timed to occur on the anniversary of the Revolutionary War battles of Lexington and Concord, was the latest in a series of large-scale protests, including one branded as “Hands Off.”

On April 15, the 50501 Movement posted on Instagram:

“Coming off a historic day where an estimated 5.2 million of you all showed up to join us to declare that We the People reject the Trump/Musk administration’s war on our freedoms and future, the 50501 movement has declared Saturday, April 19th a nationwide day of action!”