Large Crowd Protests at Boston Common Against Trump Policies

Boston — Thousands of people gathered at Boston Common on Saturday for the “No Kings” protest, a large and largely peaceful demonstration organized to express disenchantment with the Trump administration. Organizers estimated that around 125,000 people attended the Boston rally, and the event drew broad participation with a mix of historical pageantry and contemporary political messaging.

Key facts and turnout

The rally took place on a sunny day and was described by participants and organizers as peaceful. The crowd included people in 18th-century costumes alongside whimsical outfits like frogs, lobsters, and unicorns, and most participants waved American flags during the protest. Organizers estimated that around 125,000 people attended the Boston rally, marking the gathering as one of the largest demonstrations in recent years.

Across the country, organizers claimed nearly 7 million participated in related protests nationwide.

Speakers, local officials and events

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, along with Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, spoke at the event, emphasizing historical themes related to the protests. Attorney General Andrea Campbell spoke at the rally, highlighting her office’s fight against actions by the Trump administration and emphasizing the importance of civic engagement. A separate rally occurred on Lexington’s Battle Green, featuring environmental activist Bill McKibben.

During the protests, tensions arose when a few individuals with a megaphone attempted to disrupt Mayor Wu’s speech but were managed by police. Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Kennealy criticized Governor Maura Healey in a social media post during the protests, highlighting perceived failures in her leadership. Massachusetts politicians actively participated and spoke at the event, reinforcing the protest’s significance and historical context.

Misinformation controversy

Claims circulated on social media that a network aired recycled footage from a similar protest in 2017 instead of the live coverage from October 18, 2025. Misinformation spread rapidly online, with some falsely asserting that the footage was old, which first gained traction from an erroneous fact-check by an AI chatbot named Grok. Grok misidentified the clip showing a massive crowd during the live coverage as footage from 2017, which was later confirmed as inaccurate by a verification team.

The verification team matched the footage to live drone shots and local news reports from the protest, asserting its authenticity. Sardarizadeh, a journalist with the verification team, confirmed the crowd footage was from the protest on Saturday. Despite the clarification, misinformation about the footage remained popular on social media, demonstrating how quickly false claims can spread.

On-the-ground details and tone

The protest mixed historical symbolism tied to the region’s past with modern political messaging. The event took place against the backdrop of the 250th anniversaries of historical events like the Boston Tea Party and the battles of Lexington and Concord, and many speakers framed the day’s actions within that longer history. Most participants waved American flags during the protest and organizers emphasized that the event was a collective demonstration against Trump’s policies, with many attendees affirming that Boston continues to support diversity and immigrant rights.

A young woman displayed a unique protest sign that referenced being added via Signal Go and urged people to take action. The gathering also included a wide range of ages and political perspectives, with organizers and law enforcement coordinating to maintain order and route demonstrations through central public spaces.

Why this matters

The size and visibility of the Boston rally, along with parallel actions elsewhere, illustrate sustained political energy and mobilization on both local and national levels. The rapid spread of false claims about coverage of the event highlights ongoing challenges in how social media, AI tools and verification processes interact during major public gatherings.