The No Kings protest Saturday, Oct. 18, drew 438 individuals to uptown Mount Vernon.

Sen. Liz Bennett delivered a message on the First Street Community Center lawn before attendees moved to the corners of First Street and Hwy. 1 for a standing march.

“Today, you’re one of the millions and millions standing up for your First Amendment rights,” Bennett said.

Bennett said that fascism is here in the United States, and that it’s going to take continued standing up for rights moving forward.

Bennett had six steps for participants to follow for the future.

The first was to limit their time online and stop doomscrolling (focusing on the negative stories they can not change) to avoid despair.

Number 2 was research their history.

“We aren’t the first country to face tyranny,” Bennett said.

Step three was to join a book club or local organization about resilient politics and to get involved with local and state politics.

Step four was to vote in local elections.

Step five was attending local ICE weekly check-in events to support those facing deportation and witnessing those proceedings so they aren’t alone.

Step six was continuing to support activities and work together to continue resistance.

An accordion played “This Land is Your Land” as the crowds marched to uptown Mount Vernon.

There was a small collection of counter protesters at the event, as well as some motorists driving through who were in opposition, but numerous cars honked in support of the protest Saturday morning. More than 438 were in attendance for this event, larger than the last standing march.