On Presidents’ Day, over 200 sign-adorned people gathered in front of the Federal Building in Bangor as part of the nationwide No Kings National Day of Protest, organized locally by Indivisible Bangor, a grassroots volunteer group focused on ensuring equal protection and access under the law. Protesters voiced their concerns about President Trump’s executive orders, the actions of Elon Musk and the inaction of Maine Sen. Susan Collins. The Maine Campus spoke with Indivisible Bangor organizer Melissa Berky to understand the motivations behind protests that occurred across the state in Bangor, Augusta, Bucksport and Ellsworth.
Indivisible Bangor, in collaboration with a statewide and national coalition of activists, including 50501 National No Kings organizers, Solidarity Bucksport and Ellsworth community members, participated in a nationwide protest by organizing gatherings across four major Maine cities. Protesters assembled in Bangor at the Federal Building, in Augusta at the State House, in Bucksport on the Verona Bridge and in Ellsworth at City Hall.
The 50501 movement organized similar protests across the U.S., named for its goal of holding 50 protests across 50 states to condemn what they see as anti-democratic and illegal moves by the Trump Administration. Several signs held by protesters echoed sentiments of the movement.
Many signs expressed disapproval of Senator Susan Collins, with one reading, “Collins caves again!” and another asking, “For how little did you sell us out, Susan?” Others focused more directly on the Trump administration’s perceived abuse of executive power, displaying messages like “No Dictators” and “When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty.” Those interested in seeing more signs can view our photo story.
Speakers were prepared to address news outlets rather than deliver speeches to a large crowd, given cold and windy conditions. One speech provided that was to be read by Indivisible Bangor on behalf of the Wabanaki Alliance notes the impact of the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) directive to fire federal workers on Tribal Nations in Maine.
“We have been informed that agencies serving Tribal Nations are not exempt from the OPM directive to fire federal workers — with several thousand employees at agencies like the Indian Health Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education and DOJ Office of Tribal Justice slated to by terminated…We are urging member Tribal Nations and Allies to call on Members of Congress and Trump political employees and tell them to immediately exempt all federal positions serving Indian Country from any workforce reductions,” reads an excerpt from the speech.
During the protest, the Maine Campus spoke with Indivisible Bangor organizer Melissa Berky to discuss the reasons behind 50501 gatherings across the nation.
“Our protesting is three-pronged. We’re here to demonstrate against Trump, who is not our president. He has done many illegal things and acts, he is overstepping the bounds of his executive power. He will never go down in history like our great forefathers,” said Berky. “Second-pronged, we’re here to demonstrate against Musk. Elon Musk is unelected, [and] unaccountable.”
After explaining the third reason for protest revolves around “the weakening of Congress as represented by Senator Collins,” Berky was asked if there’s any information she’d like to share with the University of Maine community.
“You can find us at Indivisble.org. Join today, stand up, make sure that you call your senators and representatives and be aware of what’s going on,” said Berky.
