‘The people are the country.’ Anger over Trump’s actions bring out Beltsville protesters.

BELTSVILLE, Md. — The sound of car honks filled the air Saturday morning on Powder Mill Road as drivers voiced support for the protesters who lined the road under rain threatening skies to participate in the nation’s fourth No Kings protest.

More than 100 community members filtered through the protest organized by Beltsville United, braving the cold weather and holding signs with phrases like “Leaders Lead, Tyrants Fall,” and “Defend Democracy.” This is the community’s third No Kings protest, according to event organizers. Around 300 people attended their second protest last March and about 50 attended the first protest in October 2025.

Saturday’s nationwide protests were also aimed at highlighting early voting and voter registration ahead of this fall’s midterm elections. Early voting in Maryland runs from Oct. 22 through Oct. 29. 

Lisa and Dana Nau have been to all the No Kings protests since their nationwide start and said they felt Saturday’s protest was a way to call for reform and accountability from the federal government, in addition to mobilizing people to use their voting power. Both live in Riderwood, the senior living center located just behind the street from the protest’s location. 

“Things are not as they should be,” Lisa Nau said. “We really need to make sure that we stand up now and take control back of our elections and everything we care about … this is not a time to sit idle.” 

Dana Nau noted that although the Maryland government currently leans Democrat, the goal of the upcoming elections is for the party to grab hold of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate to constrain some of the administration’s actions.

“I feel more strongly about this election than I have about almost every other one,” he said. “It’s really necessary to save the country, I think.”

Michelle García, co-founder of Beltsville United and chief of staff for Prince George’s County District 1 council member Thomas Dernoga, said she’s appreciative of how the Beltsville community has banded together to voice their concerns about the federal administration.

Garcia said the community has seen an uptick in Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence as Prince George’s County has been targeted by the Trump administration. 

“Marginalized communities, communities of Black and brown populations … that’s something we’ve constantly felt on our necks,” she said. “It’s not surprising, but … we’ve had a great turnout today. … Prince George’s County is strong, and Beltsville is strong as well.”

The Trump administration announced plans last year to shut down the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, which provides thousands of jobs and economic opportunities to the community. Last week, a federal judge from California blocked the order, but the center’s future is uncertain. 

Prince George’s County pre-K teacher Nicole Scafone said the plans to close the center were frustrating to her as a Beltsville resident who felt her life was being improved by the food research being done there. Saturday was Scafone’s third No Kings protest but her first in Beltsville. 

Nicholas Orrick, another Beltsville-area resident, has attended every No Kings Day protest, including Saturday’s. Orrick, who formerly worked in the Navy’s mechanical engineering department, said the plan to shut down the center is just another example of President Donald Trump’s goal of “destroying” the government.

Early voting and participating in the upcoming midterms is a necessary way to stop that, he added. 

“[Democracy] is not a spectator sport,” Orrick said. “You have to participate.”

Some older residents present on Saturday, like retiree Sandy Richards, said the current political climate and outlash from communities across the nation is reminiscent of the 1970s, when women still had little autonomy and people were continuing to protest the Vietnam war. 

Richards said there’s a lack of morality and common sense in the current administration. As a mother and grandmother, Richards said she especially cares about the way policies regarding women’s rights are being influenced by the federal government. 

“It’s just out of control,” Richards said. “It’s not the country I grew up in. It’s not the country my children grew up in.”

Saturday was Richards’ second time attending a No Kings protest. She said she was initially nervous to attend her first but felt a voice inside telling her she had to participate. The nationwide protests have been a good way to build community and send a complete message to the administration that the country isn’t tolerating their actions, she added.

“They’re running scared. They’ve tried to stamp down on democracy, but this shows they can’t,” Richards said. “They can control their little clan, but the people are the country. Hopefully, people come out and vote.”