This was originally published by the Concord Bridge. You can read the original story here.

On a day dedicated to remembering a cataclysmic demonstration of throwing off oppressive rule, Patriots Day visitors to the North Bridge and surrounds followed in the footsteps of the town’s forebears with protests of their own. 

While the demonstrations didn’t disrupt the formal commemoration of the start of the American Revolution, there was no dearth of signs with political slogans. Among the messages: a call to protect park rangers, stopping private jet expansion at Hanscom, and a general disdain for the current administration in Washington, D.C. 

“The people are not being considered,” Caroll Lothrop, 72, said. 

Lothrop arrived with Hands Off! Mobilize, a progressive group. “If they could throw out Milosevic and they could throw out the guy in Syria, we can do that too.”

Another group, Concord Indivisible, carried round signs emblazoned with large crossed-out crowns and the motto, “No king then. No king now.”

“Eight years ago, I would have come for the historical spectacle,” Christine Brown of Littleton said. “I love America, but now I’m fighting every hour. I’m fighting fascism to try to save America.”

Shaw Yang, another Concord Indivisible protester, said he felt frustrated at the current state of democracy, and cited concerns about attacks on the press and universities. “No kings! Nothing! Hands off,” Yang yelled. “Otherwise, we will lose our democracy in our country.”

Protesters marched closely behind the parade and mingled with the crowds in Monument Square. Some were challenged by eventgoers. One man told a group of people holding a large “Patriots stand up to tyrants” sign that they should “get thrown out of the country.”

Pedestrians near the Concord Free Public Library heard appeals to join the opposition to the expansion of private jet hangar space at Hanscom Field.

“It’s not an indie issue; it’s not local,” said Kati Winchell of Save Our Heritage, pointing to the project’s potential negative effects on treasured historical landmarks, such as Minute Man National Historical Park and Walden. “That is also why people from across the state have risen up and been galvanized to fight against it.”

And in Monument Square, Concordians Chris Burrell and Sigmund Roos paraded the oversized effigies of Vladimir Putin puppeteering President Trump they spent 30 hours creating.

“I’m just very worried about what’s going on in Washington,” Burrell, a lawyer, said. “This is in the spirit of what happened here 250 years ago.”