Protesters in downtown Lexington rally against MAGA policies on International Women’s Day
Multiple protests melded into one on Saturday, as demonstrators gathered in downtown Lexington on International Women’s Day to push back against the Trump administration.
Rallies and protests were planned nationwide, as the Women’s March led a “Unite and Resist” National Day of Action.
At the same time as Lexington’s Women’s March gathering, Beverly Johnson-Miller, a retired Asbury Theological Seminary professor, led what she called The People’s Protest.
“I just woke up one morning. I looked at the news. I thought, ‘That’s enough of that,’” she said in an interview. “I normally wouldn’t go out in the street with a sign, but I can’t take it anymore. We all have to do our part.”
Scores of people lined Main Street on Saturday afternoon, joining Johnson-Miller in chants including “Trump is a traitor.” Many carried Ukrainian and Canadian flags along with homemade signs.
“Donald Trump, you are not a king, and your treason will not be tolerated. You do not have absolute power over the American people. We, the American people, will never bow to you,” Johnson-Miller said.
She said Elon Musk needs to “get out of our government,” and she called on congressional representatives to stop defending Trump’s “abuse of power.”
“We’ve had enough of the congressional cowards who sold their souls to kiss the feet of Donald Trump,” she told the crowd. “It is time for you to list five things you accomplished last week.”
Levi House said a friend recently told him “protests don’t do anything,” but he disagrees.
“With so much hateful rhetoric ... it’s really hard to feel hopeful sometimes,” House said. He said being with other like-minded people helps, and he said it shows “other people just driving by that there are people looking out for you.”
Isabelle Morgan said she noticed “how angry I was” listening to the speakers during the event.
“Uniting like this in general is a good outlet for it, instead of despair,” she said.
The Women’s March said in a news release that the organization hoped the day would help with “building long-term grassroots networks, welcoming new activists into the movement, and ensuring that every person has a place in the fight for justice.”
“The broligarchy that owns Trump is working to ‘flood the zone’ with hateful executive actions and rhetoric, trying to overwhelm us into submission,” Rachel O’Leary Carmona, executive director of Women’s March, said in the release.
“But we refuse to lose focus. We refuse to stand by. They are coming for our schools, our public health systems, our jobs, our reproductive freedoms, our rights, our families, and our futures. This is a full-scale attack on our democracy.”
Shelby Abrams, of Winchester, brought her 8-year-old daughter, Riley Rector, to the rally.
Abrams said her aunt protested during the feminist movement in the 1970s, and Abrams was remembering those efforts as she demonstrated on Saturday.
“I’m a stay-at-home mom, and I don’t really have a voice in the community,” Abrams said.
Rather than stay home feeling down about the political environment, she said she “decided to take some action.”
“I’m not happy about what’s going on, and I need her to be aware that this isn’t how it’s supposed to be,” Abrams said, glancing at her daughter.
This story was originally published March 8, 2025 at 6:44 PM.
