Last Saturday, October 18 saw public demonstrations across the United States in protest against the policies of President Donald Trump and his administration and in support of American constitutional government.
Berkeley Springs was one of several towns in the Eastern Panhandle that saw gatherings of people holding signs in the nationwide theme of “No Kings” protests.
Roughly 500 people stood along both sides of Washington Street to the north and south of the courthouse square, displaying signs on a variety of issues, from support for veterans and due process to rebukes of Trump’s policies. 
In Berkeley Springs State Park a small gathering of Trump supporters stood, watching the crowds. One woman said she is a constitutionalist and she didn’t understand why protestors were not supportive of Trump’s efforts to “return power to the states” from the federal government. She said she is a federal employee who has been off work because of the government shutdown.
A man in her group said Democrats are to blame for not passing a clean Continuing Resolution in Congress to get the government to reopen. Several in the group said there was so much name-calling by Democrats that debates over policy just failed. Some didn’t understand the reference of the “No Kings” theme of the protest, saying Donald Trump isn’t seeking lifetime office and won’t be president in 2028.
The vast majority of the crowd, however, displayed signs critical of Trump and his policies, including deployment of ICE troops for immigration crackdowns in several cities, in support of democracy and the release of the Epstein files and some mocking the president. 
Many vehicles that passed through town honked and waved at protestors, though some signaled their opposition to the protest. One large pickup truck circled the courthouse blocks, blowing dark exhaust at the people gathered there. A Sheriff’s deputy pulled out after the truck, flashing its lights and stopping the driver. Police said later the driver was issued a warning for a muffler violation in the incident.
The mood around the courthouse and along the roadways was upbeat, as protesters greeted each other and some sang along with local musicians.
