‘No Kings’ rally held in Carroll County, Maryland

By Timothy Cox for Westminster Patch News

WESTMINSTER, MD --- Dr. Marc Solt made the trek down Maryland State Highway 32 North from Sykesville to the Carroll County government complex to partake in the Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 ‘No Kings’ Rally.

Solt, a pastor and self-described follower of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s philosophy, displayed a home-made, cardboard sign stating ‘Democracy has No Kings! He then pointed to a hand-held version of the U.S. Constitution pinned to his chest and stated that “Donald Trump needs to study this – and carry it with him too."

Honking horns and thumbs-up signs offered protesters signs of approval, while a minority of opposers waved middle-finger salutes from car windows.

Justin Krebbs, 50, said he joined the nearly 2,000 protesters gathered on South Center Street near the Carroll County Government Complex, to “protect our freedoms – not only for Democrats and Republicans, but for all Americans,” he emphasized.

Krebbs said he works as a scientist.

The husband-wife team of Marty and Gay Beam, came to the rally “to support Democracy and get the secret police off our streets,” said Mr. Beam, a 63-year-old architectural accountant. The Damascus, Maryland couple, proudly held up a ‘No Kings’ sign in addition to a large American flag. Mrs. Beam, 67, is a retired government contractor, and said, “We all need to do more to express ourselves against everything that he (Trump) stands for.

“Contractors have been doing good jobs for many years. They’re smart, intelligent hard-working people and don’t deserve the treatment they are getting from this administration,” she added.

Cheryl Steinbacher, 71; Sandra Loats, 62 and Gina Miller, 69 were three primary organizers of the Westminstster Rally. The trio represented the League of Women Voters, Carroll County chapter. “Our primary goal was to stage a 'peaceful and purposeful’ demonstration and that was achieved,” said Steinbacher, president of the local LWV.

During what was a planned national day of protest, it was noted by published accounts that as many as 26,000 rallies occurred nationally, amounting to as many as seven million rally participants throughout various part of the United States.

It was the third such rally since Trump’s return to the White House, last January, and it came against the backdrop of a government shutdown.

A Frederick-based live band called Good Trouble Troubadours, played original and cover protest songs on the steps of the Carroll County facility, according to guitarist Jim Goodwin.