Correspondent photos / Sean Barron . . . An estimated 1,200 people line both sides of Market Street for Saturday’s No Kings Day peaceful rally in downtown Youngstown to protest what they and many others feel is an erosion of democratic values and the growth of authoritarianism and fascism under the President Donald Trump administration.

YOUNGSTOWN — Paulette Malie is galled by what she sees as a stark and tragic contrast between family members and a friend who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country and President Donald Trump having evaded military service.

“They were honorable; this man was a draft dodger,” Malie, of Austintown said. “It makes me want to cry. I have a righteous anger for someone who cares for himself and not the country. He’s enriching himself at the expense of U.S. citizens.”

Malie made her indignation known as she carried a sign bearing black-and-white photographs of the four she lost as they served their country — above which is written the word “honor” — juxtaposed with an image of Trump, under which is the word “dishonor.” Specifically, the four loved ones were Malie’s father, Paul Dolyak; husband, Mike Malie; her uncle, Joe Dolyak; and family friend, 1st Lt. Kenneth J. Nervie, who died in October 1968 in the Vietnam War and whose name is one of the 100 inscribed on the Vietnam War Memorial in Youngstown’s Central Square.

Malie also was among an estimated 1,200 sign bearers who came to Saturday’s No Kings Day peaceful protest Saturday afternoon at and across from the Mahoning County Courthouse, downtown. Similar rallies took place Saturday near Warren’s Courthouse Square and elsewhere around the region and nation.

The protests were among an estimated 2,000 such demonstrations in all 50 states and worldwide to counter what millions say they believe are the Trump administration’s authoritarian policies that include mass deportations, arrests without due process and threats to freeze or withhold federal funding from colleges and other institutions that take a stand to oppose him.

Saturday’s local protest, which the Mahoning Valley Freedom Fighters organization spearheaded, also was to stand against the $45 million taxpayer-funded military parade in Washington, D.C., on Trump’s 79th birthday, a day that also marked the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, as well as Flag Day.

Many have complained that the parade was more about political theater and feeding the president’s ego than about celebrating the military, and that it undermined many values the armed forces are sworn to uphold. In addition, the thousands of organized gatherings across the U.S. and elsewhere followed several days of protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids throughout the country, especially in Los Angeles, where Trump deployed the U.S. Marine Corps and the California National Guard.

One demonstrator from Hubbard noted that the Youngstown rally took place at the Mahoning County Courthouse, on the top of which is an inscription that reads, “A nation cannot outlive justice. Where law ends, tyranny begins.”

Feeding a large part of Anastasia Hermance’s desire to be part of Saturday’s peaceful demonstration was a quality-of-life federal program that many feel is under threat.

“I feel that the things going on in the country and the government’s actions are very dangerous,” Hermance, a physical therapy assistant from Hubbard, said. “We need the leadership of this country to see how many people oppose what they are doing, and to change their attitude and behavior to make this country better — without anyone being hurt.”

For her part, Hermance carried a sign that read in all capital letters, “If we can afford a parade, we can afford Medicaid.” She also said that, given the turmoil and chaos this administration has created, remaining silent is no longer a viable option.

“I’m here because Donald Trump is ruining our democracy,” Dawn Book of New Castle, Pa., said, adding that she feels the president is decimating the Constitution, intentionally ignoring court orders and unfairly attacking immigrants.

Book, who, along with her husband, Richard Book, volunteers for the Lawrence County Democratic Party, called Saturday’s military parade “anti-American and a waste of taxpayers’ money.”

A touch of humor found its way onto the sign Ashley Terlecky of Vienna held, though her overriding reason for being at Saturday’s No Kings Day rally was anything but funny.

“Trump and his administration are trying to beat us down and overwhelm us to make us feel powerless,” she said, adding, “We must come together to uphold our Constitution.”

Terlecky, a teacher with two daughters, 6 and 10, carried a sign that read in part, “Tyranny-saurus Don” next to a drawing of a green-and-orange dinosaur. She also came on behalf of those who are immunocompromised and have financial challenges, as well as others she felt may have difficulty standing up for themselves, Terlecky explained.

Common inscriptions on signs in the crowd that denounced Trump and his policies included “No kings in America since 1776,” “No kings, no fascists,” “Protect our Constitution,” “Abolish ICE” and “8647,” a reference to removing Trump from power.

The crowd also drew the support of passers-by in vehicles, many of whom honked, displayed peace signs and gave thumbs-up gestures. One motorist had a Star of David flag protruding from his driver’s-side window.

After embarking on a 1-square-block march around Central Square, many participants were treated to a sing-a-long in which patriotic tunes were played. A more buoyant and celebratory moment came when many sang the lyrics to hits such as the 1971 Rare Earth song, “I Just Want to Celebrate” and “Lola,” a popular 1970 hit song by the Kinks.

Also in the crowd was David Reeve of Youngstown, who said he supports many of Trump’s policies and political positions.

“I’m peacefully protesting the people I do not agree with,” he said.

Reeve added that he supports Trump’s ICE raids largely because the U.S. should not protect those who seek asylum but lack proper background checks. In many of these situations, such asylum seekers’ true intentions are unknown, he said.

Reeve also defended Trump’s stance on the Second Amendment regarding the right to bear arms, as well as the president’s actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, saying that Trump likely was in a meeting part of that time and that his intent was not to have his followers storm the building.

Among those who spoke at Saturday’s protest was Michael Kripchak, a substitute teacher at East Middle School in Youngstown, who urged the crowd to support and reach out to one another, including those who support Trump. It’s also vital that people awaken to what is going on in the nation, he said.

“We are here for one reason: because we love our country and we love each other. Don’t let them tear us down,” Kripchak added.

“We are not alone,” Darlene Petrolla, a Mahoning Valley Freedom Fighter member, said in her remarks.

Petrolla added that she stands firm against working with anyone who refuses to fight for democracy or poses a threat to citizens, along with politicians who want to privatize Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security, subvert the Constitution, persecute Muslims and transgender people, lower income taxes for the wealthiest 1% of the population while increasing them for the middle class, take away others’ civil rights, slash funding for education, further alienate our allies, suppress scientific research that includes climate change and weaken environmental regulations and protections.

A coalition of hundreds of organizations organized or supported the mass protests, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Federation of Teachers, the Communication Workers of America Union, Moveon.org, Faithful America and the 50501 movement, a grassroots organization that began early this year with the goal of holding at least 50 protests in 50 states united under one movement.