Montrealers participated in a protest on Saturday, joining many across the United States in opposition to the Trump administration. The gathering took place downtown, where dozens showed their support for the No Kings movement. Among the attendees was Nancy Chausow Shafer, an American lawyer from Chicago, who expressed her appreciation for the solidarity shown by Canadians. "It’s heartening," she said. "It’s great that the local people are also coming out and letting us know that we have support around the world."

Shafer, who was in Montreal for a conference, initially feared she would miss the chance to join the protests occurring in cities across the U.S. She emphasized the importance of global participation, stating, "To me it’s important to have the numbers all over the world, and to give a message to the administration, not just Donald Trump but all the lackeys and the power brokers behind him, to let them know that we are not going to stand for it, that they can’t take away our democracy."

According to reports, over 2,000 No Kings protests were scheduled across the U.S. on Saturday, with additional demonstrations taking place in cities like Paris and Berlin. This event marked the third mass mobilization of the movement since Trump returned to the White House.

The rally in Montreal was organized by the Quebec chapter of Democrats Abroad, which represents U.S. citizens living outside the country. David Hamelin-Schuilenburg, the chapter's chair, addressed the crowd, saying, "From New York to Berlin, from Toronto to Tokyo, and right here in Montreal, people are gathering to remind the world democracy isn’t something we inherit once, it’s something we defend every single day."

Hamelin-Schuilenburg expressed concerns about the Strong Borders Act proposed by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government, which aims to change immigration policies, including limiting asylum claims. He stated, "We’re not supposed to be following the lead of the United States and splitting families apart. We need to stand up to that."

The proposed legislation also addresses cross-border fentanyl trafficking and follows Trump's claims that Canada was not doing enough to curb the drug's flow into the U.S. In January, Trump declared a national emergency based on these claims and imposed tariffs on both Canada and Mexico, citing issues related to over-migration.

"We’re here because we’ve seen what happens when fear, hate, and greed take over leadership, and we’re saying not on our watch," Hamelin-Schuilenburg added.

Judith Henkewick, a dual citizen from Boston, also attended the protest. She emphasized the importance of standing against Trump’s suggestion that Canada should become the 51st state. "We’re here to support Canadian sovereignty and also definitely to support all Americans interested in keeping their democracy," said Henkewick, who has lived in Montreal for over 50 years. "There’s a problem in the south that has to be dealt with."