Car horns sounded in support as protesters stood beneath rain-threatening skies with signs including “Defend Democracy.” The gathering was part of the fourth nationwide No Kings protest. Organizers said about 300 people attended Beltsville’s previous rally in March, compared with roughly 50 at its first, in October 2025.

The nationwide demonstrations also sought to encourage voter registration and early voting. Maryland’s early-voting period is scheduled for Oct. 22 through Oct. 29.

Lisa and Dana Nau, who live at the nearby Riderwood senior community, said they had attended every No Kings protest since the events began. Lisa Nau said people should not remain idle while decisions about elections and other issues are at stake. Dana Nau said he viewed the coming election as especially consequential, including because a change in control of Congress could limit some actions by the administration.

Michelle García, a co-founder of Beltsville United and chief of staff to Prince George’s County District 1 Council Member Thomas Dernoga, said residents had come together to express concern about federal actions. She said the county had experienced increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity and that Black and Latino communities had long felt targeted.

The future of the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center was another concern. The Trump administration announced plans last year to close the federally operated center, a major local employer and source of economic activity. A federal judge in California blocked the closure order the week before the protest, but the center’s long-term future remained uncertain.

Nicole Scafone, a Prince George’s County pre-K teacher and Beltsville resident, said the proposed closure troubled her because she valued the food research conducted there. The Oct. 17 rally was her first No Kings protest in Beltsville and her third overall.

Nicholas Orrick, a former Navy mechanical engineer who said he had attended every No Kings protest, also cited the research center as an example of what he sees as the administration’s efforts to dismantle government. He urged people to vote, saying, “Democracy is not a spectator sport.”

Retiree Sandy Richards said today’s political climate recalled the 1970s, when she saw protests over the Vietnam War and women’s rights. She said federal policies affecting women were among her concerns as a mother and grandmother.

For Richards, attending protests has become a way to build community and demonstrate opposition. She urged people to vote, saying, “The people are the country.”