What's Happening

October 27, 2025, Adrian, Michigan – Adrian Dominican Sisters, Associates, and Co-workers were among the millions of people in the United States – and throughout the world – joining in peaceful advocacy for justice, peace, and democracy through No Kings Protests. They joined in protests from Florida to Washington State, and Detroit to Las Vegas.

Sisters Marilín Llanes, OP, and Xiomara Méndez-Hernández, OP – both naturalized U.S. citizens from Cuba and the Dominican Republic respectively – were encouraged by their experience at the No Kings rally at a park in Hollywood, Florida. 

“There was a lot of solidarity,” Sister Marilín recalled. She described the rally as “a good cross-section of generations that stood there together in solidarity and in protest of how our beloved America is changing, and it’s not the America that we know we can be.”

Both Sisters recognized that few Latinos or African-Americans were in attendance, perhaps out of fear. “My motivation is that I can protest,” Sister Xiomara said. “Some people can’t. I took the courage to say I’m representing the people who are persecuted because they look like me.”

Once they arrived at the rally, they felt safe, Sister Marilín said. Still, they took the precaution of bringing their U.S. passports with them and parking in a place where they could easily leave. They arrived at the beginning of the rally and stayed for an hour. “We wanted to be there, but within a certain set of guidelines that we felt could be safe,” Sister Marilín said.

Sister Rosemary Finnegan, OP, joined about 2,400 people attending the No Kings rally in Casselberry, Florida, north of Orlando. “The people were united there in spirit and peacefully demonstrating for the decent, just, and democratic values of our country, which we all hold dear,” she said. “As we waved at cars going by that were honking their approval of our presence, we felt a ray of hope that ‘we, the people’ could speak.”

Associate Sharon Pikula joined a rally in the State of Washington. “It was exhilarating to be with part of my faith community and 5,000 people in the Olympia area,” she said. “We are dealing with so many complex issues. My poster focused on the statement, ‘Peace saves all.’ It is through nonviolence that the hungry in Gaza and in the USA will be fed and there will be enough.”

 

About 60 miles from Olympia, nearly 90,000 people participated in the No Kings Protest in Seattle. “In a city that the current administration has cited as one of the next ones to need National Guard policing, the Seattle No Kings Protest gathered a peaceful demonstration in crowds over a mile long with the intent to defend democracy, protect human rights, demand justice in healthcare and protection educational/research funding,” Associate Kathleen Shannon Dorcy reported. She described the event as a “nonviolent but strong presence to call for a re-commitment to truth, veritas, in our American society.”

Adrian Dominican Sisters Kathleen McGrail, OP, Elisabeth Nguyen, OP, and Mary Jean Williams, OP, were present in the No Kings protest in the Las Vegas area. “I was impressed with how peaceful the event was and how friendly everyone was,” Sister Kathleen noted. “There were even people walking around handing out water. It was a very concerned, committed, and peaceful spirit – people of all ages from young children to seniors.”

  

 

Sister Joan Weithman, OP, attended a rally in Chicago and was inspired “to be among folks [who] stand for peace and justice – and concern for the least. To stand for justice is key! We must be Gospel people in this country.”

Associate Patricia Gillis, who with Sister Janet Stankowski, OP, attended the No Kings gathering at the Livonia Civic Center in the Detroit Metro Area, described the event as peaceful and joyous. “We all felt relief that there are people who love our country enough to make a sign, drive to a site, and stand up for our common values on which our country was built.”

Several Adrian Dominican Sisters, Associates, and Co-workers joined the No Kings Protest that packed Comstock Park in Adrian.

Sister Anneliese Sinnott, OP, watched the rally from a parked car because of mobility challenges. “I was pleased and amazed at the number of older people,” she said. “We’re the age group that recognizes what a threat our president is to the world, to our country.” She was also pleased by the number of Adrian Dominican Sisters and Associates who attended to support the effort.

 

“It was so heartening to see a thousand or more of us speaking with one voice and joining with those around our country and beyond,” said Sister Janet Doyle, OP, Director of the Weber Retreat and Conference Center. She attended the rally with Katherine Dusseau, Manager of the Weber Center Shop. 

“But protesting is not enough,” Sister Janet added. “We can’t go home and wait for the next protest. We need to reach out to our neighbors and find some common ground. We need to stay involved and invite others to join us.” 

Associate Sharon Pikula also saw the need to continue the efforts beyond protesting. She was impressed by a poster that apologized to the world for what is happening in the United States. “So much healing and reconciliation is needed,” she said.