Foxborough, Massachusetts – Monday, October 20, 2025

The “No Kings” movement — a sweeping call for democracy and equality — made its mark at Gillette Stadium on Saturday. But the message that shook the nation didn’t come from a politician.
It came from Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

Across the U.S., more than 7 million Americans joined the “No Kings, No Thrones, No Crowns” rallies, protesting what they describe as President Trump’s slide toward authoritarianism.
In Foxborough, Patriots fans filled the plaza waving red, white, and blue flags, holding banners reading “Freedom, Not Power” and “No Kings in New England.”

After the Patriots’ 27–3 win over the Dolphins, a crowd formed near the main gate, chanting for unity. That’s when Kraft appeared — unplanned and unguarded. Witnesses say he took a fan’s microphone and delivered a speech that would echo across America.

“The Patriots have always believed in one thing: teamwork,” Kraft said. “No one stands above the rest — not on this field, not in this country. Democracy only works when everyone has a voice.”

The crowd roared with approval. Within hours, videos of Kraft’s heartfelt statement went viral under #NoKingsInFoxborough and #PatriotsForDemocracy, garnering millions of shares.
One fan wrote: “When your NFL owner defends democracy better than Congress — that’s what being a Patriot really means.”

Reactions came swiftly. Supporters hailed Kraft’s courage, while some conservative pundits criticized him for “politicizing football.”
A Patriots spokesperson later said:

“Robert wasn’t making a political speech. He saw a crowd celebrating unity and wanted to remind them what real teamwork means.”

By Sunday night, the blue lights of Gillette Stadium shone across Massachusetts, mirroring the color worn by protesters nationwide — a beacon of shared strength and purpose.
And as one fan summed it up best while leaving the grounds:

“In Washington, they fight for power. In New England, we fight for each other.”