Two local protests are scheduled this weekend as part of a nationwide “No Kings” day of action, organized to voice opposition to President Donald Trump.
The Saturday demonstrations coincide with several symbolic dates: Flag Day, the U.S. military’s 250th anniversary, and Trump’s 79th birthday.
Protests are planned in cities across the country, including Los Angeles and New York, where recent demonstrations have focused on the administration’s immigration policies.
Those actions have drawn both support and backlash nationwide.
The nation’s divisions are apparent locally, with one anti-Trump action planned at the intersection of U.S. 1 and Race Track Road in St. Johns County and another set to take place near the Castillo de San Marcos in downtown St. Augustine, where organizers encouraged participants to wear “circus attire.”
“In America, we don’t put up with would-be kings,” read a statement circulated by organizers. “NO KINGS is a national day of action and mass mobilization in response to increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption from Trump and his allies.”
The planned local events have sparked a spiral of controversy online.
Local Facebook announcements of the gatherings have led to sharp exchanges between supporters and opponents.
Some commenters said they plan to counter-protest in support of Trump’s policies in close proximity to their rivals.
Others took a less assertive approach.
“No room for this nonsense in St. Auggy. I am going to the beach and planting my American flag in the sand,” one commenter wrote.
“Go to L.A. with this garbage,” said another.
Noting St. Johns County’s profile as a GOP stronghold, others said the protests will fall on mostly deaf ears.
Some critics questioned the appropriateness of staging protests on Flag Day, while others backed the timing as meaningfully symbolic.
Governor Ron DeSantis, responding to protests in Los Angeles earlier this week, warned that unruly demonstrations would not be tolerated.
“That would never fly in the state of Florida, not for one minute,” DeSantis said at a press conference in Jacksonville. “You’d end up in the slammer very quickly.”
Local organizers have encouraged participants to be vocal but peaceful, urging attendees to wave signs and chant during the demonstrations.
8 Responses
The president is doing what he was voted into office to do. Take your protest somewhere else.
He’s literally breaking the law and defying the constitution over and over again. Take your racist fascism somewhere else.
organizers encouraged participants to wear “circus attire.”
At least they’re self aware.
In America, we have the right to peacefully protest, without threats from the sitting Governor, and law citizens. Per the courts-republican judges that he appointed he is breaking the law, as he has done many times and he is a convicted felon.
We see you have not fully recovered from your concussion yet.
Sure you do IF it’s a peaceful protest. Oh gosh, you probably need to move to California. We are blissfully happy with our governor.
I fear this won’t turn out good.
Go enjoy the US Army Birthday celebration and forget the nonsense of made up Kings Day how delusional are the people that actually support such nonsense.Celebrate the people that protected you while you were cozy and safe at home,Happy Birthday US ARMY and DONALD TRUMP our president.