JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — From downtown to the Southside, demonstrators in Jacksonville joined a nationwide wave of protests Saturday for “No Kings Day” — a coordinated day of action aimed at rejecting authoritarianism and defending democratic values.

Protesters gathered outside the Duval County Courthouse and at the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Hodges Boulevard, carrying signs, chanting and calling for change.

“It’s time for everybody to stand up,” protester Maryland Wells said. “Like so many other people, I just want to stay home and be comfy, but that’s not an option anymore.”

Organizers say the movement is in direct opposition to the policies of President Donald Trump, with participants expressing concerns over immigration enforcement and women’s rights.

“Since the deportations, it’s the disregard for our civil liberties, over there in L.A. and around the nation,” said James Dawson, one of the demonstrators who joined the rally downtown.

Others shared a broader sense of frustration about the current political climate.

“We’re all tired. We’re all fed up,” Ethan Walls said. “We’re ready to band together and take our country back.”

Despite the passion behind the protests, demonstrators emphasized the importance of keeping their message peaceful.

“We’ve seen this playbook of authoritarian dictatorship before,” protester Sarah Osman said. “Our one tool is peaceful protest.”

In response to the demonstrations, Florida State Representative Dean Black said in a statement: “President Trump is no king — in fact, he is the opposite. He was elected to serve the American people, not rule over them. He listens to the voters and upholds the rule of law, whether it’s enforcing immigration policy or restoring order in Democrat-led cities plagued by violence. He doesn’t act above the law — he defends it. That’s not the behavior of a king, but of a president committed to ‘We the People.’”

First Coast News reached out to The White House for comment regarding the protests. As of Friday evening, we have not received a response.