Share and Follow
Thousands are gearing up to participate in the No Kings Day protest in Jacksonville on October 18th, challenging what they see as authoritarian tendencies in the Trump administration.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The upcoming No Kings Day protest is poised to become one of the most significant national demonstrations since President Trump assumed office.
Over 2,500 marches and rallies are being organized across the nation, with several planned in northeast Florida.
In Jacksonville, demonstrators are expected to gather throughout the city on Saturday, October 18th, for the No Kings Day event.
This peaceful national day of action aims to address what organizers describe as “growing authoritarian excesses and corruption” linked to the Trump administration.
Tyra Smude with Indivisible Jax Riverside, a nonpartisan group promoting democracy, tells First Coast News caravans from the Northside, Beaches, Mandarin and Riverside will drive to the Friendship fountain downtown.
“We’re trying to underscore that in America we have no kings and we’re also trying to underscore that we still. so far we live in a democracy where we still have the ability to have freedom of speech,” said Smude.
From Friendship Fountain, protestors will march to the Duval County Courthouse, where speakers address the masses.
“We’re not agreeing with our taxes being used for ICE to take down folks,” she said, “We’re not agreeing with so many things of this authoritarian president, so we’re saying that we’re saying it in a peaceful way in a nonviolent way.”
Despite political differences, the Duval County Republican party said it supports the right to protest. In statement sent to First Coast News:
“The Republican Party of Duval County is not planning on going out and doing an anti-protest. We believe in free speech, we believe in the first amendment, and if people want to protest then it’s their right and their prerogative.”
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office sent a statement to First Coast News confirming that they’re aware of the plane and are devoted to safety:
“JSO is aware of the plans and is devoting resources to make sure that everyone is safe. We respect the constitutional right to protest peacefully and remind everyone that if they see something suspicious, they should report it immediately.”
