As Jacksonville prepares for multiple “No Kings Day” demonstrations on June 14 — which coincide with a planned military parade in Washington, D.C. and President Donald Trump's 79th birthday — authorities are urging both protesters and residents to stay informed and prioritize safety.

Taking its name, in part, from a February 2025 Truth Social post in which Trump referred to himself as a king, the "No Kings Day" protests are part of a nationwide wave of over 1,800 protests scheduled for June 14 and are intended as a broad response to the "increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption of the Trump administration,” according to nokings.org.

But as tensions rise, so do safety concerns.

On June 11, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of a local man who allegedly threatened protesters online . Police say 26-year-old Zachary Degross is facing a second-degree felony charge after investigators with JSO’s Intelligence Unit linked him to a social media comment stating that if he saw protesters in Jacksonville, he “would run them over with a tow truck.” The threat was reported through a tip, and Degross was quickly identified and taken into custody.

In addition to staying safe at protests, legal observers and civil rights groups are emphasizing the importance of knowing your rights.

I'm going to a protest. How can I protect myself?

First and foremost, the website says they expect all "No Kings" protest participants to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with its values and to act lawfully at these events, and stressed no weapons should be brought to a protest.

Public protests are protected in the United States by the First Amendment and are legal in public areas provided you are not blocking car or pedestrian traffic or blocking access to government buildings.

That said, law enforcement may interpret your intentions differently and some have acted with force.

The Human Rights Campaign advises protesters to scope out the area of the protest ahead of time and identify multiple routes out of the area. An offline-accessible map can help. During the protest, remain aware of your surroundings and what's happening around you.

What should I bring to a protest?

Many organizations advise protesters to leave their phones at home to protect their privacy as they can easily be tracked. If you must take your phone, keep it turned off until you need it and, before you go, disable Face ID or fingerprint security and stick with the 6-digit passcode instead. You may also consider buying a cheap secondary phone to use.

When protesting, know your rights

According to the ACLU of Florida , the First Amendment generally prohibits restrictions based on speech content; however, this does not mean that the Constitution completely protects all types of speech in every circumstance.

"For example, threatening someone with violence is not protected," the organization writes on its website. "Additionally, government officials are allowed to place certain reasonable, nondiscriminatory, and narrowly drawn 'time, place, and manner' restrictions on the exercise of First Amendment rights.

Your rights are strongest in "traditional public forms" such as streets, sidewalks and parks, but you can be asked to disperse if you are blocking car or pedestrian traffic. You may also protest at government buildings as long as you don't block access to them or interfere with the purpose of it.

Florida Statutes 871.015 state that a person may not "knowingly engage in protest activities or knowingly cause protest activities to occur within 500 feet of the property line of a residence, cemetery, funeral home, house of worship, or other location during or within 1 hour before or 1 hour after the conducting of a funeral or burial at that place."

Anyone violating this will be charged with a misdemeanor of the first degree.

In 2021, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 1 , an anti-protest law that enhanced criminal penalties during specific gatherings and created new criminal penalties for “mob intimidation” and damaging or pulling down historic objects. However, in 2024 the Florida Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the law does not apply to people at a protest who don’t engage in violent or disorderly conduct.

Can I take photographs or video at a protest?

When you are lawfully present in a public space, you have the right to photograph or video anything in plain view, including federal buildings and the police, the ACLU said. Law enforcement may not confiscate your photos or video without a warrant and may not demand you delete anything, but they can order you to stop if you're interfering with legitimate law enforcement operations.

In Florida, that can be a wide definition. The "HALO" law – Honoring and Listening to Our Officers – went into effect in January.

Under the law, if a first responder such as law enforcement, firefighters and medical personnel asks you to back off in the course of their duties, you must move 25 feet away or face a second-degree misdemeanor charge punishable by up to 60 days in jail or a $500 fine.

Where are the 'No Kings' protests happening in Jacksonville on June 14?

The "No Kings" protest in Jacksonville will take place at four locations across the greater Jacksonville area on June 14. The first demonstration will begin with a 90-minute protest at the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Hodges Boulevard, followed by a second protest at the Duval County Courthouse, located at 501 W. Adams Street. Two additional protests will be held in Orange Park and St. Johns County, both starting at 10 a.m. and concluding by noon.

Organizers say the protests are a stand against authoritarianism, promoting the message: "In America, we don’t put up with would-be kings," and rallying behind the slogan, "No thrones, no crowns, no kings."

According to the No Kings website, more than 75 protests (including several in some cities) are planned across Florida as of June 10.

All protests are intended to be peaceful, in line with the values of the 50501 movement. Organizers emphasize on their website that all events are rooted in nonviolence and ask every participant to commit to peaceful action and de-escalation, even in the face of opposition. The website also advises against bringing weapons into the protest.