The number of planned
"No Kings" protests across Florida and the United States is growing. The events are scheduled to take place Saturday, June 14, and coincide with Flag Day,
President Trump's 79th birthday and the U.S.
Army's 250th anniversary celebration and military parade taking place in Washington, D.C. About 2,000 protests and rallies have registered at the
nokings.org website across the US, with more than 80 in Florida. The "No Kings" day protests were planned before riots erupted in Los Angeles over immigration enforcement raids.
Trump called in the California National Guard and a few days later ordered Marines to the city. California Gov. Gavin Newsom filed a lawsuit over the president’s move to deploy members of the Guard
without Newsom’s authorization. Here's who is organizing the events, the purpose behind them and how to stay safe if you'll be attending or be in the area.
What is 'No Kings' day protest on June 14?
"'No Kings' is expected to be the
largest single-day mobilization since Trump returned to office — a mass, nationwide protest rejecting authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics, and the militarization of our democracy," according to nokings.org. "They’ve defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights, and slashed our services. The
corruption has gone too. far. No thrones. No crowns. No kings. "We’re standing together against the abuses of power, cruelty, and corruption. On June 14, we gather to remind President Trump and his enablers:
America has No King !
Who is organizing the 'No Kings' day?
"The 'No Kings' theme was orchestrated by the
50501 Movement , a national movement made up of everyday Americans who stand for democracy and against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration," according to the Associated Press. "The name 50501 stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement." Another event organizer is
Indivisible , which calls itself "a grassroots movement of thousands of local Indivisible groups with a
mission to elect progressive leaders , rebuild our democracy, and defeat the Trump agenda." Formed in 2016, Indivisible said it "
rejects all forms of political violence and intimidation, no matter the source or the target." "I think we will see the
largest peaceful single day protests that this country has seen certainly since the first Trump term," said Indivisible cofounder
Ezra Levin , one of the organizers. Levin previously served as associate director of federal policy for
Prosperity Now. Where are 'No Kings' day protests in Florida?
According to the No Kings website,
more than 80 protests (including several in some cities) are planned across Florida as of June 13, including a
No Kings Caravan March to Mar a Lago and Meyer Rally near Trump's residence in West Palm Beach. Organizers were urged to "
prioritize landmarks or other public sites with high-visibility , like state capitols or city halls, major parks, or in other high traffic outdoor areas in your community."
'No Kings' day events to be live streamed
How to stay safe during 'No Kings' day protests
Authorities are urging both protesters and residents to stay informed and
prioritize safety. "All No Kings events adhere to a shared commitment to
nonviolent protest and community safety. Organizers are trained in de-escalation and are working closely with local partners to ensure peaceful and powerful actions nationwide," nokings.org said.
What are your rights in Florida when it comes to protesting?
According to
the ACLU of Florida , the First Amendment generally prohibits restrictions based on speech content. However, this does not mean 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."
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."
This story was updated to add a gallery.
