Chants, banners, and marching feet returned to Tallahassee’s Capitol on Oct. 18 as the “No Kings Day” movement rallies thousands across the country to push back against President Donald Trump’s use of power.
The local protest, which began around 10 a.m., is one of more than 2,100 demonstrations expected nationwide. Organizers say the coordinated events are meant to confront what they describe as Trump’s “violent authoritarian attacks on our freedoms,” pointing to the militarization of cities such as Chicago and the ongoing federal government shutdown that began Oct. 1.
But this latest event also comes at a moment when Trump has claimed a series of high-profile policy wins, including brokering a peace agreement between Israel and Hamas and touting progress on economic recovery following the government shutdown.
Supporters say that shows his leadership is delivering results, even as critics accuse him of consolidating power and undermining democratic norms — the very concerns fueling the No Kings movement.
The “No Kings” rally and protest gets started in Tallahassee on the steps of the old Capitol, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.
The latest demonstration follow a wave of No Kings protests earlier this year, including thousands of rallies held nationwide on June 14 — a date that coincided with Flag Day, Trump’s 79th birthday, and the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary celebration in Washington, D.C.
In Tallahassee, organizers describe the demonstrations as a response to what they call Trump’s escalating “abuses of power,” including the use of militarized federal agents, voter suppression efforts, and economic policies they say benefit billionaires over working families.
“No Kings Day is about claiming what we’ve already built. Working people built this country, not billionaires,” said April Verrett, president of the Service Employees International Union, said in a statement. “We’re protecting what we’ve built, and we’re building what’s next.”
A request for comment is pending with the Republican Party of Florida, which has been critical of the anti-Trump protests.
“This is why Democrats have lost Florida,” Evan Power, chair of the Florida GOP, said in June. “They don’t understand that Floridians want safety, not chaos. We want a secure border, law and order, and leaders who respect this country — not those who rally mobs.”
“We’re now a Red state for a reason,” Power added. Registered “Republicans outnumber Democrats (here) because voters are done with this nonsense.”
Much of the local energy behind “No Kings” has been fueled by a May 29 immigration raid in Tallahassee, when federal agents detained more than 100 workers at the construction site of a student housing complex. Some of those detained have since been deported, while relatives of others say they are still awaiting information about their loved ones.
Local organizers say the weekend protest is expected to draw participants from across North Florida, with a march that began at 10 a.m. and speeches scheduled afterward. City officials have said they are coordinating with law enforcement to manage traffic and ensure public safety as the demonstration unfolds.
This is a developing news story. Check back throughout the day for more coverage photos and video.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Protesters target Trump power in Tallahassee