ORANGE PARK — Signs, American flags and chants stood tall and echoed loudly through the air on March 28 as protestors lined the corner of Kingsley Avenue and Blanding Boulevard during a third No Kings rally.
The Saturday event withstood the wind and rainy weather, as an estimated 400 people gathered to oppose the actions and policies of the second Trump administration. The rally was a part of a nationwide demonstration, one of the largest in U.S. history. More than 8 million people participated in more than 3,300 events across the country.
Other local protests and marches took place in Neptune Beach, Northside and Ponte Vedra.
The national grassroots political movement 5051 hosted the regional protests, which converged for a central march across the Mainstreet Bridge, through downtown Jacksonville and to the Duval County Courthouse.
“We’re all here today to stand up for democracy,” said Clay Dems Chair Jackie Cetnar, who helped to organize the Orange Park demonstration.
“We want to let people know that we’re not going to tolerate this, that we need to stand up. And this is what we call freedom of speech.”
According to 5051, the protest was meant to be “a peaceful national day of action and mass mobilization in response to the increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption of the Trump administration.”
State Committeewoman Michelle Wilger said the event, which did feature the presence of law enforcement, was attended by both members of the Democratic and Republican party, despite polarization.
“It shows the level of unhappiness that’s going on. On both sides,” Wilger said.
Directly across the street, opposing protestors were also in attendance with signs favoring both President Trump and his policies.
Cetnar said it would not be the last rally.
“[We’ve] just got to be able to stand up for our rights and move forward,” she said.