Anti-Trump 'No Kings' rallies unfold across South Florida

Thousands of protesters lined the sidewalks from Miami to West Palm Beach Saturday, chanting “dump Trump,” wearing inflatable animal costumes and singing the national anthem as part of the second wave of anti-Trump, “No Kings” demonstrations across the country.

Like the previous round of “No Kings” protests in June, the theme of the demonstrations was democracy. Participants echoed concerns raised over the summer, including the administration’s widespread immigration crackdown, economic inequality and infringements on due process.

But many said their unease had deepened in the last few months, with several pointing to the deployment of the military to Democrat-led cities, ramped up deportations, and what they saw as a weaponization of Christian ideology.

“I just think it’s building momentum, his cruelty, his bad decisions, his anti-democracy ideology,” said Stephen Dubin, 73, who attended a Boca Raton protest with his 12-year-old granddaughter and her friend. “It’s just getting worse and worse.”

Saturday’s demonstrations unfolded across multiple parts of Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach and Miami while Trump was spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach. They were largely peaceful and heavily policed, though some clashes with counterprotesters occurred.

In Boca Raton, a crowd of approximately 3,000 lined the blocks surrounding City Hall as a stream of cars drove by, many covered in anti-Trump messaging, honking in support. Occasionally, a car would pass bearing Trump flags; one driver had placed a human-sized skeleton giving the middle finger in his passenger seat. Another driver yelled, “get a job!”

Many protesters were middle-aged or older. Some wore shirts identifying themselves as Vietnam veterans, while others recounted protesting the Vietnam War during the 1960s and 1970s. Some said that what they had witnessed in decades past does not compare to what is happening now.

“We never thought in our lifetime, after the sixties and seventies, that this would happen,” said Susan Ivers, 74.

Her husband, Joel Ivers, added, “I do think democracy is on the line and we’re losing it if we don’t do something.”

A few protesters along A1A in Fort Lauderdale carried signs invoking the sacrifices made by parents and grandparents in fighting fascism in World War II.

“Makin’ My World War II Vet Grampa Proud,” read a sign carried by Denise Gallo, 52, of Fort Lauderdale, which also displayed a Purple Heart symbol in honor of her grandfather’s service against the Japanese army on Okinawa.

“I’m scared for my country right now,” she said. “I see the direction Trump is going in. He’s trying to be a dictator.”

Multiple participants, including those who were younger, said they had personal experience with Trump’s widespread deportations. They included Boca rally attendees Morgan Dailey and Hilina Thomas, both 18-year-old freshman at Palm Beach State College who said they knew other young people who had encounters with ICE; one former classmate of theirs may have to leave the country without graduating because of his immigration status.

One 11-year-old girl told the Sun Sentinel that she worries for her mother, who is undocumented.

“My mom doesn’t deserve to get deported on stolen land,” she said.

At Oakland Park Boulevard and Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale, a crowd estimated by organizers at more than 2,500 wrapped around the Coral Ridge Mall, with demonstrators holding signs and receiving an almost constant barrage of supportive car honks.

Some signs appeared aimed at getting under the skin of a touchy chief executive: “Release the Epstein Files” and “Our we great yet? ‘Cause I just feel embarrassed.” One sign offered a flabby and unflattering image of Trump and read “No kings – No idiots either.”

Supporters gather along NW 2nd Ave. and Palmetto Park Rd....

Supporters gather along NW 2nd Ave. and Palmetto Park Rd. in Boca Raton for a ”No Kings” rally protesting the Trump administration, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (Jim Rassol/Contributor)

Supporters gather along US1 and Oakland Park Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale for a ”No Kings” rally protesting the Trump administration, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (Jim Rassol/Contributor)

Supporters gather along NW 2nd Ave. and Palmetto Park Rd. in Boca Raton for a ”No Kings” rally protesting the Trump administration, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (Jim Rassol/Contributor)

Supporters gather along US1 and Oakland Park Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale for a ”No Kings” rally protesting the Trump administration, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (Jim Rassol/Contributor)

Supporters gather along NW 2nd Ave. and Palmetto Park Rd. in Boca Raton for a ”No Kings” rally protesting the Trump administration, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (Jim Rassol/Contributor)

Supporters gather along US1 and Oakland Park Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale for a ”No Kings” rally protesting the Trump administration, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (Jim Rassol/Contributor)

Supporters gather along A1A and Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale for a ”No Kings” rally protesting the Trump administration. Saturday, Oct 18, 2025 (Jim Rassol/Contributor).

Supporters gather along NW 2nd Ave. and Palmetto Park Rd. in Boca Raton for a ”No Kings” rally protesting the Trump administration, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (Jim Rassol/Contributor)

Supporters gather along A1A and Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale for a ”No Kings” rally protesting the Trump administration. Saturday, Oct 18, 2025 (Jim Rassol/Contributor).

Supporters gather along NW 2nd Ave. and Palmetto Park Rd. in Boca Raton for a ”No Kings” rally protesting the Trump administration, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (Jim Rassol/Contributor)

Supporters gather along A1A and Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale for a ”No Kings” rally protesting the Trump administration. Saturday, Oct 18, 2025 (Jim Rassol/Contributor).

Protesters expressed their opinions at the Miami-Torch of Friendship in downtown, Miami, during the ‘No Kings’ anti-Trump protests taking place nationwide and all across South Florida, on Saturday Oct. 18, 2025. (Pedro Portal/Miami Herald)

Tim Langion was among a group of protesters that expressed their opinions at the Miami-Torch of Friendship in downtown, Miami, during the ‘No Kings’ anti-Trump protests taking place nationwide and all across South Florida, on Saturday Oct. 18, 2025. (Pedro Portal/Miami Herald)

Monica Tracy was among a group of protesters that expressed their opinions at the Miami-Torch of Friendship in downtown, Miami, during the ‘No Kings’ anti-Trump protests taking place nationwide and all across South Florida, on Saturday Oct. 18, 2025. (Pedro Portal/Miami Herald)

Mariam Zambrana, Isabel and Sebastian were among a group of protesters that expressed their opinions at the Miami-Torch of Friendship in downtown, Miami, during the ‘No Kings’ anti-Trump protests taking place nationwide and all across South Florida, on Saturday Oct. 18, 2025. (Pedro Portal/Miami Herald)

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Supporters gather along NW 2nd Ave. and Palmetto Park Rd. in Boca Raton for a ”No Kings” rally protesting the Trump administration, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (Jim Rassol/Contributor)

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In a demonstration made up primarily of people who were middle aged and older, several people said they feared the America they loved appeared to be slipping away, as Trump and his followers embraced hatred, greed and strong-man rule.

“I’m here to fight to get back to the America I grew up with,” said Dalia Alemán, 59, an actor from Davie. “I came from a family of immigrants. I have two adult sons that I’m fighting for, for their future. This is not America. What we’re living in today is a nightmare.”

Vicky Taormina, 61, of Oakland Park, held an American flag and a sign that read “Defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic.”

“For the first time in my life, I’m scared for our country,” she said “I’m scared for our freedom, for the journalists that walked out of the Pentagon, for the people thrown out of the country without due process. They never should use the military against the American people.”

This is a developing story, so check back for updates. Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.

Originally Published: October 18, 2025 at 3:20 PM EDT

Anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ rallies unfold across South Florida

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