\n\t\t\t\t\t\t“No Kings” protests in opposition of President Donald Trump and his administration are being held across the country on Saturday, Oct. 18, including in Southwest Florida.This will be the second \u201cNo Kings\u201d protest and the third movement against the Trump administration in 2025. It comes as conflict intensifies between federal law enforcement and protesters throughout the nation.When and where are ‘No Kings’ protests being held?Fort Myers – I-75 Estero Parkway Overpass – 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.Sanibel – Grassy area in front of Tahitian Gardens – 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.Naples – Collier County Courthouse – 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.There are also other protests scheduled in Fort Myers, Port Charlotte and Englewood, but the locations are not publicly available. For more information and if you’re interested and want to RSVP, click here.\u2018No Kings\u2019 protests return as Trump ramps up authoritarian practices, organizers sayBy Safiyah Riddle, Associated PressBig crowds of protesters are expected Saturday in thousands of places around the U.S. in opposition to what some are characterizing as increasingly authoritarian practices by President Donald Trump.It\u2019s the second \u201cNo Kings\u201d protest and third mass movement against the administration this year, and it comes amid an intensifying conflict between federal law enforcement and protesters nationwide.Some conservative politicians have condemned the protests as \u201cHate America\u201d rallies, while others say that it represents a \u201cpatriotic\u201d fight for First Amendment rights.Here is what to expect on Saturday.Organizers aim to boost political engagementEzra Levin, a leading organizer of Saturday\u2019s protests, said the demonstrations are a response to what he called Trump\u2019s \u201ccrackdown on First Amendment rights.\u201dLevin, the co-executive director of the nonprofit Indivisible, pointed to Trump\u2019s sweeping immigration crackdown, his unprecedented promises to use federal power to influence midterm elections, restrictions on press freedom and retribution against political opponents.He said those steps cumulatively represented a direct threat to constitutionally protected rights.Protests are planned for more than 2,500 locations nationwide \u2014 from the country\u2019s largest city, New York, to small unincorporated, rural communities like East Glacier Ridge, Montana, with roughly 300 residents.Organizers will consider the day a success, Levin said, if people are galvanized to become more politically involved on an ongoing basis.Mostly peaceful protest in JuneThe last \u201cNo Kings\u201d protest took place on June 14 in thousands of cities and towns across the country, in large part to protest a military parade in Washington that marked the Army\u2019s 250th anniversary and coincided with Trump\u2019s birthday. \u201cNo Kings\u201d organizers at the time called the parade \u201ccoronation\u201d that was symbolic of what they characterized as Trump\u2019s growing authoritarian overreach.Confrontations were isolated and the protests were largely peaceful.Police in Los Angeles, where protests over federal immigration enforcement raids erupted the week prior and sparked demonstrations across the country, used tear gas and crowd-control munitions to clear out protesters after the formal event ended. Officers in Portland also fired tear gas and projectiles to disperse a crowd that protested in front of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building well into the evening.One protester was killed during the Salt Lake City march in June. A safety volunteer shot at a person allegedly pointing a rifle at demonstrators, but inadvertently struck and killed protester Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, a beloved fashion designer.Utah organizers focus on healingFour months later, no one has been charged. Experts have said state gun laws may shield both the shooter and the man who brandished a rifle but didn\u2019t fire shots.Jamie Carter, an organizer of Saturday\u2019s rally, said Utah activists considered not participating in this round of \u201cNo Kings\u201d demonstrations, but \u201cwe also felt that we really had to get back out there.\u201dOrganizers are not affiliated with the groups who put on the June demonstration that turned deadly. Safety volunteers will be present but unarmed, and all have received de-escalation training, said Carter, of Salt Lake Indivisible. Attendees have been asked not to bring weapons.\u201cWe really want this to be a very uplifting, happy event of people coming together in a community to kind of try to erase and replace some of the bad memories,\u201d she said.Concerns about large political demonstrations remain heightened in Utah, where conservative activist Charlie Kirk was also assassinated during a speaking event last month.Crackdown on protestsTrump\u2019s crackdown against protests, especially in Democratic cities, has intensified since the June marches. He has since sent National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., and Memphis, Tenn. His efforts to deploy troops to Chicago and Portland, Oregon, have stalled in federal court.Organizers in Chicago are expecting tens of thousands of demonstrators at a popular Lake Michigan park, followed by a downtown march.Federal immigration agents have arrested more than 1,000 people in Chicago, the nation\u2019s third largest city, with increasingly aggressive tactics since September. Protests have been frequent and well attended in recent weeks, and have boiled over in intense clashes outside a suburban federal immigration processing center.\u201cPeople are angrier. It feels so much more immediate,\u201d said Denise Poloyac with Indivisible Chicago. \u201cThey\u2019re very concerned about what\u2019s happening in Chicago and around the country.\u201dThe \u201cNo Kings\u201d organizers have led numerous virtual safety trainings leading up to the protests with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union, which is listed as an official partner on the \u201cNo Kings\u201d website.The trainings informed viewers about their rights during protests \u2014 such as whether you are required to carry ID or if wearing a mask is allowed (both vary according to each state) \u2014 and emphasized de-escalation techniques for encounters with law enforcement.Each official protest has a safety plan, which includes designated medics and emergency meeting spots.Mixed response from elected officialsThe protests have already drawn swift condemnation from some of the country\u2019s top politicians, with House Speaker Mike Johnson dubbing the event the \u201cHate America rally\u201d at a news conference on Wednesday.Some state leaders, like Texas\u2019 Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, have decided to activate the National Guard ahead of the protests.\u201cTexas will deter criminal mischief and work with local law enforcement to arrest anyone engaging in acts of violence or damaging property,\u201d Abbott said in a statement.Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom struck a more optimistic tone, saying he hopes Californians turn out in large numbers and remain peaceful. He said Trump \u201chopes there is disruption, there\u2019s some violence\u201d that he can exploit.__Contributing to the AP portion of this report were Associated Press writers Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City; Christopher Weber in Los Angeles; Juan A. Lozano in Houston, Texas; Terry Chea in San Francisco; and Sophia Tareen in Chicago.DOWNLOAD\u202fthe free\u202fGulf Coast News app\u202ffor your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tFORT MYERS, Fla. \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
“No Kings” protests in opposition of President Donald Trump and his administration are being held across the country on Saturday, Oct. 18, including in Southwest Florida.<\/p>\n
This will be the second \u201cNo Kings\u201d protest and the third movement against the Trump administration in 2025. It comes as conflict intensifies between federal law enforcement and protesters throughout the nation.<\/p>\n
When and where are ‘No Kings’ protests being held?Fort Myers – I-75 Estero Parkway Overpass – 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.Sanibel – Grassy area in front of Tahitian Gardens – 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.Naples – Collier County Courthouse – 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.<\/p>\n
There are also other protests scheduled in Fort Myers, Port Charlotte and Englewood, but the locations are not publicly available. For more information and if you’re interested and want to RSVP, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2018No Kings\u2019 protests return as Trump ramps up authoritarian practices, organizers say<\/p>\n By Safiyah Riddle, Associated Press<\/p>\n Big crowds of protesters are expected Saturday in thousands of places around the U.S. in opposition to what some are characterizing as increasingly authoritarian practices by President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n It\u2019s the second \u201cNo Kings\u201d protest and third mass movement against the administration this year, and it comes amid an intensifying conflict between federal law enforcement and protesters nationwide.<\/p>\n Some conservative politicians have condemned the protests as \u201cHate America\u201d rallies, while others say that it represents a \u201cpatriotic\u201d fight for First Amendment rights.<\/p>\n Here is what to expect on Saturday.<\/p>\n Organizers aim to boost political engagement<\/p>\n Ezra Levin, a leading organizer of Saturday\u2019s protests, said the demonstrations are a response to what he called Trump\u2019s \u201ccrackdown on First Amendment rights.\u201d<\/p>\n Levin, the co-executive director of the nonprofit Indivisible, pointed to Trump\u2019s sweeping immigration crackdown, his unprecedented promises to use federal power to influence midterm elections, restrictions on press freedom and retribution against political opponents.<\/p>\n He said those steps cumulatively represented a direct threat to constitutionally protected rights.<\/p>\n Protests are planned for more than 2,500 locations nationwide \u2014 from the country\u2019s largest city, New York, to small unincorporated, rural communities like East Glacier Ridge, Montana, with roughly 300 residents.<\/p>\n Organizers will consider the day a success, Levin said, if people are galvanized to become more politically involved on an ongoing basis.<\/p>\n Mostly peaceful protest in June<\/p>\n The last \u201cNo Kings\u201d protest took place on June 14 in thousands of cities and towns across the country, in large part to protest a military parade in Washington that marked the Army\u2019s 250th anniversary and coincided with Trump\u2019s birthday. \u201cNo Kings\u201d organizers at the time called the parade \u201ccoronation\u201d that was symbolic of what they characterized as Trump\u2019s growing authoritarian overreach.<\/p>\n Confrontations were isolated and the protests were largely peaceful.<\/p>\n Police in Los Angeles, where protests over federal immigration enforcement raids erupted the week prior and sparked demonstrations across the country, used tear gas and crowd-control munitions to clear out protesters after the formal event ended. Officers in Portland also fired tear gas and projectiles to disperse a crowd that protested in front of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building well into the evening.<\/p>\n One protester was killed during the Salt Lake City march in June. A safety volunteer shot at a person allegedly pointing a rifle at demonstrators, but inadvertently struck and killed protester Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, a beloved fashion designer.<\/p>\n Utah organizers focus on healing<\/p>\n Four months later, no one has been charged. Experts have said state gun laws may shield both the shooter and the man who brandished a rifle but didn\u2019t fire shots.<\/p>\n Jamie Carter, an organizer of Saturday\u2019s rally, said Utah activists considered not participating in this round of \u201cNo Kings\u201d demonstrations, but \u201cwe also felt that we really had to get back out there.\u201d<\/p>\n Organizers are not affiliated with the groups who put on the June demonstration that turned deadly. Safety volunteers will be present but unarmed, and all have received de-escalation training, said Carter, of Salt Lake Indivisible. Attendees have been asked not to bring weapons.<\/p>\n \u201cWe really want this to be a very uplifting, happy event of people coming together in a community to kind of try to erase and replace some of the bad memories,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Concerns about large political demonstrations remain heightened in Utah, where conservative activist Charlie Kirk was also assassinated during a speaking event last month.<\/p>\n Crackdown on protests<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s crackdown against protests, especially in Democratic cities, has intensified since the June marches. He has since sent National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., and Memphis, Tenn. His efforts to deploy troops to Chicago and Portland, Oregon, have stalled in federal court.<\/p>\n Organizers in Chicago are expecting tens of thousands of demonstrators at a popular Lake Michigan park, followed by a downtown march.<\/p>\n Federal immigration agents have arrested more than 1,000 people in Chicago, the nation\u2019s third largest city, with increasingly aggressive tactics since September. Protests have been frequent and well attended in recent weeks, and have boiled over in intense clashes outside a suburban federal immigration processing center.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople are angrier. It feels so much more immediate,\u201d said Denise Poloyac with Indivisible Chicago. \u201cThey\u2019re very concerned about what\u2019s happening in Chicago and around the country.\u201d<\/p>\n The \u201cNo Kings\u201d organizers have led numerous virtual safety trainings leading up to the protests with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union, which is listed as an official partner on the \u201cNo Kings\u201d website.<\/p>\n The trainings informed viewers about their rights during protests \u2014 such as whether you are required to carry ID or if wearing a mask is allowed (both vary according to each state) \u2014 and emphasized de-escalation techniques for encounters with law enforcement.<\/p>\n Each official protest has a safety plan, which includes designated medics and emergency meeting spots.<\/p>\n Mixed response from elected officials<\/p>\n The protests have already drawn swift condemnation from some of the country\u2019s top politicians, with House Speaker Mike Johnson dubbing the event the \u201cHate America rally\u201d at a news conference on Wednesday.<\/p>\n Some state leaders, like Texas\u2019 Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, have decided to activate the National Guard ahead of the protests.<\/p>\n \u201cTexas will deter criminal mischief and work with local law enforcement to arrest anyone engaging in acts of violence or damaging property,\u201d Abbott said in a statement.<\/p>\n Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom struck a more optimistic tone, saying he hopes Californians turn out in large numbers and remain peaceful. He said Trump \u201chopes there is disruption, there\u2019s some violence\u201d that he can exploit.<\/p>\n __<\/p>\n Contributing to the AP portion of this report were Associated Press writers Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City; Christopher Weber in Los Angeles; Juan A. Lozano in Houston, Texas; Terry Chea in San Francisco; and Sophia Tareen in Chicago.<\/p>\n DOWNLOAD\u202fthe free\u202fGulf Coast News app<\/a>\u202ffor your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app<\/a> to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"“No Kings” protests in opposition of President Donald Trump and his administration are being held across the country…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9255,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[1167,2063,9227,9231,9230,9229,28,30,29,9226,6692,992,3138,9228,6695,5537,988,2684],"class_list":["post-9254","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-florida","tag-administration","tag-chicago","tag-country","tag-crackdown","tag-demonstration","tag-federal-law-enforcement","tag-florida","tag-florida-headlines","tag-florida-news","tag-king","tag-organizer","tag-people","tag-protest","tag-protester","tag-saturday","tag-texas","tag-thousand","tag-trump"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9254","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9254"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9254\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9255"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9254"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9254"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9254"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}