STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A steady stream of protestors waving signs and American flags lined a stretch of Victory Boulevard on Saturday afternoon as part of nationwide “No Kings” demonstrations against President Donald Trump.
About 600 protestors rallied across the street from the office of Rep. Nicole Malliotakis in Castleon Corners before marching along the busy road toward Clove Lakes Park.
In exercising their First Amendment right, the protestors largely denounced the Trump administration with many comparing him to a king with authoritarian tendencies.
Mike DeCillis (center left), a former Staten Islander who now lives in Bay Ridge and one of the organizers of the “No Kings” event, speaks at the “No Kings” protest in Castleton Corners on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.(Advance/SILive.com | Luke Peteley)
“We’re seeing in the courts how Trump is ignoring the courts, how Congress is not being an equal co-branch of government and they’re basically just rubber-stamping whatever Trump wants. And we’re seeing a genuine erosion of our rights,” said one of the event organizers, Mike DeCillis, a former Staten Islander who now lives in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. “What I would like to say to the other side is the fact that we are not the scary monsters that they have literally said.”
The gathering was an amalgamation of old and young, with some simply wielding signs and others donning inflatable animal costumes. The latter form of demonstration has become increasingly popular at anti-ICE protests.
Patrick Cannone, a Dongan hills resident, criticized Trump for welcoming candidates into his cabinet who he feels are unqualified for their roles.
“It’s one thing to arrest criminals that are undocumented, but not hardworking people,” he added.
Scenes from the “No Kings” protest in Castleton Corners on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.(Advance/SILive.com | Luke Peteley)
At numerous times throughout the event, the crowd chanted, “Hey hey, ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go.” Another chant called for Trump to be locked up and a third urged Trump to release the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Jo Rossicone, a Castleton Corners resident, told the Advance/SILive.com that her father fought in Germany during World War II and expressed that she didn’t want the country to become a fascist state.
“I really cannot stand living in America as it is today — where people have no rights; where things happen to people that should not happen to people; where we have one party in government that doesn’t use common sense but follows whatever their leader says without considering the people that they represent,” she said.
Carolyn Antonucci (left) and Jo Rossicone (right) at the “No Kings” protest in Castleton Corners on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.(Advance/SILive.com | Luke Peteley)
“I’m not a protestor, I’m 77 years old and this is the last thing I ever thought I was going to do,” Rossicone added.
The protest remained peaceful and was overseen by the NYPD, who ensured a safe event and guided the flow of traffic. At numerous times, vehicles passing honked in support of the protestors, generating an audible reaction of approval from the crowd.
“I’ve been on Staten Island for three generations,” said Adrienne Ferretti, a longtime borough resident. “What I learned, right from when I was young, you voted for the person. We never voted Republican or Democrat necessarily, you voted for the person. And that’s what made Staten Island what it is. Now, we are so obviously separated along severe party lines and that’s a shame, because I still vote for the person.”
Richard Ryan (left) and Adrienne Ferretti (right) at the “No Kings” protest in Castleton Corners on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.(Advance/SILive.com | Luke Peteley)
Joining the protestors at Saturday’s event was Radhakrishna Mohan, candidate for Mid-Island City Council. He shared that he joined the protestors to support federal workers experiencing layoffs.
In addition to Staten Island, “No Kings” demonstrations took place across the country in cities like Manhattan, Washington, D.C., and Chicago.
Back in June, DeCillis hosted another “No Kings” rally, which drew more than 200 protesters to Castleton Corners.
Demonstrators wore inflatable costumes at the “No Kings” protest in Castleton Corners on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.(Advance/SILive.com | Luke Peteley)
Radhakrishna Mohan, candidate for New York City Council District 50, at the “No Kings” protest in Castleton Corners on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.(Advance/SILive.com | Luke Peteley)
Scenes from the “No Kings” protest in Castleton Corners on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.(Advance/SILive.com | Luke Peteley)
Scenes from the “No Kings” protest in Castleton Corners on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.(Advance/SILive.com | Luke Peteley)
Scenes from the “No Kings” protest in Castleton Corners on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.(Advance/SILive.com | Luke Peteley)
Scenes from the “No Kings” protest in Castleton Corners on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.(Advance/SILive.com | Luke Peteley)
Scenes from the “No Kings” protest in Castleton Corners on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.(Advance/SILive.com | Luke Peteley)
Scenes from the “No Kings” protest in Castleton Corners on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.(Advance/SILive.com | Luke Peteley)
Scenes from the “No Kings” protest in Castleton Corners on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.(Advance/SILive.com | Luke Peteley)
Scenes from the “No Kings” protest in Castleton Corners on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.(Advance/SILive.com | Luke Peteley)
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