Thousands Rally at ‘No Kings' Protest

The largest local rally yet protesting against Trump administration policies brought out thousands on a beautiful Saturday morning. The rally at the Collier County Government Center packed the plaza in front of the courthouse, then migrated to the sidewalks along US 41 and Airport-Pulling Rd., lining the space along the streets several deep.

The Collier County event, sponsored by Indivisible, was part of a nationwide and even international effort that brought millions into the streets in major cities and small towns alike.

The Naples No Kings rally joined approximately 80 other protests throughout the Sunshine State, and nearly 2,000 nationwide. In Southwest Florida, No Kings events took place in Ft. Myers, Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, and Sarasota, as well as Naples.

Protesters, following the exhortations of the organizers, were uniformly calm, peaceful, and non-confrontational, particularly in Naples. But their good manners didn’t mean they weren’t mad. The signs they carried, overwhelmingly homemade and customized, referenced a wide variety of Trump policies, actions and inaction, from his failure to release the Jeffrey Epstein files to military incursions into U.S. cities. Protesters highlighted many additional issues, including cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, tariffs, high and rising prices, policy toward Ukraine and Russia, wholesale layoffs of government workers, presidential corruption and lies, and renaming the Gulf of Mexico. But the overriding or underlying issue for many attendees was concern for democracy itself.

As the event commenced on the courthouse steps, just across from the Collier Sheriff’s Office headquarters, law enforcement was on hand, but just to keep everyone safe and out of the road when the protesters marched the short distance to US 41 to engage with passing motorists.

According to one deputy at the event, speaking as the demonstration wound down, there were approximately 10 to 15 law enforcement officers on hand, but the only issue they dealt with was a couple cases of medical intervention needed for demonstrators. A number of the rallygoers went out of their way to shake deputies’ hands and thank them for their efforts.

Before the rally formally began at 10:00 AM, Bob Shea entertained the crowd with songs on his guitar. Attendees heard brief remarks from Rev. Tony Fisher of the Naples Unitarian Universalist congregation, and Cindy Banyai, candidate for the Florida House of Representatives, and spokesperson for U.S. Congressional candidate Howard Sapp, competing for the Democratic nomination to contest Byron Donalds’ seat in Florida’s District 19. Donalds, with Donald Trump’s endorsement, is running for governor.

Two participants, both schoolteachers, handed out hundreds of free U.S. flags, which were much in evidence among the crowd. Bottled water was also given out, although the temperate day helped keep the event comfortable. A number of participants wanted to give their opinion, but not their name.

Once the group filled the sidewalks along US 41 and Airport Rd., passersby in their cars who responded to the group appeared overwhelmingly supportive, with waves, high fives, and a solid cacophony of honking automotive horns. The continuous chorus of beeping made it hard to hear the chants from the crowd, even with facilitators with bullhorns leading the effort.

“Show me what democracy looks like!” “This is what democracy looks like!” went one oft-repeated refrain. Several attendees added a splash of color and whimsy to the gathering, wearing inflatable suits transforming them into a unicorn, a seahorse, a dinosaur, a Democratic donkey, Lady Liberty, and a Trump “baby” in a fat-suit, complete with diaper.

Tomas Ruzicka, a Czech native, said, “I’m here to defend the Constitution. I was born under a Communist regime,” and fears what he is seeing now in this country.

“I’ve never seen a crowd so large in front of the courthouse,” said Collier Democrats chair and Marco Island resident Jane Schlechtweg. “This is the best way for people to use their voice. This administration doesn’t believe the law applies to them, but they can’t ignore this forever. The more we raise our voice, that’s how we’re going to get change. We want change, not trouble.”

Organizer Dayna MacKendrick of Indivisible, another Marco Island resident, said the Collier Sheriff’s told her they pegged the crowd at roughly 5,000. Whatever the exact number, it was the largest demonstration in recent memory, mirroring the estimated 7,000,000 who rallied at sites across the U.S.

“It was a huge turnout – a great day and peaceful,” she said. She thanked the CSO for their assistance, saying, “They never have a problem with us.”

President Trump described the nationwide No Kings protests as “very small, very ineffective,” while also posting an AI meme on social media depicting a “mocked-up version of the president flying a fighter jet emblazoned with “KING TRUMP” appearing to dump raw sewage on protesters,” according to CNN.

The next local rally, focused on supporting immigrants, is scheduled for Nov. 15 back at the courthouse, said Schlechtweg.