Thousands of demonstrators gathered outside Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump's private residence in Palm Beach,chanting "No Kings" and waving flags from across the Americas. The protest, part of the nationwide No Kings movement, coincided with Trump's birthday and a controversial military parade marking 250 years of the U.S. Army.
Although Trump was in Washington, D.C., protestors from different parts of South Florida felt compelled to rally near his Mar-a-Lago estate. The crowd, diverse in background and message, converged from the nearby Phipps Skate Park and marched peacefully to within blocks of the former president's home.
"We're here to defend democracy," said Martin Bedel, a national organizer with Movement 50501. "In places like Palm Beach, where wealth and silence dominate, showing up means everything."
Despite scorching heat nearing 100 degrees Fahrenheit, demonstrators—many donning LGBTQ+ Pride shirts and holding signs in support of immigrants, reproductive rights, and Palestine—stood shoulder to shoulder. Families brought children and even pets to the protest. Others waved flags from Colombia, Venezuela, and Mexico, while some wore Statue of Liberty costumes or decorated vehicles with red, white, and blue flowers.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) deployed ten observers to ensure the demonstrators' rights were upheld. Darell Gómez, whose parents are Dominican, emphasized the stakes: "This turnout would be even larger if people weren't so afraid. ICE raids have left many too scared to protest."
While police maintained a strong presence and warned of potential agitators, the protest remained largely peaceful. Even a Trump-supporting truck shouting pro-ICE slogans drew no reaction from authorities or No Kings protesters.
Palm Beach was just one of 75 No Kings protests held across Florida, including in Miami and Tallahassee—part of a growing grassroots movement pushing back against authoritarianism and calling for equity, dignity, and inclusion in American democracy.
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