BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. — President Donald Trump’s administration is at the center of growing unrest as “No Kings” protests spread across South Florida on Saturday, part of a nationwide movement organizers say is meant to defend democracy and push back against what they call an “authoritarian agenda.”
Crowds in Miami-Dade County chanted “This is what democracy looks like” as demonstrators poured into downtown streets Saturday.
Thousands joined the “No Kings” protest — an expansion of rallies first held in June — to denounce Trump’s use of executive power and to call for the protection of civil rights.
“We expect to engage people even fuller than we did in June,” said Cindy Lerner, an organizer helping coordinate the Miami protest.
Lerner said thousands turned out for the first “No Kings” in June earlier this year, and even more are expected this weekend.
The movement, she said, began after Trump’s first five months in office, when he signed hundreds of executive orders targeting policies on birthright citizenship, diversity initiatives, and protections for transgender Americans.
“Our three branches of government need to all function equally, and we have no kings,” Lerner said.
In Broward County, demonstrations continued near Coral Ridge Mall in Fort Lauderdale, with reporters noting the crowd wrapped around Federal Highway and Oakland Park Boulevard.
Protesters voiced opposition to healthcare cuts, demanded restoration of women’s rights, and called for action on immigration and the government shutdown.
“It makes a difference with me,” one woman said. “This brings me back to the ’60s and ’70s when we boycotted for the right to vote. I just felt like I wanted to come today.”
9 a.m. live report
Jennifer Jones, with the grassroots group Hope and Action Indivisible, said the gatherings are meant to remain peaceful but forceful in their message.
“It’s a national day of peaceful mobilization,” Jones said. “This authoritarian power grab that this administration is doing — such as putting military into American cities — we’re not happy with that.”
Hundreds of people also gathered for the protest at Hollywood’s Young Circle.
One protester, reflecting on the No Kings movement and Trump’s agenda, said:
“What’s happening in our streets is a clear indication that we’re heading in the wrong direction. It’s not about Republicans or Democrats anymore; it’s about We the People. We have to stand up now. You cannot capitulate. You need to do what you promised before you got their vote. It is now time to stand up so that we can continue being the America that we once were.”
Xavier Presley, a Miami native, said he started setting up for the protest at 3 a.m., making signs out of poster board, even Lottery tickets, and placing them around downtown Miami.
“I am living MLK dream, if a man ain’t fit to do something. He ain’t fit to live, and if you ain’t fit to fight for this, I die for democracy,” he said.
Local 10’s Gabriella Arzola said several hundred protesters in downtown Miami arrived within a half hour, holding signs, trumpets, and flags.
“Because I don’t want to see any fascism in America, and we’ve got blatant fascism going on in the Trump administration right now,” one attendee told her. “It’s not frustrating to me. I’m happy to be out here and do this. I wish I didn’t have to be out here, but I think it’s necessary.”
Businesses along A1A in Fort Lauderdale Beach, including the No Worries Kava Bar, took precautions ahead of the protests as large crowds began forming.
“For the safety of all of our customers in case anything happened,” one server said. “Hopefully things don’t end up in a negative manner and hopefully it’s just peaceful.”
Jones said the “No Kings” protests are designed to confront what organizers see as overreach by Trump’s administration — from controversial immigration raids to policies affecting marginalized communities.
“People are just fed up,” she said. “If we don’t stand up, we know that this government is just going to keep pushing the line toward authoritarianism. We love America, and we want to save our democracy.”
The demonstrations also follow renewed debate over the so-called “Alligator Alcatraz,” a migrant detention center deep in the Everglades that activists have condemned as a symbol of harsh enforcement tactics.
Additional team coverage:
“No Kings” protests are planned at the following South Florida locations:
- Boca Raton: 201 W. Palmetto Park Rd. 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Coral Springs: West Sample Road and North University Drive 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
- Florida City: 404 W. Palm Dr. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Fort Lauderdale: 3200 N. Federal Hwy. 12 p.m. -5 p.m.
- Fort Lauderdale Beach: Sunrise Boulevard and Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.
- Hollywood: 1 N. Young Cir. 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Key Largo: 102050 Overseas Hwy. 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Key West: 1320 Truman Ave. 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Lake Worth Beach: 7 N. Dixie Hwy. 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
- Marathon: Sombrero Beach Road and Overseas Highway 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Miami: 301 Biscayne Blvd. 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
- Palm Beach Gardens: 3188 PGA Blvd. 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- West Palm Beach: 1760 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd. 11- 1 p.m.
Click here for more information about the event and protests scheduled around the country.
Watch the live demonstrations here:
Miami:
Fort Lauderdale:
Hollywood:
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