Photos by Tom Hagerty Photography
On a hot and humid Saturday afternoon, about 1300 anti-Trump protesters braved the heat and took advantage of any shade they could find to make a stand in downtown Lakeland.
“This is so exciting to see such a diverse group, of different ages. I see different languages on different signs,” said one of the protest organizers. “And I see so much creativity and so much passion.”
They gathered in Munn Park as part of a nationwide movement known as “No Kings” day, a series of protests targeting what they see as overreach by President Donald Trump and his administration.
After gathering in the park, protesters took to the streets and took a lap around part of downtown Lakeland.
Officers from the Lakeland Police Department kept a close eye on the protest and, as it moved through the city, blocked roads and alleyways to keep protesters safe.
One of the protesters, Benjamin Rios, who donned a tricorn hat and colonial uniform, risked his health to be there.
“My friends tried to convince me not to come, just because I had a stroke two months ago,” he said.
However, he showed up anyway, wearing his costume, an American flag, and carrying his sign.
“Well, the sign probably says it all, ‘No Kings.’ And also, just everything he’s doing against other branches of government, to where he just does what he wants, and we can’t have that,” he said.
Lakeland Gazette spotted a couple of groups of counter-protesters, which drove by the protest in pick-up trucks. Passengers in those vehicles held signs in support of President Trump.
How disrespectful to her president to allow them to congregate their. Is a disgrace to America. Is a disgraced all the men who fought and died for her freedom. You try and kick out someone who’s conservative and trying to ask questions about how they feel their opinion. But you allow all these people to influx mum Park to try and demise or very country and president. You should all be ashamed of yourselves. We have to lift up our President and pray for him it’s who God allowed to be over us and there’s a reason for everything. You’re only trying to divide our country. God bless and protect President Trump and his precious family.