Joining more events in big cities across the United States, opponents of President Donald Trump held a second “No Kings” rally Oct. 18 in Lakeland.
Held Saturday from 1 to 3 pm. in Freedom Park, organizers of the “’No Kings Protest Rally, March and Community Gathering” said the aim was to protest attacks on civil rights, skyrocketing costs, the dismantling of essential services and an assault on free speech.
“We are here today because we are currently living under the most unlawful administration in American history. The evidence is all around us,” said Pam Taylor, media liaison for rally host Indivisible Polk, a left-leaning, nonpartisan movement based in Polk County.
Saturday’s “No Kings” rally was the second for Lakeland, the first held June 14 when about 1,800 people gathered in Lakeland’s Munn Park. Saturday’s event drew about 2,300, Taylor said. There were three other smaller No Kings rallies planned in Polk County on Oct. 18 ― in Davenport, Poinciana and Bartow ― and more than 80 across Florida.
Held in the park and along Florida Avenue from about Oak Street to Pine Street, the event ended with a march to the office of U.S. Rep. Scott Franklin, a Republican from Lakeland, at Lemon Street and Florida Avenue. Franklin is a staunch supporter of many of Trump’s domestic and foreign policies.
The “No Kings” rally drew a diverse cross-segment from across Polk County and beyond.
Lourdes Vales and Mary Carroll drove in from Wesley Chapel to add their voices to the dissatisfaction.
“I needed to feel safe, and we felt safe at the first rally, so there was no question of where we wanted to be today,” Vales said.
Participants toted posters and placards, many with original statements of disdain: “Veto the Cheeto,” “No throne, no crowns, no kings,” “Government by the people, not oligarchs” and “If you stand for nothing, what will you fall for?”
As the “No Kings” Lakeland event participant readied to head to Franklin’s office, Jes Barnett of Lakeland took time to express why she took her son, Sullivan Barnett, 11, to attend the Saturday “No Kings” gathering.
“This is his first rally. I just wanted to make sure he’s on the right side of history and understood the process and how we all come together to support one goal,” Barnett said.
Sullivan seemed to have formed his own opinion of why he was at the rally and why it was important.
“I think the things he’s done is unacceptable to America and this is one way we all come together to do something about it,” he said.
This drawing makes me happy I do not have to clean that commode, I suspect he leaves it filthy after each use.