The last time Linda Myers showed up at a protest, she was a 15-year-old girl speaking out against the Vietnam War and fighting for women’s rights.
“The same thing is happening now,” said Myers, now 67. Dressed in patriotic colors with a red, white and blue lei, Myers joined about 2,000 others June 14 in Vero Beach as part of the nationwide “No Kings” protest in response to President Donald Trump and his administration.
“I really don’t like the way our government’s going. I don’t like the way our government’s going,” Myers said. “If ever there was a time for people to stand up, it’s now.”
Waving signs that read “Democracy not autocracy” and “Wake up America, Character Counts,” protesters stood along both sides of State Road 60 for about a half-mile east and west of 58th Avenue. Some wore paper crowns with “No Kings” written on them. Others waved American flags.
Protesters cheered when passing motorists honked their horns in support.
The scene was similar in Port St. Lucie, where people gathered near City Hall at the intersection of Southwest Port St. Lucie and Southeast Airoso boulevards. Only a handful of pro-Trump supporters carried flags through the crowd.
“I’m scared of what Donald Trump is doing to this country,” said Anna Noyes, of Port St. Lucie. “We have three branches of government for a reason. He’s not paying attention to the courts. He’s just doing whatever the hell he feels like.”
‘No Kings in America,’ and “Impeach Trump’ were popular signs being waved along with American flags.
“This is the scariest time for me,” said Miriam Soto, 69, who came to the Vero Beach protest with her husband, Dan Culbert.
Soto became a naturalized citizen in 1976, when she was 18. But the Honduras native is concerned about the future, and the possibility of naturalized citizens being deported.
“I don’t like what’s happening with the current administration. We have to elect people who are going to do their job,” Soto said. “They’re not doing that right now.”
Among the local participant organizations in Vero Beach were Surge 4 Democracy, Newtown Action Alliance, Young Democrats of Indian River, Stop Moms for Liberty, Indivisible of Indian River County, Democratic Club of Indian River, Liberals of Vero, Friends of Democracy and Women’s Club of Indian River County.
The event coincided with Flag Day, Trump’s 79th birthday and the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary celebration and military parade in Washington, D.C.
Numerous nationwide protests and about 75 in Florida were planned for June 14.
Colleen Wixon is the education reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers. She covers school districts in Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie counties.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Thousands gather on Treasure Coast in ‘No Kings’ protest rallies against Trump
Reporting by Colleen Wixon, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
