About 3,000 people gathered at the Collier County Courthouse in Naples Saturday, Oct. 18, as part of the anti-Trump “No Kings” protests taking place across the nation.
The crowd gathered at the courthouse and along Tamiami Trail and Airport Road was at least three times that of a similar Naples demonstration in June. With signs, blow-up costumes, protest shirts and song, people expressed their displeasure with President Donald Trump and his administration.
The Naples protest was part of more than 80 demonstrations in Florida. Organizers told USA TODAY they believe it will be the largest single day protest in modern American history. “No Kings” protests on June 14 drew more than 5 million people. The demonstrations coincided with President Donald Trump’s birthday and a military parade celebrating the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary.
The Trump administration has since increased its immigration crackdown, deployed National Guard troops to several cities and clamped down on the First Amendment. This week, at least 30 news outlets that cover the U.S. Defense Department vacated their offices in the Pentagon and returned their credentials as new restrictions on press access took effect.
“I’m scared for our country,” said Dr. Warren Keller, standing along Tamiami Trail wearing a T-shirt that read “#MAGA Mexicans always get across.” “I’ve lived through the Cuban Missile Crisis in Miami. I’ve lived through the Cold War, and I’ve never seen anything like this.”
‘We have to do something’
Ken and Glenda Gordan and friend Ann Andersen, all of Naples, were at the demonstration together, with signs Ken made. The signs included Trump’s face and handwritten above it “Lock Him Up!” and below a printed sticker “I Love America.”
“We have to protest,” Ken Gordan said. “He’s trying to make himself king.”
“We have to do something,” Glenda Gordan said.
Darlene Gorman sported a T-rex blow-up costume. From inside it, she said, “We have to stand out somehow and if it helps,” she was all in. “It worked in Portland, maybe it will work here.”
Portland, Oregon, protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have been full of colorful animal costumes. Inspired by the Portland Frog, a protester who began dressing in an inflatable frog costume to attend the protests, Operation Inflation gives away costumes to people protesting ICE to “help deflate (pun intended) the tensions surrounding protests,” according to its website. The idea has spread across the country.
In Naples, there were a couple of T-rex costumes, a blow-up chicken and a blow-up Trump costume.
“I just thought it would energize the crowd,” said Brant Bickel, his head sticking out of a Trump costume. “I think people have had enough. This is one of the most dangerous times in our country we’re living through.”
Police presence but ICE wasn’t obvious if at the protest
Among the songs sung at the courthouse in unison were “American the Beautiful,” “Amazing Grace,” “Puff the Magic Dragon” and “This Land is My Land.”
Indivisible Gambit SWFL and Free Indivisible SWFL organized the protest and had volunteers there for safety and to answer questions. They also led the chants that included: No Kings, no crowns, we the people won’t let down; No Trump, No KKK, no fascist USA; Hands off Healthcare; and When I say justice, you say for all!
The leaders called for a peaceful protest, and it was.
While Naples Police, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol presence were at obvious locations at the courthouse, along the side roads by Wal-Mart and on Palm Drive, officers appeared relaxed but observant. There was no sign of ICE.
Sue Lee of Naples carried two Trump-shaped baloons a friend had gotten for her. She sang along with “This Land is My Land” and danced with her balloons flying high overhead. One eventually escaped and flew above the courthouse, prompting cheers.
Lee said she was at the demonstration because “I think we need a lot of change.”
“I think the middle class is getting stomped on,” she said. “I can barely make it to the supermarket like I used to. So that’s why I’m here.”
This story was updated to add new information on the organizers.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Collier County residents again take to streets for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ protest in Naples
Reporting by J. Kyle Foster, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
