Thousands of residents of Flagler and Volusia counties came out Saturday to participate in what’s being called ‘No Kings’ protests, expressing their opposition to President Donald Trump’s policies and rhetoric.
The event, which covered several locations and time blocks throughout the day, consisted mostly of sign-waving and peaceful demonstration.
National Background
The protests come on the same day that President Trump scheduled a military parade in Washington, D.C. That parade coincides with the 250th anniversary of the United States Army, as well as with Flag Day – celebrated on June 14th to commemorate the adoption of the American flag in 1777. June 14th is also Trump’s own 79th birthday, a detail which his critics allege is the foremost motivation for the festivities. Comparisons have been drawn to North Korea, whose own military parades serve as a show of power by an authoritarian government.
According to a report from NPR, there were some 2,000 ‘No Kings’ protests planned Saturday across the United States. An organization bearing the name No Kings says on their website that the Trump administration has “defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights, and slashed our services”.
Trump himself has been questioned on the characterization that he is acting like a king, and has pushed back against the notion. “I don’t feel like a king,” he told reporters recently. “I have to go through hell to get stuff approved.”
Also looming over the event is the ongoing protest in Los Angeles against the presence of U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has captured national attention for conflicting accusations of inciting violence against both the protestors and ICE agents themselves. The Trump administration has claimed it deported 139,000 immigrants by the end of April.
Concerns have persisted from human rights and humanitarian groups that ICE’s practices have violated non-citizens’ due process rights and led to the removal of people residing legally in the United States. Trump deployed U.S. Marines to Los Angeles, and has bypassed the authority of California Gov. Gavin Newsom to also activate the California National Guard.
Peaceful Local Protests
Thankfully, the demonstrations by anti-Trump protestors and the counter-protests by the president’s supporters remained peaceful and non-violent. At times profane language erupted between the two sides, but local law enforcement kept a watch over the areas to ensure things didn’t escalate above First Amendment-protected speech.
Both sides experienced frequent shows of support and opposition from passing motorists. There were frequent honks of support, and many showing of the thumbs-down and middle finger. Even in as firmly red as Flagler and Volusia counties are, cars supporting the No Kings movement were frequent.
What Does ’86 47′ Mean?
One phrase seen repeatedly was ’86 47′, a saying referring to the business slang for removing or eliminating something plus Donald Trump’s status as the 47th president. The phrase has frequently been interpreted as advocacy for violence against Trump, particularly in light of the July 2024 assassination attempt in which Trump’s ear was grazed by a bullet. Those on Saturday who used the phrase said they weren’t inciting violence.
“We’re not about violence, we’re just about setting things right, you know?” said Jen Smith, who protested at Palm Coast Pkwy and Old Kings Road in Palm Coast. “I’m watching the Constitution just get shredded. This is not what our country’s about.”
Another protestor, Kathleen Brady, echoed this sentiment. “I do not condone violence,” she said. “I’m not a violent person but I believe that this president should be removed.” She recalled counter-protestors accusing her of being a terrorist over her sign.
The Upside-Down American Flag
Multiple attendees of the day’s rallies identified themselves as American military veterans, who chose to express their sentiments with an upside-down American flag. While flying the flag upside down without reason is considered uncouth, the showing can also be used as a sign of distress. Just the same as burning the American flag or re-coloring it with a Pride rainbow or the Thin Blue Line, displaying the flag this way is constitutionally-protected free speech…even if some may object.
One such demonstrator Saturday was Raul Jimenez, a 22-year Air Force veteran. “I have been in Iraq, I have been in Afghanistan, I’ve done over 40 combat rescue missions,” he said. “This is ridiculous. What we’re going through in America…you know, we’re supposed to be a land of freedom, and it seems now that we’re not.”
Another veteran in Flagler Beach spoke about his upside-down flag, but requested to remain anonymous out of concern for his safety. “I took an oath to the Constitution at least three or four times, to protect against all enemies foreign and domestic,” said the 26-year Coast Guard and Navy veteran. “We’re going to end up with a constitutional crisis. I pray that the peaceful protests will work, and that it doesn’t have to escalate to anything else.”
Trump Counter-Protestors
As they didn’t facilitate a nationally-organized event, the sitting president’s supporters were outnumbered considerably on Saturday. Still, dozens could be seen standing on adjacent street corners, waving their own flags in opposition. Some had megaphones, and one such protestor was heard taunting the anti-Trump crowd about “free retard vaccines”, utilizing a slur against the mentally disabled.
Just the same as the anti-Trump coalition, there was no obvious incitement of violent from the Trump supporters. Those that were willing to speak about their motivations were just as convicted in their political activism as their counterparts. “He’s not dictating anything,” one woman said in Palm Coast. “They’re supporting the criminal illegal aliens. [They want] no deportations, I want them out of here. They should’ve never been here.”
The Role of Law Enforcement
Government leaders and sheriffs across Florida expressed widely varying sentiments ahead of Saturday’s activities. Gov. Ron DeSantis encouraged motorists to defend themselves if they were put in a dangerous situation. “If you’re driving on one of those streets and a mob comes and surrounds your vehicle and threatens you, you have a right to flee for your safety,” he said on Wednesday. “If you drive off and you hit one of those people that’s their fault for impinging on you.”
Another striking warning came from Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey. Escalating the rhetoric even further, Ivey explicitly warned of lethal force being used if necessary. “If you spit on us, you’re going to the hospital and in jail,” he said. “If you hit one of us, you’re going to the hospital and jail. And most likely get bitten by one of our big beautiful dogs that we have here. If you throw a brick, a firebomb, or point a gun at one of our deputies, and we will be notifying your family where to collect your remains at. Because we will kill you, graveyard dead. We’re not going to play.”
Generally, police are legally justified in using deadly force in a riot in times when death or serious bodily injury are on the line. Property damage, in the absence of other factors, does not warrant deadly force under Florida law. Sheriff Ivey’s threat of deadly force does apply under very strict and very extreme parameters.
Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood was much more measured in how he addressed the situation. “I know Volusia County knows how to protest because I’ve seen it firsthand,” he said before Saturday’s activities. “Agitators are not welcome. Any agitators looking to spark violence, cause destruction, commit vandalism or block traffic will be dealt with swiftly and severely. They will be removed from the situation and held accountable for their actions. Florida law is clear on that.”
